Political analyst, Nyirongo, cautions candidates against unrealistic promises ahead of elections

Political analyst, Rodgers Nyirongo, has urged aspiring candidates for political posts to refrain from making unrealistic promises that overexcite electorates and are difficult to fulfill once elected.

Nyirongo said candidates contesting positions such as Member of Parliament, mayor, or councillor should ensure their pledges were aligned with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) rather than making commitments beyond what government resources can support.

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“Those vying for mayoral, MP, and councillor positions should tie their promises to the CDF instead of going beyond what government is providing. That is where problems begin,” Nyirongo said in an interview on Sunday with Zambia Monitor.

He cautioned against what he described as “heaven on earth promises,” noting that elected officials are meant to represent communities and facilitate the allocation of public resources, not rely on their personal wealth.

“With the increase in CDF allocation, no councillor or MP should fail to deliver development in their areas. It’s just a matter of prioritisation,” he said.

Nyirongo also advised the public to manage their expectations, stressing that it was not the responsibility of elected leaders to provide personal support such as coffins or funeral expenses.

“The public are also a problem because they expect councillors and MPs to be providing everything, which is not part of their mandate. Instead, electorates should be demanding good roads, health facilities, and educational infrastructure,” he said.

He emphasised that the role of elected officials was to serve as a bridge between central government and the public by ensuring service delivery, not to assume responsibilities outside their constitutional mandate.

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