Zambia’s democratic tenets intact - NCP

ZAMBIA’S democratic tenets are above board but the saddest moment in its political history was when citizens became destitutes in the Namwala saga for not supporting a named political party, says New Congress Party president Peter Chanda.

Mr Chanda said Zambia had continued to be a shining example of democracy in Africa and international political scene.

He said disgruntled politicians who were branding Zambia as being dictatorial had been proved wrong.

He said it has proved beyond doubt that Zambia was one of the few countries where people would insult and demean the Office of the Presidency and freely roam the streets.

In an interview yesterday, the opposition leader said he expected issue-based and mature politics next year unlike politics of greediness which almost threw the country in a turmoil such as the Namwala incident were citizens became destitutes for not supporting a named political party.

He expressed hope that such kind of politics would not be practised going forward as citizens had a democratic right to associate themselves with any political party of their choice.

Mr Chanda commended President Edgar Lungu for having restrained security wings in the Mongu escapade involving the Presidential motorcade and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema which he said in other countries it would have ended tragically.

“Zambia’s democratic tenets are above board and it is shocking to note that the same politicians who insult the Office of the Presidency and brand this country as dictatorial are freely roaming the streets,

“One of the saddest political incidents that I want to talk about is the Namwala incident where we saw for the first time in the political history citizens of this country becoming destitutes for not supporting a known political party,” he said.

He said the NCP would launch a campaign to redefine the art of politics where youths would not be used as tools of violence.

Mr Chanda said Zambia’s economy had performed relatively well with the local currency remaining resilient against the dollar.