KANCHIBIYA member of parliament Sunday Chanda has wondered why every opposition leader wants to be president when the highest office comes with preparation, discipline and a demonstrable track record of service.
In a commentary, Chanda reminded political players that leadership at the highest level cannot be improvised overnight.
He said being president was not a matter of waking up one morning and declaring readiness for State House, but of demonstrating capacity to manage, unite, listen and deliver.
“Leadership, especially at the highest level, cannot be improvised overnight. A credible track record is built over years, in how one serves people, solves problems, and handles power. True leadership is not declared; it is earned through consistency, humility, and results,” he explained.
The lawmaker explained that the presidency, especially in a country like Zambia, required far more than political victory as it demanded the skill set of a nation builder, an economic strategist and a moral compass.
“A president must possess emotional intelligence, an understanding of governance systems, sound economic judgment, and the ability to mobilise people around a shared national vision. The office is not for experiments; it is for proven leadership,” he said.
Chanda drew examples from transformational leaders around the world who, he said, rose to power not by accident, but through preparation and purpose.
He cited Lee Kuan Yew, who turned Singapore from a struggling port into a global powerhouse through discipline and foresight.
The Kanchibiya MP also talked about Xi Jinping, whose strategic continuity and long-term planning reshaped China’s global standing and Paul Kagame, who restored order, meritocracy and national pride in Rwanda.
He also referenced the country’s founding father Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who laid the foundations of unity and nationhood through selfless service and moral conviction, as well as Nelson Mandela, who chose reconciliation over revenge in uniting a divided South Africa and Julius Nyerere, who built Tanzania on the principles of integrity and equality.
“These leaders did not emerge by accident. Their journeys were defined by vision, preparation, resilience, and a clear sense of mission. They understood that leadership is not about personal advancement, but about the collective upliftment of their people,” he explained.
The Kanchibiya lawmaker said it was time for Zambians to start asking the right questions about those aspiring for the presidency.
“As we move forward as a nation, we must begin to ask the right questions: Who among us has the competence, temperament, and tested integrity to lead? Who has built a legacy of delivery, not division?”
“If we are to realise our true potential as a nation, we must move away from personality-driven politics and embrace leadership by merit, track record, and vision. The Presidency must never be treated as an experiment, it must be entrusted to those prepared by history, experience, and integrity,” he advised.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, October 5, 2025
