Hichilema’s ZNS Graduation Keeps Zambia Talking

By John Mukela

Lieutenant Habwela Hichilema continues to stir up a hornet’s nest keeping social media abuzz with opinion and commentary on his graduation from voluntary national service military training.

Sympathisers say to the detractors, that there is nothing wrong with Lt. Hichilema training with the national service, while critics say there is everything wrong with it.

Lt. Hichilema will leach from the poor Zambian treasury, by drawing a salary, they say.

Worse still, that he has been strategically embedded, preparing for some kind of military role and manoeuvre to a senior governance role using the military as a stepping stone, sometime in the not too distant future.

President Hakainde Hichilema has meanwhile attempted to dispel the detractors.

Lt. Hichilema’s training was for purposes of acquiring discipline and survival skills.

Not for drawing a public salary from the treasury, says the senior Hichilema.

Others say Zambians waste too much time discussing useless things on social media, and that Lt. Hichilema’s recent ZNS training is one such.

Democracy advocates will however argue that this is part of the democratic dividend, which allows citizens to freely discuss and engage on matters they care about, trivial or not.

Citizens want to feel actively engaged by being part of the national debate and that their point of view is acknowledged and recognised.

On his part, Lt. Hichilema need not have to justify himself if he is able to affirmatively answer these eligibility questions: does he hold a Zambian National Registration Card? Is he over 18 years old?

Having duly graduated, whatever he intends to do with his training is entirely up to him and within his rights.

There are many examples of sons of national leaders who acquired military training before Lt. Hichilema, and in most cases, it served them well and did them a lot of good.

Meanwhile, Zambians should continue to voice out their opinion if it pleases them, as part of holding power accountable within governance transparency, freedom of opinion and freedom of speech.

John is MakanDay Managing Partner
Photo Credit | Facebook