13/12/2025
OPPOSITION LEADERS EMBARRASS THEMSELVES IN FAILED ATTEMPTS TO DEFEND THEIR POSITION ON BILL NO. 7
By Open Development Media | Lusaka | 13 December 2025
The Zambian political arena has, in recent days, been marked by a series of public embarrassments from the opposition as they fail to present clear, credible, and well-grounded arguments against Bill No. 7 and other key national reforms.
What citizens hoped would be issue-based, well-reasoned engagements have instead turned into moments that expose the opposition’s unpreparedness and internal confusion.
Recently, Kasonde Mwenda appeared on KBN Television, where viewers expected a firm and logical defence of his stance. Instead, Mwenda appeared visibly lost, unable to back his assertions with tangible facts. His struggle left the public questioning the depth of the opposition’s understanding of the very matters they claim to reject.
Today, in an even more dramatic turn, senior state counsel Sakwiba Sikota—one of the country’s most respected legal practitioners—found himself in an uncomfortable corner during a national debate. Rather than dismantling the moderator's questions with legal finesse, he ended up accusing the moderator of being unfair. For a man of his legal calibre, this moment will be remembered as one of the most embarrassing debates of his career.
Yesterday’s Public Committee engagement further amplified this pattern. A group of opposition-aligned professionals arrived with confidence but left exposed. Their failure to articulate why they oppose Bill No. 7 was so glaring that it suggested they are not driven by principle, logic, or national interest—but by bitterness and personal political frustration.
The Zambian people are watching closely. They can clearly distinguish between those who genuinely seek the country’s progress and those who oppose merely for personal or partisan advantage.
As the nation navigates important legislative reforms, citizens expect strong, informed, and patriotic leadership. Yet what the opposition has showcased in recent days is a worrying trend of emotional arguments, unsubstantiated claims, and public missteps.
One thing remains undeniable: Zambia deserves leaders who debate with substance, oppose with integrity, and place the country’s future above personal ambition—not leaders who repeatedly embarrass themselves before the nation.
