Maravi

Setting standards which apply to all

Setting standards which apply to all
By The Post
Wed 07 Mar. 2012, 12:00 CAT

IT was very comforting to listen to Fackson Shamenda, our Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Labour, explain what they were trying to do as a government on various issues. Fackson has been a friend of our newspaper for many years, from the days of his leadership of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions. He was our friend because we shared many values, principles and standards.

But on Monday this week, he came to our newspaper in another capacity, as a minister in our government. He was last here before the elections. We were happy to listen to our friend and see how much he has changed or how much he has not changed since becoming a minister.

The man has not changed. He has remained the same Fackson we have known over the years - honest, principled, loyal, analytical and articulate. Being in government has not deformed him in any way. We were also delighted to see with him Amos Malupenga, our permanent secretary in the same ministry.

Amos has also not been here since he got down to the busy schedules of government work. Issues of our long relationships and the serious business of government were all blended together.

Both Amos and Fackson reminded us and themselves where we came from, the path we had travelled, the principles we have defended. It was enjoyable to listen to them articulate the history of The Post with utmost honesty and sincerity. But one thing stood out in all that they said. These were men out to do good for our country and our people.

Fackson gave us a sense of great pride when he reassured us about his government's commitment to fighting corruption and other abuses of power and public office. He told us that what they were doing to the previous leaders is what should be done to them if they commit the same wrongs or engage in the same transgressions; that the standards they were setting in their treatment of others should be the standards that should be used against them when they leave office.

This is a very highly principled position to take. Fackson was simply telling us that wrong is wrong regardless of who is behind it; if Fackson steals, he should be arrested, prosecuted and sent to jail in the same way a leader from the MMD government would be treated for a similar crime.

It is clear that the pursuit of justice is a fundamental norm of Fackson and his colleagues in the Michael Sata-led government. What can one ask for from a man, from a government that seems to be abiding by the golden rule, that seems to be doing unto others as they would like others to do unto them?

This is not cheap politicking on the part of Fackson. We can say this with confidence because we know him. It is something 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 and standards and common aims and values.

Our task today is to ensure that our politicians, Fackson and his colleagues, apply those values, principles, standards and common aims. And this calls for a new type of politics. It is time to break out of the politics of the past 20 years of MMD rule and break through with a clear vision for Zambia.
Today's politics is about the common good; it is not about the enrichment or enjoyment of a few individuals.

It is also about the protection and advancement of the humanity of every individual. Human dignity transcends in social order as the basis for rights and is neither granted by society nor can it be legitimately violated by society. All people are created in the image and likeness of God and this gives every person great dignity.

Therefore, all citizens are equal in dignity and have equal rights. No human person, situation, event or thing can take away this dignity. Leaders who respect human dignity guarantee basic rights to the people they rule and create opportunities for citizens to exercise their responsibilities.

A just society can exist only when it respects the dignity of the human person. The social order and its development must invariably work for the benefit of the human person. Leaders should exercise stewardship and uphold the common good.

It is said that one cannot call others to virtues which he himself does not make an effort to practice. Equally, we cannot protect the ordinary against the abuse of power by leaving them to it: we must protect each other. We must do it together because this can only be done together.

Leaders lead, but in the end the people govern. Our leaders should lead by example; they should respect themselves and be exemplary in their daily lives. If it is wrong for Rupiah Banda to steal public funds; it is equally wrong for Michael to steal public funds.

But we cannot say that because today we love Michael, we have just voted for him and it will not be okay for him to be prosecuted for corruption when he leaves office and the only way we can ensure that is by making sure his predecessor, Rupiah, is not prosecuted.

This is so because if we prosecute Rupiah for his misdeeds, then Michael will also be prosecuted. This is not true. It is not automatic that if Rupiah is prosecuted for corruption then Michael will also be prosecuted for corruption. Who says that if Rupiah stole then Michael will also steal? But if both steal, then both should be prosecuted and there will be nothing wrong with that.

These are the standards this government is setting. And Fackson is telling us that they are taking a risk, but it's a risk worth taking because it's in the interest of the people. This is the leadership we want. This is what is meant by selfless leadership.

This is what should guide this government's dealings with the misdeeds, with the corruption and other abuses of the Rupiah regime. It needs a principled position. Political expediency in matters of this nature won't do.

If this government continues on this path, we have no doubt that although they will face many challenges, many problems, they will not let the Zambian people down - they will achieve what can be achieved in the circumstances. It's not going to be easy, and no one should cheat themselves or anyone else that things are going to be easy. They won't.

Things are going to get tough, rough economically, socially and politically. We have challenges in all spheres of human endeavour that will require our greatest efforts and our greatest wisdom to overcome. There are many interests that need to be balanced.

For instance, in trying to put more money in the pockets of our people, we have come up with a Pay As You Earn system that is likely to reduce government revenues without any meaningful compensating taxes. This may, after May, force our government to resort to heavy borrowing.

But there are dangers also in being highly indebted; there is even a limit to how much can be borrowed. There are no easy solutions to these challenges; there are no magic formulas to problems of this nature that sometimes look insoluble. This simply demonstrates the tragedy of our people, the distressing difficulties we have to face.

And we share the bitter feeling of impotence that our political leaders may have in the face of such problems and their concerns for the political instability which these problems may give rise to.

We have no alternative but to struggle, trusting in the great moral and intellectual capacity of our people, of our leaders and indeed in our own instincts for self-preservation, if we wish to harbour any hope for survival and progress.

Only with an honest, self-respecting, selfless leadership and with a tremendous effort and the moral and intellectual support of all can we face a future that objectively appears desperate and sombre.

Labels: AMOS MALUPENGA, FACKSON SHAMENDA, ZCTU

posted by MrK @ 2:41 PM