Dear Mr. President,
Congratulations on your victory and this huge endorsement from the Zambian people. You deserve it and have worked hard to get here.
As the celebrations reach a crescendo, it will be time for you to retreat for a short while so as not to lose yourself in the hype. For your task ahead is huge.
Surely, there are a lot of voices inundating you with different messages at this point in time. I’ll add my own as an expectant Zambian, similar to the thoughts shared with the sixth Republican President in 2015.
1. We need a leader
The time cannot be any better to demonstrate leadership. It is time to share hope, to execute a well thought through vision for the country and set the nation on a path of progress. Show us the plan, lead by action and engage us your people regularly, demonstrating how the plan is being implemented.
That takes leadership. With where the country is today, things can only get better. It would take a shocking miracle for things to get worse than they are.
2. Unite us please
Most of us have lamented how our unity as a people has been weakened by tribal talk and misguided political loyalties.
It goes without saying that this will be your biggest task and it is an urgent one. To reinforce the One Zambia, One Nation motto in word and deed. Our diversity is our wealth. Co-existing as 72 tribes should be our pride and crown. Nothing should jeopardise this at all.
If there is one thing that makes my heart bleed, it is tribalism in whatever form. How sad that we have gotten to a stage where even leaders unashamedly get on public platforms and spit out tribal talk, about where one hails, whether they can or will ever rule and all that filthy talk. We are bigger than that. At individual and national level, we must reject this divisive spirit outrightly.
We must detest tribalism. How we the people of Zambia voted says a lot. There are provinces that chose to vote for change based on the quality of options before them as opposed to where a candidate hails. It is such a mindset that we need to start seeing more of.
We will rely on you to help us heal as a people and see Mother Zambia’s beauty through her tribal diversity.
Make this your priority from the word go.
3. Watch your back (and circle)
Be wary who you surround yourself with. More importantly, be very careful who you listen to. We have seen how an inner circle can make or break a leader.
By all means, have some people in your circle that will be candid with you. Difficult as it may be (humanly speaking) for us to hear the uncomfortable truth, you will need this.
Treat with caution all those that will agree with all you say and do…those that will praise you at every turn. Therein lies failure’s rich ingredients.
4. Learn from history
If there are stories and lessons to keep close to heart, it is those involving the leaders that have gone before you. Have a compilation of their stories or pictures to remind you every so often. To keep you humble and focused.
There are leaders who were popular and loved by the people. Leaders who were given a commanding mandate by the people. Yet once in office for a few years, they lost their way, stopped listening, were detached and allowed power to corrupt them.
The end is inevitable for such leaders. Let your legacy be different. It is within your control. Don’t take the people’s confidence in you for granted. Ultimate power lies with the people. Always remember that.
5. You can’t fix everything….at once
We have your manifesto and we paid attention to the promises you made. We will hold you accountable on that basis.
However, pace yourself and just be focused on delivering progress. Do not set out to do too many things and fail at all. The key outcome has to be progress. We can get there one step and one agenda at a time as long as you give it your all.
Most of all, let your team deliver with you so it all does not depend on you. It will therefore be critical that you appoint your team based on merit and competence, not patronage or compelled loyalties.
The truth is that you will have an opportunity to initiate some projects and initiatives which will be completed by your successor. It is the way of life. You do not need to be so pressed to do everything and have your name on it. It is acceptable too to be an initiator.
That way you will be focused on quality development and not expediency.
6. Clean up the system
We have amazing talent in the public service, capable of turning the country around and reversing the current trajectory.
Allow professionals to thrive. Penalise mediocrity. Take a strong stance on corruption. Abhor shoddy work. Institutionalise excellence at all levels. This is the most effective way of embedding discipline and obliterating paralysing complacency.
We are desperate for a cultural shift in the civil service, in public institutions and in our national mindset. You must focus on driving productivity, enhancing performance management and improving service delivery.
Most of all, invest in the relevant institutions that will embed the core governance principles which our nation needs more than ever.
This will become even more critical when it comes to how the majority position in the National Assembly is managed. While we have scored a huge victory at a Presidential level, we are confronted with a potential hurdle of a singular dominant force in the House which may weaken checks and balances. Don’t fall for this governance trap.
You have a great opportunity to set progressive actions and precedence in motion. Do not waste it.
7. Restore pride in old fashioned work
Many Zambians have mourned in the silence of their toil, as their genuine work has gone unrewarded.
Instead those gifted in patronage and the privileged connected few have seen their wealth multiply.
From the small scale farmer, the marketeer, the trader to the self employed and formally employed citizen, all must find pride in honest work. Not laziness and the “tuchawa” culture that is rewarded with tenders, showroom vehicles, mansions, power and instant wealth.
And after all is said and done, crush the nonsensical cadreism at all costs and in whatever form it comes. Do not make the mistake of simply dressing it up in red and discarding the green. Such arrogance, inequality and systemic discrimination has no place in the Zambia we dream of.
Show us the fresh path we must take.
8. Corruption is your biggest trap
So much has been said about the unchecked levels of corruption. Even the simplest of services cannot be rendered without the vice rearing its head.
The last thing we need is more rhetoric on corruption. Only action, real action, will yield progressive results and curb the rot.
Any failure to address the scourge decisively will only feed the monster and finally make it insurmountable.
9. Let there be an economy
The economic headwinds are apparent and well known. Runaway inflation, deterioration in living standards, low productivity across economic sectors, a huge tax burden on the few in formal employment, suffocating poverty, poor access to decent health facilities, unemployment…the list is endless.
The time is now for an ambitious revamp. There will be tough times ahead and uncomfortable decisions have to be made. All we ask is that you make the corrective and necessary decisions for the good of our nation in the long term.
10. Let Zambia take her place
Zambia has not done much on the international stage compared to her earlier life, mainly under KK’s stewardship.
We have yet again performed admirably in terms of regime change and democratic transition. For a third time, power has switched from an incumbent administration to the opposition and have peacefully hired seventh Head of State through the ballot.
We must build on this reputation to also strategically position ourselves as international players in democratic leadership, global conversations and the cause for a refreshed African narrative.
We must find and focus on areas that we will be pacesetters in, based on our strengths and natural assets.
We must believe again and pursue that dream for Mother Zambia.
Once again, congratulations to you Mr President. I wish you well and pray that the Good Lord guides you. Yours is not a light task but we shall support you not only because you are our President. But also because we are patriots, believers in Zambia’s deserved progress.
Yours truly,
Proud Zambian.
Express It Now! 