PERSPECTIVE: PATRIOTIC FRONT, WHAT NOW? The governing Patriotic Front (PF) is facing its most serious existential threat since its emergence as a political party at the end of 2001, writes Zambian Eye Special Correspondent. It was formed and led by a “strongman” and was for all practical purposes what in business is termed “a special purpose vehicle” -a party built around the presidential ambitions of one man- Michael Sata. It got him into position and that is what really mattered it seems. For, after that, he didn’t always seem to care much what happened to it as when he watched arms akimbo as factionalism threatened to tear it asunder. He remained largely silent as the upheaval ravaged the party. He seemed instead to be more interested to see to the construction of his retirement home and since he seemed to have considered himself something of a king, he also preoccupied himself with meeting chiefs. It was a clear case of Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burned! But he could afford it. It was he after all who had put the party together and the two remain synonymous to this day- he is the PF and the PF is himself! He cobbled it up in his own image relying largely on the rough and ready methods that have distinguished him throughout his chequered political career. There has for instance been not even the semblance of an election to what is supposed to be the party’s top body – the Central Committee. Members of it were simply pressed-ganged into service by himself, chosen for a range of reasons among them blind loyalty, gullibility, tribal, family connections or association. Some of course went to him out of sheer desperation. In almost all the cases however, ability, merit and the future were the least of the considerations! By exploiting the unrequited ambitions of “had-beens” many well past their “use-by” dates, he built the PF in such a way that only he could lead. Thus, everybody who is anyone today owes their position to him and in return for obeisance. The government formed by the PF after September 20, 2011 was no different. Old men from the past eager to relive the days of their youth made the core of it. It resembled him in every respect: rough and ready, not particularly concerned about the rule of law and all parameters could change at his whim as in the case of the constitution. The use of intimidation, actual political violence and raw oppression as tools of denying political competitors operating space were institutionalized. The police were reduced to a satellite party of the PF! Full article on our website zambianeye/archives/22609
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 14:42:26 +0000
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