Choosing political parties is as mysterious a business as that of choosing a mate. Nobody can tell you exactly what will attract you - or distract you. But there are some simple principles that are worth noting and observing. These include:

The political party you support should have natural leaders - the sort of people you would be proud to call your own in both the good times and in crisis. This "charismatic" factor is no side-issue, as the difficulties being experienced by the British Conservative party in staging a comeback clearly illustrate - three leaders have been tried as potential opponents of Tony Blair and found wanting. Will the fourth succeed? That is not a Zambian concern; but the qualities of Michael Sata are of primary concern. Can he take the heat? Anyone but a recluse knows the answer is: Yes. Can he inspire those who are losing hope? Ask any unemployed town dweller or village farmer - again Yes. Michael is so obviously a natural, charismatic leader that the fact is often used as a criticism by politicians of duller coloration. It is hard not to be jealous of someone who stops the traffic when he comes on Radio Phoenix.

The political party you support should have credible leaders who you know from their histories are capable of doing what they say they will do. This is a rare ability amongst politicians, and not merely because of the want of management experience in so many of them. There are always interest groups (little "mafias") whose interests are threatened by strong political leadership and a good leader needs to know how to neutralize or persuade them. The track record of PF President Michael Sata and (and the shorter one of Secretary General Guy Scott) in Government show clearly that the PF is a party whose leaders know their way around the jungle of government. Ask anyone who was in the ministries of Local Government, Health or Agriculture during the relevant periods when they were headed by those who are now the leaders of PF. The cleaning of lavatories and the emptying of in-trays are as import to real governance as exotic concepts and plans!

The political party you support should have a clear philosophy and explicit policy positions on representative and important issues. A detailed party "manifesto" often reveals nothing, except a ragbag of good or goodish ideas. Far more important is a party’s position on overarching issues such as privatisation / nationalisation; the size of government versus the size of the productive sector (intimately tied up with taxation); the valuation of the kwacha and its impacts on the balance between producers and consumers; the balance of benefit and rights between workers and employers. These are all real issues on which the PF has been very explicit where other parties, including opposition parties, have not. In mid-2005 Michael Sata was even put in jail for voicing support for striking mineworkers; but he and the PF have not retracted their stand.

The political party you support should have an inclusiveness of tribe, race, class, religion etc. which gets away from sectarianism. Of course these categories are important (look again at the Conservative party and its attempt to revive its fortunes by plumping for an upper class leader) but the party should not be a vehicle for any group's narrow interests (the Tories are not planning to represent just the Old Etonian toffs!). A number of parties in Zambia have foundered upon too much tribal identification. The PF and its link with ULP is aimed at advancing the interests of Zambians from all tribes, race and colour.

Have we given you enough reason to support PF? If you are still doubtful, drop the Secretary General a line at pf@zamnet.zm and air your questions and suspicions… Don't be shy - we are born debaters and you are always welcome to take us on!