YOUNG MAN CALCULATE YOUR RISK BEFORE JOINING POLITICS. I LOST K2.5 MILLION CONTESTING ELECTIONS AS AN MP AND I LOST TERRIBLY.
YOUNG MAN CALCULATE YOUR RISK BEFORE JOINING POLITICS. I LOST K2.5 MILLION CONTESTING ELECTIONS AS AN MP AND I LOST TERRIBLY.
I have seen many young men and women on social media including celebrities filing their nominations to stand as Members of Parliament. That is a great move and I would like to share my experience without offending anyone. Having walked this path as an aspiring candidate for Roan constituency in Luanshya, I feel qualified to offer some advice.
Firstly, be aware that there is no easy money in Parliament. If you think it’s a way to get rich, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Show me one MP who has become wealthy solely through their parliamentary salary it’s either they were already rich or they have resorted to unethical means. Perhaps when appointed as a Minister, YES.! you might have some opportunities here and there but it’s not guaranteed
Well to those aspiring to become MPs or hold other positions my advice is to secure your finances first dont go there for survival. A serious campaign can cost around K3 million roughly, I know this from experience In 2019, I spent over K2 million on my campaign and still lost and In 2021, I spent around K500,000 and was left broke far from victory and I don’t feel bad about it because i calculated the risk and I made the sacrifice.
Imagine if I had invested that money in business instead I would be in a much better position today. I have learned that the journey to the National Assembly is not about accumulating wealth it’s a sacrifice. If you are not careful you will lose even the little you have thinking you will become rich.
This journey is about serving the people earning some respect you know and enjoying a few privileges that come with being an Honourable. That is why you have observed that MPs who have no personal money find it very difficult to retain their seats, because our culture of politics demands that an MP, should help the community whenever they’ve funerals or other personal problems. So imagine a broke MP who depends on a salary.
Another thing you must know don’t expect millions in gratuity after your term that’s another story. By the time you receive your gratuity the bank might have taken up to 80% of your car loan, and you will likely want to recontest your seat, which means putting the remaining 20% towards campaigns.
So, as you aspire to become an MP keep in mind that it’s not a lucrative venture. It is an opportunity to serve the people and enjoy a few privileges as a public servant. Are you ready for this challenge..?
By Mwansa Chama
Given the opportunity what will you choose between remaining being a teacher in a rural area or taking a chance to be an MP?
You’re better off as a teacher. Personally, I know all the emoluments for MPs, and I would advise you to continue serving as a teacher. Don’t you know that teachers have a lot of time to also do side hustles that can make them extremely comfortable financially? My friend, if you want freedom and peace of mind, continue as a teacher and do a ka business, no matter how small. Enjoy your day.
My friend, just continue as a teacher. I know what MPs emoluments are, so don’t try, you’ll be broke. As a teacher, you can do a side hassle and make money which o an enjoy without any pressure. As an MP, there are too many financial leakages which will leave you with’bruises’ in your pocket.
When you are grossly unpopular you end up spending abnormally.
This is excellent advice.
This is exactly the mentality that needs to change. Why should it become normal for one to think that only those with money should be the only ones to lead. And that spending recklessly and wildly will bring favorable results. How does throwing away hard earned money help to build an investment? The rules of financial intelligence do not agree with this at all.
That is why in smart places stake holders buy into the plans of candidates and hence make an investment which is poured into campaigns. Not your personal family’s last money or only house.Care must be taken or else one can become a destitute. You are dealing the an exaggerated and heightened insatiable appetite for money that can drain even E. Mask.
What about being innovative? Does it mean we can no longer think of better ways of serving the masses other than spending you limited funds untill you get broke. We just keep on doing the old way passed down to us with asking questions on why we feed this beast created on greed. We need to change this narrative. This is one of the major reasons why corruption keeps growing.
This is precisely why most go into politics to make the poorer more poor because even the little they have will be taken away. We have seen this where MP collect money through their companies for undone works and they use their positions and connections to remain untouched.
Why not think of new ways of empowering the communities so that they don’t ask you for money but instead begin to contribute to building the community.
We can change this endless draining of personal funds and begin to intelligently work with other stake holders in providing developmental projects that uplift the standards of everyone. This is what leadership means. Eventually some cash will also trickle your way naturally through participation.
The problem we have is the inability of thinking about ” what one can do for the country ,party and community rather than what can I benefit out of it”. It is so unfortunate that such massive savings were spent on dishing out without any investment returns and on useless unmeasured things. This should be stoped. The rules of financial intelligence do not support this abuse of investment.
