Labour Activist Calls for Professionalism and National Unity Following Independence Day Controversy<\/p>\n
Sat Oct. 24, 2026 \/Mpelembe Media\/ \u2014 Labour activist and salary wages advocate Trust Ngwira has questioned Permanent Secretary for Information Thabo Kawana and the Zambia Daily Mail regarding the omission of Zambia’s sixth President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, from an Independence Day publication. Describing the incident as deeply unfortunate, Ngwira highlighted that Independence Day is a national occasion meant to symbolise love, peace, unity, and respect for the country’s history. He urged individuals in positions of responsibility to carefully weigh the consequences of their actions and statements to avoid creating unnecessary public controversy that could put Republican President Hakainde Hichilema in an embarrassing position.<\/p>\n
Ngwira stressed that media institutions and public officials must exercise sound judgment, professionalism, and responsibility, particularly during major national celebrations. He emphasized that acknowledging Zambia’s political history and respecting former presidents should be approached lawfully and respectfully, noting that safeguarding the dignity of the presidency and state institutions must go hand in hand with fostering national unity despite political differences.<\/p>\n
National celebrations are designed to reinforce a shared identity, yet political optics can easily derail these vital moments of public cohesion. During Zambia’s Independence Day, a high-profile controversy erupted when the state-run\u00a0 Zambia Daily Mail\u00a0 omitted the nation’s sixth President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, from its commemorative publication. Labour activist and salary wages advocate Trust Ngwira publicly challenged both the newspaper and Permanent Secretary for Information Thabo Kawana over the omission. Ngwira framed the decision as an unfortunate misstep during an occasion explicitly intended to project national unity, peace, love, and respect for historical precedent.<\/p>\n
Independence Day functions as a critical symbol of national solidarity, providing a dedicated space to honor the country’s shared journey and leadership lineage. Editorial decisions that erase key figures from this historical record directly undermine the spirit of mutual respect that the holiday is intended to foster.<\/p>\n
Ngwira highlighted that excluding former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu introduced friction into what should have been a unified national observation. Omitting former leadership from official holiday narratives degrades the unifying purpose of state celebrations and fractures collective memory.<\/p>\n
“Why should we allow avoidable situations to arise, especially on a day when the entire nation is supposed to celebrate love, unity, and independence? We must be mindful of how our actions reflect on the presidency and the country as a whole.”<\/p>\n
State media decisions and administrative overreach often generate severe political fallout that reflects directly upon the incumbent administration. Ngwira questioned the strategic judgment of public figures like Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana, pointing out that unforced errors create public backlash rather than effective governance.<\/p>\n
Instead of insulating the executive branch, overzealous media management threatens to place Republican President Hakainde Hichilema in an embarrassing public position. Public officials holding positions of trust must recognize that misapplied political enthusiasm damages institutional credibility and undermines the sitting presidency.<\/p>\n
“As people entrusted with responsibility, we must always think carefully before we act. Whatever we do, we must consider whether our actions promote national unity or create unnecessary controversy that could embarrass the Republican President.”<\/p>\n
Upholding institutional integrity within state media requires rigorous adherence to professional standards, sound judgment, and respect for the law. Respecting former heads of state is not merely a courtesy; it is a foundational requirement for protecting democratic history and state institutions.<\/p>\n
Ngwira called on state media institutions and government administrators to demonstrate greater professionalism during key national milestones. Fulfilling the duty to protect the dignity of the Republican President must exist alongside an unwavering commitment to honoring Zambia’s broader democratic journey.<\/p>\n
“Our actions must build the nation, not create unnecessary embarrassment. Zambia\u2019s Independence Day should remind us that, despite our political differences, we remain one country with a shared responsibility to protect our national unity.”<\/p>\n
The editorial controversy surrounding the\u00a0 Zambia Daily Mail\u00a0 serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance state media and public officials must maintain between political loyalty and institutional responsibility. Fostering national cohesion requires that public figures exercise prudent judgment and honor the complete historical record of the republic. Ultimately, protecting democratic history demands that state media institutions prioritize professionalism over short-term partisan optics. How can public institutions better balance current political loyalties with their fundamental duty to honor a nation’s complete history?<\/p>\n
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