Rebuilding the Nation
Jubilee Centre February 20th, 2008
Lusaka lawyer Dr. Rodger Chongwe is calling for leaders who are honest and have achieved something in their own right as ordinary citizens to avail themselves for leadership positions in our nation (Post, 18 Feb. 2008). But which political party has set up such a standard? Take the case of the leaders who have made themselves available for Kanyama parliamentary elections. We ask, "Who among those aspiring to be a Member of Parliament have in their life-history done something in their own right as ordinary citizen to deserve serving the people of Kanyama?"
As followers we should be looking for leaders who have established their authenticity by caring for others through enabling them to take action to change their life or community experience for the better. The challenge we face is how to get followers, especially those living in poverty, to understand that change for the better comes only when followers begin to elect leaders who will put the people’s interests first. Our people are easily duped by politicians who have wealth (got either through donations or their own hard work) who give them help so as to get their vote. Indeed it is very difficult for a person in great need to distinguish between an authentic, caring person and a corrupt person who uses the system to get into political office. Therefore, to tell a poor person to use his or her vote wisely and to vote for a caring candidate is like telling a hungry person who has no money to go and buy food. We need a new approach to help the people who live in poverty; and they are the majority of voters.
The people of Zambia do not need a leader who will tell them what he or she will do for them. What they 
need is a person who can organize them so that each one works on a section that will make a difference for him, his family and his community. At the moment we have a lot of leaders who are telling us what they will do for us or what they are doing for us. You do not develop a nation like that. Nehemiah chapter three wonderfully illustrates how a leader organized people who had suffered repeatedly from wars and plunder. He had people organized in such a way that each person worked on a section that was important to him or her. As each person did their part in front of or near his or her house, the wall around the city got built. Each one’s contribution boosted the security of the city and enhanced trade and commerce.
We have a task: to rebuild the nation. This is a task for every family member. But it will take a leader to mobilize the people to work as a team. As a nation we have never lacked for workers; what we need are leaders in our communities to chart the course and set the people in motion. In each community God has established His church to set up our success. How are you setting an example as a pastor to the nobles, the traders, the women, the governors and the youths in your church and the community to the task of rebuilding our nation?
Lawrence Temfwe
