KAPYANGA’S TAKE ON HH SPOT ON

IT is not surprising that Mr Hakainde Hichilema, president of the United Party for National Development (UPND) has stepped up his campaign to unseat the Patriotic Front. Mr Hichilema as we know him is a very ambitious person who overrates himself

The only snag though is that he has been going about this push for power in a wrong way.

He wants to use his cast wealth and ethnic vote to wrestle power from the PF. The fact that a man has no qualms about taking advantage of a bad situation for political gain speaks volumes about his character

he drought induced hunger situation in the UPND stronghold of Southern province is unfortunate but can not be blamed on anyone, not even government or Mr Hichilema. It is as a result of an act of nature over which no man has control. But to Mr Hichilema, this is an opportunity to market himself and his party as the savior when he has not yet saved anyone directly affected by the hunger situation. The Bauleni people he was pictured giving mealie meal to are not affected by the hunger situation, but people in his own home town and village. That is where, if he was sincere, he should have been sending the mealie meal. This effort would actually go a long way in supplementing government effort through the Disaster Mitigation and Management Unit (DMMU) under the Vice President’s office which has been distributing relief food to all affected areas since early this year.

It is against this background that Zambians must critically question his credentials as to whether he merits their support and trust.

Zambians must ask themselves whether someone who flaunts his wealth and ethnic roots must lead the country.

We agree with PF member of the Youth Committee, Mr Francis Kapyanga that Zambians must reject anyone who wants to assume power on the premise that they gave money, and backed by a tribal vote. We hold nothing against the UPND leader having presidential ambitions. Mr Kapyanga warns that Zambians must reject Mr Hichilema even before the 2021 presidential and general elections so as to send a clear message to all citizens seeking national office that they not assume their wealth or tribal backing will bring them the ultimate prize - the country’s presidency

We want a president who cuts across ethnic roots and embodies national values.

There is actually nothing wrong with being rich but there is everything wrong when it is abused.

Mr Kapyanga’s words of caution must not be dismissed outright because they are coming from from a PF cadre.

African countries that allowed politicians use the tribal card have paid dearly through civil wars.

Nigeria, for example went through costly civil war in the late 1960s. Before Lusaka High Court Judge

Closer home the genocide in Rwanda was due Annessie Banda-Bobo was Michael

to tribal conflict and though relative peace has reHalubala who testified that the juvenile

turned to Rwanda, there are still some elements who offender murdered Sebastian Zulu by

still harbour tribal sentiments against others. stabbing him in the left side of the neck

In the case of Mr Hichilema, Zambians must aland left him bleeding.

ways remember how he ascended to the UPND This is in a case where a 17-year-old pu

leadership, a fact he has never denounced, but has pil of Kalingalinga is charged with mur

accepted without any qualms. der.

For the under-20s, when the UPND founding fahe incident happened at Lusaka’s JCS

ther Anderson Mazoka died, tribal sentiments came bar in Long Acres on April 6, when the

to the fore, with the likes of Ackson Sejani declaring juvenile allegedly murdered Sebastian

that only a Tonga will lead the party. The then vice Lungu, 20.

president, Sakwiba Sikota was hounded out of the The suspect was initially jointly

party. Other senior officials who hailed from other charged with a 16-year-old juvenile who

regions subsequently left the UPND. was released through a Nollie Prosequi.

It was a sad state of affairs for a party whose Mr Halubala as a first prosecution wit

founder had cut across the ethnic divide. ness narrated that on the material day

That in a nutshell is how Mr Hichilema became around 14:00, he went to visit his friend,

UPND president - by virtue of being major financial Mr Lungu, in Mtendere East and the duo

contributor and being from the “anointed” tribe. planned that they go and have a drink lat

Zambians must therefore not gloss over such glarer in the day.

ing examples of tribalism that some presidential He said around 19:30 hours, the two

seekers are associated with or carry. It is best that went to JSC bar where Mr Lungu bought

they are exposed for who they really are. - wolves in two black labels and two castle lagers.

sheep’s clothing. "He bought two black labels for himself and two castle for me and we started looking for a place to sit," he said.

Mr Halubala said he and Mr Lungu