Will New Government Walk the Talk? Jesuits in Zambia on President’s Maiden Address to MPs

“Every Zambian of good will must laud HH’s consistency in calling for unity and peaceful co-existence.  A call for unity from ethno- and geo-centric perspective emphasizes that we are one despite diversity in ethnicity, race or place of origin,” officials of the research institution say. 

They add, “The unity that Zambians are aspiring for under the new administration is a  social-economic equity where the national cake of this richly endowed country is shared by all Zambians.”

“In this context, what divides us is not only diversity in ethnicity or political affiliation but also socio-economic disparities that have divided one people into two societies of ‘the haves’ and ‘the have-nots,’” JCTR officials say. 

They add that the new President’s pronouncements on issues of governance “are very reassuring.”

“Zero tolerance policy on corruption in all its forms is progressive with clear policy direction by introduction of specialized fast-track stolen assets recovery mechanisms and courts for corruption and economic crimes,” the Jesuit scholars say.    

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They add that the President’s pledge to stop excessive public expenditure and to enhance debt management and transparency “is a very progressive agenda as various stakeholders have tirelessly been lobbying for this since 2016.”   

They further say that the new government’s promise to respect the rule of law and separation of powers among the arms of government “is very progressive given that the current constitution gives the executive too much power, and in so doing undermines the separation of power.”

“With respect to the constitutional reforms,” the Jesuit scholars say, the pledge to revive the process of expanding the Bill of Rights to integrate cultural, social, and economic rights “is definitely a very progressive agenda although there is no hint at a possible roadmap to achieve it.” 

In the September 13 statement, JCTR officials say Zambians expect “nothing less from the 8th National Development Plan which is promised to be a robust economic transformation agenda that will deliver on the national vision and the aspirations of the citizens.”

“The nation’s appetite is now whetted, and the Zambian people are now looking forward to the presentation of the 2022 national budget to see how the policy measures outlined in the President’s speech will begin to be actualized,” the Jesuit scholars in Zambia say.