Maravi

Unity Day

Unity Day
By Editor
Tue 06 July 2010, 04:00 CAT

Today is Unity Day. And on this day, we remember all the efforts made to unite our people into a strong nation.

On this day, we remember our national mantra of 'One Zambia, One Nation' and how the founder of our Republic comrade Kenneth Kaunda used to recite it repeatedly at every gathering, waving his white handkerchief. It sounded nice but there was much more to it than that – it reminded us of the need for unity.

A nation without unity can’t tackle its basic problems and becomes easy prey for foreign domination.

It is said that a diversity of political parties in a country is an artifice aimed at dividing the people. This can, to some extent, be said to be true. We think that this is true in the conditions of our country, and we can go farther and say that the last 20 years of African history have demonstrated the many problems associated with all these concepts. We also think that the present circumstances in Africa, which are so terrible in all spheres, also demonstrate the problems associated with such concepts. The form of political organisation should promote unity, if possible.

It is possible to have a very high level of unity even in a multiparty political dispensation. But this is only possible if our political pluralism is anchored on values and principles that are accepted by all and held dear by all.

To have unity, all of us must have a belief in society. Working together, cooperating with each other in solidarity and in love. What is needed is unity that is rooted in a straightforward view of society; in the understanding that the individual does best in a strong and decent community of people with principles, standards, common aims and values. We need political parties that realise that they are part of a community.

We need to also realise that politics is about the search for improving the lives and security of our people in this continually changing world. We need unity to build a strong and active society that can provide this. We must do it together. We cannot buy our way into unity, to a safe society. We must work for it together; we must plan for it together.

We say this because this can only be done together. Leaders lead, but in the end the people govern.

Although unity is an expedience, it cannot be meaningful and enduring if it’s not based on principles. There is no choice between being united and being principled. We should unite because of what we believe.

We know that our country has changed a lot, and a lot of things, including our national mantra of One Zambia, One Nation, have been abandoned in this change.

Well, change is an important part of life. We have changed as a nation. We were right to change. Those who don’t change die. If the world around us changes, and we don’t, then we become of no use to it. Our principles cease being principles and just ossify into dogma. We shouldn’t change to forget our principles, but to fulfill them; not to lose our identity but to keep our relevance. Change is an important part of gaining the nation’s confidence.

Let’s make our country a nation of tolerance, innovation and creativity. Our people have an innate sense of fair play. We have a great history. And when great challenges face us, we rise to them. But we have a great weakness, and it is that unless roused, we tend to let things be. Selfish, greedy and corrupt politicians encourage this weakness. They thrive on it. And it’s time we were roused because things are falling apart – our national unity is weakening; we are being fragmented into petty political parties that offer no national guidance other than just simply being vehicles for people to get into public office and enjoy the benefits of being there. Our country is increasingly being divided along all sorts of lines, albeit in a silent way. But what is silent today may become loud tomorrow.

Let us strive to build a nation that is united, a nation with pride in itself; a thriving nation that is secure in social justice, a nation in which our children can bring up their children with a future to look forward to.

But in struggling for unity, it is necessary to combat firmly the abettors of division. Let us seek to clarify this position to the masses of our people, and not leave them impeded by divisive political positions. We should combat the division of our people into regional or tribal-based political parties, even if this is presented as multiparty or plural politics, as democracy. To struggle for unity is, necessarily, to struggle against divisionism on whatever lines, tribal or otherwise. It is therefore also necessary to unmask and isolate those who look at politics on the basis of tribe or region and want to carve our country into small Bantustans which they use to do deals with others as if they were in a casino. Let’s unmask and isolate them wherever they appear, conduct their campaigns of division and intrigue.

The policy of unity has always been part of our people’s struggle for independence. Every real political hero in this country has struggled for national unity.

The unity we are talking about, the unity we are today observing is for today and for tomorrow. We should be ready to travel together and in unity with all those who wish to unite in the struggle for the same objectives.

We should not understand unity as mere declarations of goodwill and good intentions. Unity is expressed, manifested, consolidated and developed in common activity and struggle.

And it is from beginning to end the popular struggle that determines the course of events. A proper solution to the great national problems is impossible without the struggle of the popular masses. In the present political situation, unity will make the forces of democracy invincible, and the democratisation process irreversible. The unity of our people decides the present and will decide the future. Its consolidation is a especially indispensable in the period leading up to next year’s elections, and after the elections in the peaceful work of developing our country that will follow.

The unity of our people and the unity of all our regions and our political organisations – these are the basic guarantees of the sure success of all our endeavours. It is only through the unity of all our people that we can defeat poverty and move our country to prosperity. It is therefore imperative to overcome anything that impairs this unity.

Let’s reflect and meditate deeply on this day, the holiday of unity, on the need to move our people away from divisive tribal or regional politics.

Labels: NATIONAL UNITY DAY

posted by MrK @ 8:12 PM