INCIVILITY IN POLITICS WORRIES VJ 

By Jessica Mwansa

THE declining levels of civility in our politics recently is a great concern and the language being used by some politicians is disturbing, disgraceful, and distasteful, Veteran Politician Vernon Mwaanga has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Dr. Mwaanga said the sad development should not be allowed to continue as it undermined the democratic credentials and disrespected the country’s forefathers and founders of democracy who sacrificed so much to free the citizens from the yoke of colonialism.

He said politicians should learn to discuss policy matters in a civil manner and come up with possible solutions being faced in the country.

 “This sad development should not be allowed because it disrespects our forefathers even in their graves spread all over Zambia. I can hear their voices saying that we have let them down.  Politicians should understand that politics is not war but a contest of ideas which must be respected.

“Through public discourse and using existing institutions such as the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID), we want to hear politicians discuss policy options in a civil manner and come up with possible solutions to our country’s problems, for the good of our people,” Dr. Mwaanga said.

“Some politicians think that by using crude language, it enhances their popularity and attracts new members to their respective political parties. Politicians should know that honest differences of opinions should be expected and respectfully treated as a normal,” he added.

He said violence, hate speech, offensive language and bitterness should be confined to the dustbin of history and should never be tolerated.

He said crudity reduced the level of seriousness and that the public was made to endure intensely negative public discourse that abused, demeaned and vilified others.

“We should have no room for vitriolic discourse in this country because aggrieved parties have always had the option to go to appropriate courts to seek redress by producing evidence. Leadership is not permanent and political parties change. I have come through democratic electoral processes which have been closely watched by international and local observers and monitors.

“In this age of advanced technology, comments made in public space quickly spread worldwide through social media. I therefore urge all the politicians to desist from offensive personal attacks and focus on issues that will contribute to the country’s development as they undermine democratic values which we fought for,” he said.