There will be many reasons for people to disagree. In fact, disagreeing is a very normal thing in life. The right to dissent, although not recognised as such per se, is a fundamental requirement in any functional society – particularly, that which espouses democracy.

We want to take this opportunity to argue that the right to dissent does not necessarily mean the right to anarchy, a vice that few of our people, with a chain of qualifications in deception boast of. We think that staunch dissenters, who depending on circumstances qualify for the duo tags of “rebels” or “terrorists”, need to be protected. They must be protected to practice their trade as stopping them would be infringing on their fundamental rights of association and indeed opinion – never mind what else they do.

In this we are comforted by the correct postulation of the emerging human rights debate that no collective right is intended to produce reactionary results. The right to worship is a classical one, which does not include conduct/campaigns likely to bring the body of Christ into disrepute. It is easier to manufacture lies, generate hatred and other vices injurious to society; than it is for promoters of lies to uphold society to levels that would make any body proud. What is good about dishonest conduct or indeed blunt deception?

The view or indeed suggestion that nothing in Zambia works is malicious and as untrue as the view that all Zambians were very comfortable until late president Levy Mwanawasa (MHSRP) or President Banda, ascended to the office of the President.

If it were true that all was okay, then this country would not have risen against Dr. Kenneth Kaunda in the manner it did and that is where we want to take the queue from.

On wrestling power from Dr. Kaunda, an atmosphere preganant with terrible levels of hatred, deception, anger and rebellion was created and continues to haunt Zambia. It has become a permanent specter of doom.  

Many will recall how Dr. Kaunda was pelted with oranges as his motorcade entered Independence Stadium. Many will also recall how a hate song was coined against Kaunda, refereeing him to what we are constrained to reproduce.
As they say, the “Seeds of Destruction were planted in the past”. As soon as late president Mwanawasa ascended to power he was accused of all kinds of things, which we cannot reproduce.   As he lay painfully in hospital, others were celebrating and the facts and evidence of those who celebrated is not in short supply.

In a mocking way, others took out space in the media to indicate how sad they were, etc. Others expressed their heart-felt feelings in a different way and no sooner had our late president Mwanawasa been buried that the same group of expert dissenters ganged together to dismantle the so called family tree, as part of the on-going process of exercising the right to hold opinion.

When a people develop and entertain a culture of hatred, as exhibited by two Catholic fathers on the Copperbelt, then we have reason to be extremely worried. It means, these do not believe all that they have leant as servants of Jesus and are quite happy to be part of people whose power of reasoning is constrained by material benefits.
If the right to opinion is not only limited to those whose opinion is supposed to be listen to, we hold the view that anything that is done or omitted to be done, but that which must assist in the breakdown of society from within, is totally unacceptable.

Surely, there must be a difference between a partisan political commentator and that of a Priest. Men and Women of the Collar are ordained to stand for the truth and only the truth, just like a witness takes oath in Court!
The fact that some witnesses though have no problem lying under oath, tells a lot. Practically, it means that there are some of us who have re-defined many words. Peace means only that which is acceptable to those who have re-defined it. Corruption now means that if you have the power to commit heinous crimes, which includes protected fraud, you may do so as long as you are not caught and everybody is convinced that you are very smart etc. That is the new definition of “zero-tolerance” to corruption and general wrong doing, which includes ‘the big one’.
So, what is all this that we hear that “there is a fertile ground for this and that action” That His Honour George Kunda, should resign because he is supposed to have mislead the nation? Do we really know what it means to cheapen our public offices?

As we indicated in the last edition, the findings of the tribunal on former Transport and Communication Minister Dora Siliya, is more than suspect. It is an invitation for a major crisis between the Judiciary and the Executive and as expected, (a move we support), the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) will take a position which is not necessarily antagonistic, but supportive of the law.  

Siliya resigned and that was very courageous of her. To pursue her and want to drive her to the “ditch” the way former Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mukelebai Mukelebai was hounded, is to be merciless, inhuman and degrading, acts we find deplorable.

It smacks of unacceptable high levels of intolerance, particularly when you look at the diabolical schemes that some of Siliya’s adversaries have promoted.

Talking about Siliya, we now defend her as a political woman – a woman who as we said has shown that she has what it takes to take on the so called powerful men of Zambia.

Siliya, if you have done any wrong, you have been more than fair to the people of Zambia, by firstly rising above pettiness and putting Zambia first – You resigned your Cabinet portfolio, all in the interest of the nation. We commend the men and women who took off their hats for you and of-course we bemoan the fact that by the act, of resignation, quality Women representation at that level has gone down.

But more important, even when Siliya knew that support for her would be limited given the “mighty power” of the other side, she soldiered on, and politically, many women have all the right to look to that characteristic for one simple reason that of those who have been accused of plunder, now and before, and by comparison, the number of women cited or mentioned is negligible!

These are some of the knocks of political engagement and this is what people mean when they say “politics is dirty”. No space for logic!

The strategy of hate propaganda, which was used against late president Mwanawasa and has now been directed towards President Rupiah Banda, and has some support of some “Clergy” is totally unacceptable.

We find it childish, and reckless, to go on arguing over half-truths. More than ever, part of the Church has from the time of president Mwanawasa been associated with issuing statements which clearly are part of the false political crisis in the nation.

Yes, Donors have agreed to provide about 500 million United States Dollars civic education fund per year for five years. Ask yourself, what has changed? Is support to Zambia’s democracy premised on the need to promote anarchy, misunderstanding and hatred? And which interest now is being promoted.

With due respect, Zambia must take a leaf from Madagascar, Kenya and Zimbabwe. We do not think that these countries needed to go the route of anarchy, before accepting common sense to prevail. Zambians, please keep virgil – keep your eyes wide open and do not be used to promote sectarian agendas.