My Thoughts on Tribalism

This is an ugly practice which I didn’t even want to talk about in the past in the name of avoiding to trigger negative feelings or entrenching the practice; My stance has now changed and I believe that, tribalism, like any other bad practice such as GBV, gender discrimination, child abuse etc  has to be confronted with the view to eliminating it, not only for its potential to breed disunity but also for side-lining other potential citizens who can effectively contribute to national development. This can be challenged by speaking out against the vice and the one to be condemned, in my opinion, is the perpetrator of the vice and not anyone who is challenging or voicing out against the bad practice. Our own Zambian Constitution provides a framework for appointments in the public service to be regionally balanced. My interaction with two of those companies enlisted by ‘Koswe’ brought to light the referred trend in their senior management teams.

I had never quite paid attention to the issue, but with such facts laid bare, it is difficult to continue ignoring the vice as doing so would be rendering a disservice to our country, and particularly those who look up to us to correct the wrongs. Unfortunately, my own children and many others, unless we do something about it now, will not be lucky as some of us have been, to have lived in a relatively more inclusive society, where opportunities were competed for and available to all on merit. Tribalism, regionalism and favouritism in Zambia, unfortunately are real and we can only rid these by not living in denial. Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge Mr. Mungeli’s patriotism on this subject. It is a developmental issue, well recognised by our Seventh National Development Plan where one of the key pillars seeks to create an inclusive and democratic society. Any economic advancement is threatened without these important tenets. Indeed, as leaders and all well-meaning Zambians, we must seek to preserve what our forefathers worked so hard to achieve; a truly One