M’MEMBE ACCUSES UPND ADMIN OF PROMOTING TRIBALISM AND HATE SPEECH
Written by Mafken FM Newsroom on 28 June 2023
The Opposition Socialist party -SP- has accused the governing United Party for National development –UPND- of curtailing freedom of expression, which is therefore, impeding the fight for tribalism and hate speech.
Party President Fred M’membe tells Mafken FM Radio in a statement that Zambia has struggled to eliminate tribal and racial discrimination throughout its post-independence history, noting that, the country is not at the end of the road towards equal justice and the elimination of tribal and racial discrimination.
Mr. M’membe purports that, Zambia currently has a government that is more tribally inclined than ever seen or experienced before in the country’s post-independence history.
He claims that, whichever public institution, ministry, department, agency, commission or parastatal organization you look at, has got biased tribal compositions of people in key positions that is hard to conceal or ignore.
The SP Leader says that it is saddening that those who try to question, challenge or criticize President Hakainde Hichilema’s tribally inclined appointments are accused of promoting tribal hatred or hate speech, stating that, they are trying to defend their tribalism by curtailing free speech and restricting freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Information and Media Director and Spokesperson, Thabo Kawana says government finds the sentiments made by Mr M’Membe unfortunate and highly absurd.
Mr Kawana says since the days when he used to run The Post Newspaper, the opposition leader has been known to champion the tribalism agenda in the country.
He has since advised Mr M’Membe to focus on uniting the Zambian people instead of trying to create divisions.
By Kalonje Mumba
