Maravi

Look for quality leadership

Look for quality leadership
By The Post
Sat 04 Dec. 2010, 04:00 CAT

WHEN our people go to the polls next year, they will not be going there to vote for ideas, for things in one's head. They will be voting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children.

And chief Kanongesha is right when he says voters should elect leaders who will take the country to another level because what is being sought in these elections is genuine democracy in which leaders are servants of the electorate and not its masters.

Our people will only be able to live better and in peace if they elect leaders who are intelligent, honest and humble and who see politics as a vocation to serve the people.

Elections are important in the promotion of justice, peace, development and community among all.

We see elections as a way of building up society for the common good. We should therefore vote wisely and only for people who are known for their honesty, ability, dedication and concern for the welfare of all.

When election time comes, we must vote for people of integrity regardless of the region they come from, their tribe, language or political affiliation.

Zambia needs patriotic leaders; people who place national interest before personal ambition.

Our duty of voting must be fulfilled carefully and we must choose wisely people who will take the direction of civil affairs.

We should be conscious of the crucial role each individual citizen should play in choosing the leaders who will create the Zambia we want to live in.

We should use our voice for the good of Zambia, as opposed to the good of a particular political party, group or individual.

We should vote for candidates who have proved themselves accountable to the electorate for the common good.

We should vote for people who are courageous in defending truth and justice for all, candidates who are completely honest in fulfilling private and public responsibilities.

We should vote according to our conscience, in accordance with the highest human values without allowing ourselves to be pressured or dictated to by anyone, by bribes, threats, self-interest and so on and so forth.

Next year's elections will provide all Zambians with a unique opportunity to show their political maturity and their sincere aspiration for peace and harmony anchored on justice.

The election campaign itself should avoid tribalistic outlook or sectionalism and look for the common good of all people.

There's need to realise that real political victory in these elections will lie on the ideas proposed, on the ethical values of the candidates, on the respect for the freedom of choice of all citizens, and not on any form of moral pressure or intimidation of political opponents or voters.

Political parties should be formed and run on ideals and principles and not on tribal or personal cult.

The right to vote bears positive fruit for the country when the people choose good leaders. We have the right to choose those who will represent us, and we must do our duty as citizens by choosing people who will serve the country with justice towards all.

We strongly advocate voting for people who consider themselves accountable to their electorate, who consider the public interest than their own, and who are faithful to their election promises; people who respect the rights of others and who do not use their position to amass wealth and are mindful of the many who have little or none; people of genuine integrity, moral courage in the cause of truth and justice, and who are competent for the posts entrusted to them.

We should vote for the political party that has a programme we see as the best for us as a nation. And candidates should therefore be evaluated on their capacity to implement both their party's manifesto and their own personal vision.

Those who offer themselves for re-election ought to be evaluated against the record of what they have or have not achieved. Did they fulfil their promises? Did they offer quality service to all the people and not only those who voted them into power? Were they available to listen to the concerns of the people and were they selfless in responding to the needs of all, especially the poor?

Those who have not yet held office should be carefully evaluated in terms of their competence and their reputation for honest and selfless dedication to the common good.

We believe that only those with the courage to speak out the truth, concern for social justice, desire to work for the common good instead of self-enrichment, disposition to use power for service, especially service of the poor and underprivileged, openness to dialogue, good moral standing, transparency and accountability to the electorate should be entrusted with the responsibility of public office.

Where we may now review the performance of our present representatives, let's weigh the candidates on the balance of truth, justice and unselfish service, and, if we find them wanting, reject them and elect others in their place.

This is our inalienable right. But this gives rise to another issue - the character of the candidates themselves. There is little benefit in voting out the old, if the newly elected may prove equally disappointing.

Our vote should help eliminate the unworthy and improve the quality of the new leadership. Once every five years, the law puts this power in our hands. Let us use it wisely and bravely.

Our vote is certainly a powerful weapon for unity, an instrument of liberty, justice and peace. On our voting, on the quality of it, the discernment behind it, depend the progress and peace of our country.

Clearly, in casting one's vote, a citizen should never be swayed by personal profit, tribal or even racial bias, but solely by the consideration of which of the conflicting issues or candidates is better for the nation.

We should scrutinise the people who wish to represent us and select our candidates strictly according to the good we think they can do.

The interest of the political parties should be kept subordinate to the public good. It is necessary to remind ourselves of the fact that politics and elections are for the good of the people and the country, and not for political survival of any individual or political party.

The spirit of the primacy of the common good should animate all our political parties. Politics and elections should aim at the promotion of the common good and the service of all the people.

We read in the scriptures that "The Son of Man himself came not to be served but to serve" (Mark 10:42).

The political parties that participate in our elections may not be that serious, their leaders may really be silly.

But the function of the elections in which they participate is deadly serious: to provide a peaceful and fair method by which our people can select their leaders and have a meaningful role in determining their own destiny.

And judging by the record of the past, the two most decisive factors affecting the future consolidation and expansion of our democracy will be economic development and political leadership. Economic development makes democracy possible; political leadership makes it real.

This is why chief Kanongesha's call to Zambians to look for quality leadership during next year's elections should not be about to fall on deaf ears.

Labels: CHIEF KANONGESHA, LEADERSHIP

posted by MrK @ 9:14 PM