THE FACADE OF ANOINTED LEADERSHIP By Prof. Michelo Hansungule A critical point that should be exposed as voters go to the polls for the presidential by-election next week is the issue of anointed leadership. The term ‘anointed leadership’ has lately been touted so much in public domain that it is bound to mislead some voters. It is important to ring fence the fact that in Zambian politics, leadership is premised on the basis of a democratic process and nothing more. It is incredible to hear people canvassing for votes for the incumbent PF candidate Edgar Lungu on the basis that he was anointed by late president Michael Sata. He was not. It is absolutely crucial for each and every voter everywhere to understand that no one anointed Sata into office in the first place. The late president tried to seek late president Chiluba’s anointment but the latter refused? Former President Rupiah Banda from whom Sata took the reigns of power is still alive and in fact in the field now traversing the country campaigning for ruling party candidate Edgar Lungu; we could ask him whether he anointed Sata into office? But we don’t have to because the answer is clear to us all – Sata was ‘anointed’ by democracy. Voters ushered Sata into office, not any one person least of all Sata. Sata did not and could not anoint Lungu to take over from him as PF president, NO! The PF constitution does not have the word ‘anointment’ of their party leaders hence they had the Kabwe fiasco. What it has is change of power by democracy. Sata illegally and untenably transferred power to Minister Lungu. Epilogue Having traversed the length and width of Zambia in the last two weeks and conferring with several Zambians, I have no doubt this is HH’s election. It is quite clear, in fact, more than clear that Zambians are ready to have an HH presidency. HH’s critics have tried every tricky in the book to throw dirty or doubt on him but it hasn’t worked this time round. Like Frederick Chiluba or Kaunda himself in 1964 who had no political experience before assuming the presidency, HH will be entering State House with no political experience but a track record of tested business experience. This is what Zambia needs badly right now. Not politicians who cheat and who have cheated Zambians since 1964 but complete political novices but with far reaching visions. As a successful businessman since he was 26 years, HH will NEVER abuse Zambian resources – NEVER. As he himself has observed, he will not ask Zambians to build him a house because he has his own houses. I do not expect him to ask Zambians to buy him luxury cars because as he personally assured me, he has his. The other day, he was selling me four hundred heifers and indicated he would be selling eight hundred two months down the line; how can such a person be so greedy as to steal from poor Zambians what he already has? His wife lives an ordinary God fearing life one gets the distinct impression she is being forced to come into the limelight. We don’t expect the first lady to abuse the office of presidency and I doubt any of HH’s relatives. HH will bring sanity to the government. It is not right that critical institutions like the Office of Chief Justice should run on acting basis yet there is a head of state? It is not right that the president takes RDA to his house at State House. How can you keep all the billions of kwacha and United States dollars at State House? It was just strange how the current government was run. We need a president who will personally commit to prioritise the constitution and not one who at this late point asks basic questions like convince me that the constitution is more important than roads? We should put the constitution behind us. I have personally spoken to HH and he Impresses me as someone whom one can trust. Tuesday 20 January is an important electoral day for the estimated fourteen million Zambians. Most important clearly is for voters to freely choose a leader of their choice in conditions that are fair, inclusive, non-intimidating and which will enable the genuine expression of the will of the people. Every Zambian voter this weekend has a duty to look for the voters’ card and national registration card. Do not wait for Tuesday or even Monday to look for them but do so this weekend if you already have not done so t make sure we all vote to protect the presidency and country. READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE ON THE LINK BELOW: zambianwatchdog/facade-of-anointed-leadership/
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 05:56:58 +0000
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