PF chides Fr Luonde

ZAMBIANS should ignore frustrated politicians and failed clergy like former Anglican priest Richard Luonde who is an opportunist merely being used by the UPND to make unfounded allegations against Government, the Patriotic Front (PF) has said.

PF Lusaka Province Secretary, Kennedy Kamba, said unlike the UPND, PF detested tribalism and would always embrace the “One Zambia One Nation” motto.

Mr Kamba said it was unacceptable for the former Anglican priest to make weird claims that the PF was abusing Bembas as a tool for tribalism.

He was reacting to remarks attributed to Fr Luonde in one of the newspapers that “the PF is abusing Bembas as a tool for tribalism.”

Fr Luonde claimed that the PF was using the northern part of Zambia as a tool for promoting tibalising against other citizens.

But Mr Kamba said it was annoying that people like Fr Luonde could make such claims against PF when tribalism was in the UPND.

“Let me state from the onset that in the ruling PF, we detest tribalism with the contempt it deserves because we believe in One Zambia One Nation, and that all people are equal before man and in the eyes of God regardless of colour, creed, race or tribe,” Mr Kamba said.

He said in the PF, anyone could ascend to any position regardless of where they come from, as long as such a person qualifies to hold the prescribed position.

“This is absurd, untrue, unfounded and unacceptable! The PF is a party for all Zambians without any element of segregation.

It is the more reason why President Lungu has revived the One Zambia One Nation Motto to try by whatever means possible to stop and eliminate any forms of tribalism,” he said.

Mr Kamba said the UPND had been trying to import politicians from other parts of the country apart from Southern Province but had failed due to a corrupt system of tribalism within the party.

He said UPND had changed more than six vice presidents with Mr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, being the latest to leave the vicepresidency.

Mr Kamba said it was a matter of time, even Ms Mutale Nalumango, who had been appointed as vicepresident would also leave because of tribalism which was embedded in the UPND.