DEMOCRACY IN SHAMBLES. MIRRORING ZAMBIA

Love of the nation and patriotism of leaders to the nation building. Building here is inferred to mean the whole spectrum of national building i.e, political, economics and national ideology.

The Hallmark of the above subject cannot be drawn from a vacuum of rhetorical positions of men or game of politics (mingalato), rather can be stemmed from the basics of what gives birth to political institutions. Such are political parties, procedures , rules and their serving members.

I am afraid, Zambia has been cast under the shadows of draconian rule by draconian rulers. This is a position the nation vacated from when it demanded a return to multiparty politics and democracy in 1991.

FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN SO FAR IN ZAMBIA 12/04/25, I can say, there has been a 'new meaning for democracy and rule of law (mediocre meaning)'. Democracy has this far been what it is (draconian and mediocre), as seen from the point where it is favouring the interests of a few and small sect of people, so does the rule of law. So far, democracy and rule of law (as systems of governance and for order) at face value in the nation have been fronts used by those wielding governmental power. These tools (rule of law' and order) have been facades, appearing real and practical on paper only when favouring them and painting a pleasant picture in the eyes of the international community (observers). On the ground at home, like they say; when people don't have knowledge of the thing, they tend to abuse it, and when the know about it, they call names. Author Myles Munroe once said; you cannot appropriate what you don't understand and you cannot experience what you don't practice. Does it mean our leaders don't understand what the vyde for in leadership?

There is "witchcraft" in Zambia. Witchcraft is not only a practice of magic or diabolical manoeuvres towards others.It is a dire hate and expression of dominance over another at all cost to get what you want. This includes involvement in killing, meiming or illegally and unfairly dislodging somebody from becoming part of or enjoying the common good that everyone else stands at liberty to enjoy.

Real democracy means power to govern is vested in the people. It means government of the people by the people for the people. Nothing less than this.

DICTATORSHIP IN SIGHT

Authority gives power its legality. Power without legitimate authority is dictatorship and inevitably results in abuse, oppression, and destruction. Authority gives power its rights. Earthly governments derive their authority from the people either through a process of choice or by usurping authority through force. The governments of this earth get their authority by way of vote or violence. Earthly governments are formed by casting a vote or by launching a revolution. Dictatorship is the form of government derived from the concept of “divine authority,” built on the belief that certain individuals are chosen by the gods or by providence to rule the masses and exercise authority over the less fortunate or so-called “inferior” people. This is the form of governing we find in biblical records and other sources such as the Egyptian pharaohs who believed they were products of the gods and were destined to rule people by virtue of birthright.

In another definition, a dictatorship is government that concentrates its power and authority in the hands of one individual who wields absolute authority unrestricted by laws, constitution, or any other social or political factors.

Historically, dictators have never succeeded for long, usually ending in tragedy and chaos. No dictatorship will survive forever. At some point, the people revolt.

Dictatorship is also a twisted attempt by man to re-establish the original form of government established by the Creator in the Garden of Eden when. He delegated total rulership and dominion control to the man Adam. Adam was given absolute power, but the distinction is that his power and dominion were never intended to rule over other human beings, but over the animals, birds, plants, and water kingdoms. Whenever the attempt is made to dominate humankind through any form of dictatorship, the natural result is rebellion and resistance. Dictatorship over humanity is not God’s original form of government. Illegal authority ultimately is dictatorship.

In Zambia, there are institutions that should desist from participating in doing political tricks that breaches systems. Such are the electoral commission of Zambia and the judiciary. This is a friendly warning. The lives of the people are here at stake. Institutional alignment and siding with appointing individual's interest above the common good of the populace here poses the nation to catching the fire which cannot not be easy to quenchvand which the end effect can be seriously be regreted and irreparable at the same time. Let us respect the law and the institutions we have mandated to level the playing field for politics.

For those advancing these maladministration, you are being monitored and your works will follow you soon including you priced precious family for the damage that would be caused.

POLITICAL PARTIES IN DEMOCRACY

Now Political parties in a democracy have to be understood within the overall theory and practice of democracy. Democracy can be defined (or should I say explained) in three different ways. First, a minimal definition (explanation) locates the theory and practice of democracy around two principles or values i.e, political competition or contestation, and participation. The notion of contestation ‘captures the uncertain peaceful competition necessary for democratic rule, a principle which presumes the legitimacy of some opposition, the right to challenge the incumbents, the existence of free and fair elections, and a consolidated party system’ . Participation presupposes political control of the citizens over the people who govern on their behalf. This notion ‘captures the idea of popular sovereignty which presumes the protection of the right to vote as well as the existence of universal suffrage’ . This is what is often referred to as procedural democracy. Second, the liberal notion of democracy extends its essence beyond just contestation and participation to include the positive protection and promotion of political rights and civil liberties. It includes other institutional dimensions (guarantees) such as accountability, transparency, constraints upon leaders, the representation of citizens, the rule of law, and property and minority rights. This is what liberal democracy is all about. Third, the structuralist definition of democracy extends the theory and practice of democracy beyond the procedural and institutional dimensions found in the first two definitions and introduces the socio-economics.

It is evident that a democratic system has of necessity, to be characterized by political pluralism. One of the measures of the

degree of pluralism in a political system is the existence and operations of political

parties. This is so because political parties compete for ideas and political power

and promote citizen participation in the political process. They play a crucial role

in ensuring that the institutional foundations of democracy are firmly grounded, and they espouse the promotion of a better socio-economic dispensation for the electorate. In essence therefore, the existence of political parties is the hallmark of representative democracy (whether it is a procedural democracy, liberal democracy

or social democracy.

Without political parties or in situations where parties are weak and ineffective, politics is reduced to unbridled opportunism and the overt self-serving interest of individual politicians who may derail the nation-building process and the democracy project.

Cited in Kellman, Doherty posits that ‘without strong political parties and political institutions that are accountable and effective, that can negotiate and articulate compromises to respond to conflicting demands, the door is effectively open to those populist leaders who will seek to bypass the institutions of government, especially a system of checks and balances, and the rule of law’

Excepts from the latest book soon to be released titled "If Zambia Shall be Saved " authored by Zengani Zimba.