In this article I seek to persuade law makers & the Zambian citizens to consider changing our electoral system to a system that allows proportional representation. My reasons are three-fold; one is to ensure we put to an end what is known as regional voting. This will foster unity, and to some extent the use of tribal rhetoric by politicians will be muted.
And two is to ensure that talented political leaders are not left outside of National Assembly & Government.
And three to make sure resources & development is taken to every municipality regardless of which Party Governs that District.
POLITICAL TALENTS
The goal of a democratic Republic is to foster equal participation in the life of the Nation. The Plurality of Political Parties does not exist solely for the purpose of entering State House, No!
Political Parties exist to offer checks & balances and encourages diversity in the National Assembly. By diversity I don't just mean bringing the different tribes or gender together. But diversity in skills & qualifications.
The saying, "takateke" is informed by ignorance. Now talking about 'Takateke' The President of the Opposition Party Hakainde Hichilema has been in opposition for about 20 years.
In this period HH has never been in Parliament nor government. Yes, he is represented by UPND Members of Parliament but it's not the same.
His Profile is impressive as a businessman he holds a degree in Economics & business Administration.
He serves as chairman on a number of boards of corporate entities.
He is chairman of the boards of entities including; chairman of the board of directors Barclays Bank Zambia Plc, Sun international, African Trade Insurance based in Kenya, Greenbelt Fertilizers Limited, Media Trust Fund, Westlake investment based in Mauritius & many more. HH is also into farming.
The 20 years HH has been a leader of the Opposition, he would have been serving in Parliament & maybe leading a Parliamentary committee on finance.
Madam Edith Nawakwi is an Economist by profession. A young, smart and beautiful Edith was the definition of women excellence.
She became the first woman to hold the position of Finance Minister in Zambia & in SADC under MMD. Her fallout with the Frederick Chiluba's Administration on the Presidential third term debate she became the founder & Leader of Forum For Democratic & Development (FDD) that has not formed Government yet.
In a Proportional representative system Madam Edith Nawakwi would still be in Parliament as leader of the Opposition FDD and making contribution to the development of our country.
Dr. Nevers Mumba the first Zambian Tele-Evangelist & a crusader of Zambia Shall Be Saved.
As I always say of Doc, the history of the Christian Church especially of the Pentecostal & Charismatic Movement cannot be told without mentioning the role that Dr. Nevers Mumba has played in the Gospel Ministry at home and abroad.
His marriage to Florence is unshaken and a constant reminder of his love & devotion for his family.
Unlike HH, NM was appointed Vice-President of Zambia under President Mwanawasa. He understands the work of Parliament first hand.
When Nevers says, "tried and tested leadership" we can agree that indeed he was in Government the second most powerful man in the country, Vice President Nevers Mumba.
Dr. Nevers Mumba was sent as an Ambassador representing Zambia in Canada. He served well and made Zambia proud especially when he was elected President of the Diplomatic Community in Ottawa Canada. The first African to hold this position in Canada.
Reverend Reuben Sambo is the running mate of Dr. Nevers Mumba under MMD serving as Vice-President.
I bring him among these Politicians because I know him first hand. I served under him as a Youth leader. He is a peace maker, an incredibly wise, gifted speaker, & leader.
Now that the argument about whether or not Pastors should be involved in Politics has died, I can vouch for Rev. Reuben Sambo & the contribution he would bring to Zambia as a law maker if we changed our electoral system to a Proportional representation.
DEFINING THE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
Zambia has a mix of single transferable vote & a Majority system. The Members of Parliament gets the direct support of their constituencies.
And the Presidential candidate receives more that 50% of the National vote.
Because the Member of Parliament is voted separately from the Presidential vote, opposition leaders who stand as Presidential candidates if not voted will not go to Parliament especially now with the running mate clause.
In Proportional representation a political party adopts/elects a list of people to represent the party (obviously the party represents the will of the people) in parliament.
For example the New Hope MMD will have a list and on top of the list is Dr. Nevers Mumba, and followed by Reverend Reuben Sambo and goes on from the priority going down.
For argument sake if MMD gets 25% of the national vote, quarter of the MPs in National Assembly will be MMD & Dr. Nevers Mumba then becomes the leader of the opposition MMD in Parliament, and gets a monthly salary from Parliament.
This system gives a bloodline to smaller parties struggling financially. Instead of keeping your Party leader stationed at the secretariat struggling to pay him salaries, Parliament pays him/her therefore empowering him to contribute to our National development.
Take South African Parliament as an example. South Africa has 400 seats that are distributed by percentage point.
In 2019 Elections;
ANC 57.5% 230 Seats
DA 20.7% 84
EFF 10.7% 44
ACDP 0.84 4
The rest of the parties share in the remaining Seats while other parties failed to produce even one seat.
ACDP is lead by Reverend Kenneth Moshoe. He is still Pastoring a Church and he is a member of Parliament.
Reverend Moshoe brings Christian ethos in Parliament and represents Christians on the legislative level.
I believe with People like Rev. Sambo in Parliament they will engage on contentious ethical issues in parliament like abortions etc.
In fact taking Christians to Parliament is more practical than declaring a country a Christian Nation.
EFF the new kids on the block has changed SA Parliament. The 44 MPs have spoken louder than 230 ANC members.
It's not easy for the ruling Party to buy Opposition members when Madam Nawakwi, Dr. Nevers Mumba, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema & many other opposition leaders are in parliament.
Proportional representation would allow the best, smart & skilled Politicians to be actively involved in Legislature.
Aspiring for the highest office as Republican President should not be our ambition. Our ambitions should be to better the lives of our people by gathering the best talents Zambia has, and put them to good use whether they are part of the ruling Party or Not.
I ask Madam Edith Nawakwi, Dr. Nevers Mumba, my Pastor Rev. Reuben Sambo & Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, & President Edgar Changwa Lungu; would you consider a Proportional representation or a mixed Electoral system that allows opposition leaders to participate in Parliament?
Think about it as we go to the next elections. Zambia has political talents rusting out there & in trying hard to gain power lose their objectivity to position themselves close to power.
Lawrence Musunte
24Beatrice Kunda, Jacob PC Ntuntu and 22 others
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