It’s quite regrettable that that many Zambian journalists, bloggers and vloggers have spent the last few days since the press conference, giving detailed analyses on what they would consider a better sitting arrangement at a press conference or the appropriate sound engineering or the inappropriateness of inviting those they consider less qualified and not worthy to be at State House. Indeed, State House can do better on event management next time. However, that’s not the most important aspect of the press conference.
I would have expected journalists worth their salt to focus on the most important purpose why Presidents hold press conferences – to communicate to their masters, the Zambian people. The content of the message is hence, the most important aspect of the press conference. Styles may differ, but that’s not important. ECL communicated via Facebook write ups; KK called flamboyant press conferences at which journalists and diplomats were invited and his language was formal ; Sata spoke at every opportunity and used a combination of comedy and even street language; RB spoke like a diplomat and liked using politically correct language; Mwanawasa liked to read very scary messages and the press conference sounded like a funeral or insambo lyamfwa; Bally speaks with conviction and uses language of business school. Besides, Bally is operating in an era of modern media which is both demanding and aggressive, esp social media.
I think the President covered a great deal of content. He adequately covered why he went to USA; what he did and achieved; whom he met and why; how he represented us and why he represented us. He was gracious to teach the journalists that IMF and World Bank are actually our institutions and that the values of democracy, integrity and freedom are shared values between Zambia and USA. He further helped journalist to understand that the matters of gays are adequately covered here in Zambia by our constitution and not part of our foreign policy. He touched extensively on the spirit of our foreign policy; it will be based on economic diplomacy and both USA and China will be important partners to Zambia.
Apropos of domestic policy, he accentuated what he means that his government will govern on the basis of rule of law and orderliness. His statement on cadres was just a reminder that markets and bus stations will also be governed within the spirit of rule of law and orderliness.
Finally, the President emphasized that meritocracy and national unity are at the centre of his governing philosophy. He has promised to actualize this philosophy by appointing officers from all regions, both genders and only qualified people.
How do I rate the President’s message? 💯%. How do I rate the journalists? 30%. The reason for the below-average marks is simple: most of the questions asked were too prosaic and indicative of a huge knowledge gap between Bally and that audience; the coverage, including analysis, in the media are indicative of an inappropriate understanding of global issues, IMF and World Bank roles in international finance and development economics; it’s clear that the terms rule of law or orderlines have not yet been fully grasped and internalized by most of us.
Instead of crying about invitations, senior journalists should have demonstrated their seniority by asking cleverer questions, doing great analyses, writing provoking op-eds or scribing thought-provoking columns to help citizens to better digest and better assimilate the message. This was the citizens’ message, not the journalists’ message. Journalists must be more attentive, decipher the message from Bally and use critical thinking to explain it to their audiences. He sometimes speaks in parables and uses jargon. Journalists should read between the lines, dissect the message and explain it in detail to their audiences. When the President says, for example, that municipal councils must work within their mandate to bring order to public places, he is not only saying that cadres shouldn’t run markets or bus stations, but he is also saying that traders shouldn’t block streets as vendors. Street vending is not a behaviour that is orderly and municipal councils should remove them from streets. When he says that, ‘we believe in science; my wife, my children and I have been vaccinated’, he means that any government officer or doctor who goes public spreading conspiracy theories and discouraging people from taking vaccines will have himself to blame if he gets sacked. When he says that journalists are free to write anything provided it’s the truth, he means that he doesn’t expect his Information Minister to be issuing threats against persons utilizing their freedom of speech. When he says that the party in government has a higher responsibility to obey the law is a message to UPND members, esp cadres, that everything they do or say should conform to the law – they can’t be allocating illegal plots; selling government fertilizer; collecting levies at markets or sharing minerals at mining dumps. When he says “I travelled with a small entourage in commercial flight in order to serve money”, it should be understood that as a government or parastatal official, one is expected to travel in a manner that saves money – business class and large entourages are discouraged, if not banned. When the President says I am an Elder in SDA; he probably is communicating that when a government auditor comes to check books of a government depart or parastatal, they should see adequate expenditure on mineral water, and not on whiskey or ciders. That’s the expectations of a worker in a prudent and sober government.
If Bally’s message isn’t broken down, analysed in detail by journalists and repackaged into simple-to-understand language in the form of Bally’s does and don’ts, I see a number of people getting fired soon. In Bally’s government, illiteracy and ignorance are probably the biggest threats to job security for most of his senior officials. Could people please familiarize themselves with the meaning of his jargon, aka Bally’s Lexicon & Philosophy:
[1] rule of law (all must follow all laws all the time ). Caderism is lawlessness.
[2]orderlines (there should always be sanity, logic and common sense). Street vending, police checkpoints are disorderly habits
[3] methodical (always procedural and systematic). Government communicates through written documents
[4] meritocracy (appoint only those that are competent and qualified). Being a friend or relative is not a qualification.
[5] diversity (work with Zambians from 10 provinces, including males, females and youths). Every management team must be a mirror of society
[6] scientific (medicine from Ridgeway campus is the basis of government health policies; not conspiracy theories or guesswork or witchcraft). Vaccines are government policy on vaccines. ARVs are government policy on HIV.
[7] opportunities to Zambians (jobs for Zambians first, contracts to Zambians first, permits to Zambians first). A foreigner shouldn’t own a mining dump or timber licence
[8] Devolution (local contracts to local contractors). A school in Kawambwa must not award a contract to paint classrooms to a contractor from Chipata.
[9] Prudence (choose the cheapest option always while ensuring quality and speedy delivery). Purchasing goods and services at inflated prices is not allowed. Abandoning projects is not allowed. Doing shoddy works is not allowed.
[10] Prioritization (growing the economy and creating jobs are top on the To Do List). Government won’t fund ventures that subtract from GDP. Recruitment of teachers and healthworkers are top priorities.
The Lexicon summarizes the philosophy of leadership of Mr Hakainde Hichilema. It will be interesting how historians will term his philosophy: is it Ballism or Hichilemalism or what?
I enjoyed the press conference. The President helped us understand the spirit of his foreign policy, the philosophy of his leadership and the clarity of his vision – to build a prosperous, lawful and united Zambia that is respected on the international stage esp in the SADC region, in the continent and globally.
It feels nice to be Zambian again; the presence of law and order is felt again; and the hope of a better future is rekindled. We once again have leadership, vision and direction of where we are heading.
Just observing loudly….
