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Zambia’s former ruling party the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, MMD, has just lost another parliamentary seat through a by-election.
The loss is not only for the MMD but the entire opposition particularly the United Party for National Development, UPND, United National Independence Party, UNIP and the National Restoration Party, NAREP who all fielded candidates.
This just shows how fragmented the opposition in Zambia is today and this must not be allowed to continue if the ruling Patriotic Front, PF, is to be dislodged, come next Presidential and General elections.
With about five more parliamentary by-elections in the immediate horizon, we may see all the seats being scooped by the PF. But it is about time the MMD, UPND, UNIP, NAREP started speaking with one voice when it comes to these by-elections.
What has come out of Feira is one big disaster for all the opposition parties that participated. This may, if not properly handled, affect the rank and file of these parties especially the MMD and UPND who have representation in parliament.
Undoubtedly it is 21 months since the last Presidential and General elections which saw the candidate I supported and the party I wanted to continue governing Zambia tumble to Michael Sata and the PF. What is making me worried, and perhaps a few other people too, is that if an election is called today for whatever reason, the opposition would be caught knapping and would be as fragmented as they are today.
Unless I am missing something, Nevers Mumba, Hakainde Hichilema, Tilyenji Kaunda, Elias Chipimo and even political party presidents like Godfrey Miyanda who only pops up when there is a presidential election should all come together and speak with one voice, putting President Sata and the PF on their toes to ensure that Zambians are adequately served. They are all potential heads of state but they must put their differences aside as the common adversary and NOT enemy is the PF.
The only problem so far is that without a by-election, these opposition political leaders are denied permits to hold public rallies so that they talk to their party members and indeed would be members.
That is why in governing Zambia, President Sata and the PF must allow everybody to enjoy the same rights they enjoyed when in opposition. I stand to be corrected but I do not remember a time when there was any stand off between the Zambia Police and the PF in opposition with regard to public rallies under the MMD reign.
The opposition particularly the MMD and UPND must seriously get back to the grassroots and re-mobilse if they have to survive the gymnastics of the PF. I am not sure if the MMD in Lusaka, for instance, has gotten back to its members on the ground and well wishers at large after losing the September 20, 2011 elections to re-assure them that the party is intact.
The UPND on the other hand appears to be more courageous as seen from the re cent events on the Copperbelt.
It will be very interesting to see how the opposition moves from the Feira defeat. Will it continue being fragmented or will it reach common ground to take on a vicious adversary? Let’s wait for the next by-election!
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