A LEADER WHO ACCEPTS DEFEAT IS A WINNER

August 11^th is almost here; it offers the people of Zambia an opportunity to vote for a new set of Leaders starting from the ward level to the office of the President.

Whether or not the campaigns have made any impact to the voters, the outcome will be known a few days after the poll day when Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima declares the Winner.

 The voter is the decider of Zambia’s destiny and not political players who have spent the last three months promising heaven on Earth.

If a Candidate loses it is a message that he or she did not do enough to convince the masses which therefore means the winning Candidate did the best.

“When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.” Said Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich.

An Election is like any other game where there is a Winner and a Loser; hence it is important that those who will lose to use available channels to lodge their complaints.

Nobody enters a race to come last but there is a painful reality that one person must emerge victorious above the rest, harsh as it maybe but acceptance is another mark of being a good Leader.

Even after losing a Leader must provide direction to Followers with a hope of redeeming oneself in the near future, failure to do that is a sign of being weak.

The late Muhammad Ali once said that “I never thought of losing, but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right, he added that “we all have to take defeats in life.”

A Leader is a Leader even after Losing; there is more to losing with dignity than showing childish behavior of refusing to concede defeat, which can be disastrous in going forward.

Leaders who secretly incite followers to break the law are not ready to take over the affairs of the government because he or she is a law breaker.

In 1919 Mahatma Gandhi said “Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat for it is momentary."

Presidential Candidates know that only one of them should become a president for this great and peaceful nation of more than 14 million people.

We know about Counselors in the Health circles and they are doing a great job but we need them even in activities like politics.

“While one may encounter many defeats, one must not be defeated.” According to Maya Angelou

Former President Rupiah Banda conceded electoral defeat to late Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata on 23^rd of September, 2011.

In his acceptance speech Mr. Banda said that "The people of Zambia have spoken and we must all listen," while wiping away tears after finishing his speech.

Three years before that in 2008, Mr. Sata had vowed that there was no way he would lose to Mr. Banda.

Even Adolf Hitler acknowledged that defeat happens in Life he once stated that “Anyone can deal with victory. Only the mighty can bear defeat.”

After days of thinking through the defeat to Mr. Banda, who was serving the term left by late President Levy Mwanawasa, the late Sata calmed his supporters and continued campaigning till he won in 2011. 

 In Zambia and many African Countries, there are no institutions that specialize in attending to people who suffer aftershocks of defeat.

In 2014 Former Malawian President Joyce Banda congratulated Mr. Peter Mutharika, the current President on his "victory in a closely contested election" saying she was "leaving office a happy person".

 
Mrs. Banda had called for cancellation of the election results claiming the contest was "null and void".

 Elsewhere former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede to current President Alassane Ouattara in 2010; it re-ignited a civil war killing hundreds of innocent people.

Politicians obsessed about winning and refuse to accept loss in the elections have the traits of a dictatorship in a democratic system

A Malaysian political analyst, Associate Professor Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian stated that if such people rule, he feared that people would lose their voice.

Zambia is bigger than any political party or individual who aspires to govern the people and once he or she loses they must be able to pick themselves up and look ahead.

The next general elections in 2021 offers a losing Candidate a chance to perfect strategies that can deliver a positive a victorious outcome.

Let us be peaceful and remain united, we are One Zambia, One Nation. Elections come and go!