LIMA Constituency Member of Parliament Kelvin Kaunda’s call to fellow parliamentarians to work together for a national development agenda rather than waste time on narrow party politics is timely.
Zambia has just emerged from elections, and the people’s expectations are high. They want leaders who will deliver better schools, stronger health systems, jobs, and opportunities – not endless quarrels in Parliament.
President Hakainde Hichilema has already set the tone. From the day of his inauguration, he gave clear direction on the path Zambia should take. The President’s ambitious production targets of 10 million tonnes of maize, 10,000 megawatts of electricity, three million tonnes of copper, five million tourists and a billion dollar beef industry are not partisan goals; they are national goals. They are about doubling the size of the economy, creating millions of jobs, and raising household incomes. Supporting them is not about supporting one party – it is about supporting Zambia.
Youth advocate Langson Zulu has also challenged MPs, especially the newly elected ones, to present progressive motions and support issue based debates. He reminded lawmakers that public office is about service, not self interest. Scrutiny of government policies is welcome, but it must be constructive. Opposition MPs have a duty to provide checks and balances, yet those checks must refine and strengthen policies, not derail them.
We agree.
The danger of cheap politicking is that it distracts from urgent national priorities. Zambia faces challenges that require unity of purpose: stabilising energy supply, preparing for the looming El Niño threat, expanding access to education, and strengthening healthcare. These are not partisan issues; they are national imperatives. When MPs waste time on non issues, they squander opportunities to address the real problems confronting their constituents.
MPs must ensure that laws passed are aligned with national development goals. They must consult widely with their constituents, as Chimwendo Phiri has urged, to ensure that the voices of ordinary citizens are heard in the House. They must champion policies that improve livelihoods – whether through better roads, expanded irrigation, improved schools, or stronger health systems.
Cheap politicking undermines democracy and reduces Parliament to a theatre of insults rather than a forum of ideas. It erodes public trust and discourages citizens from engaging constructively in governance. Worse still, it delays progress on issues that directly affect people’s lives. Every hour wasted on partisan bickering is an hour lost in the fight against poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
The President’s example should inspire MPs. His engagements with investors such as Vedanta Resources, urging them to invest not only in copper production but also in electricity generation, show a leader focused on solutions. His call to prepare for El Niño demonstrates foresight. His insistence on ambitious national targets reflects vision. These are qualities MPs must emulate.
The people of Zambia expect their representatives to rise above petty politics. They expect them to debate policies that matter, to scrutinise budgets with seriousness, and to hold Government accountable in ways that strengthen institutions rather than weaken them. They expect MPs to be partners in development, not obstacles.
Civil society, youth advocates and ordinary citizens are watching. They are calling for issue based debates, progressive motions and constructive engagement. They are demanding that MPs put Zambia first. This is not too much to ask. It is, in fact, the very essence of representative democracy.
The time for politicking has passed. The election season is over. The season to build has begun. MPs must recognise that their mandate is not to serve parties but to serve people. They must remember that their legacy will not be measured by how loudly they shouted in the House, but by how effectively they improved the lives of their constituents.
Zambia’s future depends on this shift. If MPs embrace the spirit of unity and focus on development, the country can achieve its ambitious targets. Let Parliament be a place of ideas, not insults. Let MPs be champions of development, not pawns of party agendas. Let the voices in the House echo the aspirations of the people, not the ambitions of politicians. Only then will Zambia grow, prosper and fulfil the vision set out by its leaders and demanded by its citizens.
