Maravi

Leadership and Zambia at 48

Leadership and Zambia at 48
By The Post
Wed 24 Oct. 2012, 08:20 CAT

On this day, October 24, 48 years ago, our founding fathers brought joy and hope to the hearts of our people when they won independence for our great country. Zambia made a clean break with more than seven decades of colonial rule, and emerged as a truly independent nation. That turning point was a new beginning for our nation.

Those who witnessed the lowering of the British flag, the Union Jack, and the emergence of the green, black, red, orange and an eagle-in-flight flag continue to cherish the memory, because that ceremony was not just about the destiny of a nation, but the future of a people.

The future is here; we are the inheritors of a great legacy that goes even much farther into the past.

The worthy patriots who made this possible were young people in their teens, twenties and thirties. They worked and struggled together to restore dignity and honour to the Zambian people. Their resolve united a multi-cultural and multi-lingual nation of diverse peoples, with more than 73 tribes, that is if we include the Whites and Indians.

In 1964, our diversity became a source of strength, and the new leaders resolved to carry the flag of independence for the benefit of future generations. They had their differences, challenges and problems, but they placed a greater premium on the need to come together to build a new united, peaceful, just, fair and humane nation.

It is that resolve, and that glorious moment that we celebrate today. We also celebrate the patriotism and selflessness of our heroes past: Harry Nkumbula, Simon Kapwepwe, Reuben Kamanga, Mainza Chona, Fines Bulawayo, Arthur Wina, Mungoni Liso, Munukayumbwa Sipalo, Nalumino Mundia, and several others who made the case for our independence.

We remember, as always, their contributions to the making of the Zambian nation, and the efforts of their successors since 1964. We also celebrate the unfailing optimism and resilience of Zambians who remain proud of our national identity.

On this special day, we call on every Zambian to remain steadfast, because our nation is indeed making progress. We call on every Zambian to rediscover that special spirit that enables us to triumph over every adversity as a people.

Whatever our current challenges, problems, and even failures, we cannot afford to belittle the importance of our independence and the great sacrifices that were made by our leaders and our people to achieve or attain it. Whatever the challenges, problems and failures of the past and of the moment, we should always cherish the heroism and sacrifices of our freedom fighters and our people.

If our people had the money, the skyline of Zambia today ought to be littered with fireworks and other forms of spectacles. It has become our tradition over the last 47 years to commemorate the day Zambia got her independence from its British colonial masters.

In the early years of our independence, most citizens used to look forward to this annual ritual with suspense. It was a day of eating and dancing. But hard times, austere times have altered the general public attitude to the occasion that once had all the trappings of a cultural festival.

On this day, we should reflect and meditate deeply as groups, individuals and indeed as stakeholders on what needs to be done in order to push our country forward. As we celebrate the heroism and selflessness of our leaders and our people, we should revert our attention on what needs to be done in order for our people to see a reversal of fortunes. The leadership needs to do more for the country to overcome main challenges inhibiting national progress.

Most Zambian political leaders have been busy serving themselves instead of the country. They must be ready to change their ways and style for the country to move forward. Zambian political leaders should look at what they have made of the country in 48 years and answer in their hearts if they are proud of it. If they realised that they have messed up the years, they must turn a new leaf and have a new paradigm shift.

It is sad that despite its abundant resources, Zambia is still a toddler in many areas of human endeavour after 48 years of independence.

This year's independence anniversary should be an opportunity for our political leaders to embark on soul-searching for the purposes of avoiding the pitfalls of the past years. Let all our political leaders fear God and do what is right to the glory of God and the benefit of our people, of His people.

Let us all remember at all times that political leadership is a sacred trust that must be accounted for. Our political leaders must do the needful to justify the confidence of the Zambian people.

At 48 years of independence, the political immaturity is unjustifiable. Zambia is very well endowed and the citizenry, as a matter of right, must be beneficiaries. Political leadership at all levels must be honest, focused, sincere, service and result-oriented.

We would also wish to remind our political leaders that they should always remember that one day, they will be made to give an account of their stewardship in public office. It is an irony that Zambians could be going through a gruelling period primarily because of dishonest political leadership at different times and different levels of government.

Those, who have the opportunity to make things work in Zambia, should do so with all sincerity, because if they don't, they will meet the fruits of their insincerity waiting for them when they leave office.

Inept leadership has contributed more to our woes. This has led to the mismanagement of our immense human and natural resources and undermined the rights and dignity of our people as well as compromising our country's development and economic growth.

And we should ask ourselves: will the situation be remarkably different at the turn of Zambia's 50th Independence Day in 2014? Will it be close to what the founding fathers of the country and other nationalists envisaged?

Labels: INDEPENDENCE

posted by MrK @ 3:41 PM