Protection of Liberties

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Common political problems manifest themselves when those in power encroach upon the liberty of thought and expression directly and violently with an organized police force whenever suggestions for important changes in economic, political and social spheres are put forth. This is supplemented by organized propaganda using mass media as an instrument.

The people have a mandate to use their franchise to elect representatives who value individual liberties. The people should be socially and politically conscious to get organized and exercise their weight for effective translation of constitutional provisions into practice. Politics should be made to rest on strong ethical foundations for politically inspiring people together with their ideals of a democratic society.

Political Power

Power is the fundamental tenet of politics, whether local, national or international. There is a notable distinction between political power and power politics. The later refers to the conduct of relations, especially among states, by the use of force, with no consideration made to right and justice. Since the views of justice and righteousness so often differ, what is usually to one nation a legitimate use of force often seem to another to be power politics. It is widely accepted that the love of power is the single most important spring of human action.

Political power, on the other hand, is the right that the people, who are in fact the masters of political power, willingly give to an elected government in order to rule the people. Politics without power is no politics at all. The love for power is one of the highest human qualities. The love for power not only sustains but also reinforces the three springs that are said to preoccupy human action, namely acquisitiveness, rivalry and vanity. Thus, for the love of power, there has to be politics. And there is politics because of power. Politics itself is power generated and used!

Political power is the key to the protection of fundamental liberties. It is the duty of government to ensure that the rights of the people are guaranteed. Citizens should be free to exert their rights without interference or intimidation.

In Zambia this also means respecting the wishes of the people during elections. When the people make a choice, it must be accepted. Election malpractice, for example, is another form of political bondage, and should not be tolerated in a democratic society. Any government that practices vote rigging infringes on the liberties of its people.