Economic hardship, police causing tension, says PF
THE excruciating social economic hardship coupled with the police harassment of citizens has created anxieties and tension in the country and the continued harassment, victimisation and arresting of both the Church and opposition political leaders has exacerbated the tension among citizens, the Patriotic Front (PF) has observed.
Emmanuel Mwamba, the PF information and publicity chairman says the majority of Zambians were facing hard economic times because of the UPND administration’s non-propoor policies and propensity to favour foreign multilateral conglomerates.
Mr Mwamba said tensions had risen in the country because Zambians were being subjected to untold suffering with the highest cost of living in as many generations.
Mr Mwamba said the security concerns which the police talk about were a result of hunger, diminished democratic space and the harassment of those who expressed themselves.
Mr Mwamba, who featured on the Hot FM Radio Hot Seat programme yesterday said the UPND knew that people would gather at rallies to listen to better alternatives hence stopping the opposition from gathering.
“We do not want Zambia to descend to that level. The police are now fuelling tensions adding on the already existing tensions,” Mr Mwamba said.
He said Zambia was at its worst both economically, politically and socially and that government was supposed to be prudent and not provocative by arresting opposition leaders.
“That is stalking fires that are already burning. You have an Inspector General of Police that literally misconducts himself and stops public rallies. He is bringing fuel to a burning fire,” Mr Mwamba said.
He said there was need for a responsible leadership which would be quiet in the storms and one which was consultative.
Mr Mwamba said the economy was depressed with a larger portion of the adult population being jobless. “This government needs to tread carefully. They should not lead with arrogance. They have enough police officers to stop a rally so why can’t they send the same officers to instead police a rally?” Mr Mwamba said.
He said President Hakainde Hichilema should fire Mr Graphael Musamba, the Inspector General of Police because he had raised tensions to dangerous levels.
“The IG cannot shut down our civil rights. He is not the constitution. The constitution had granted and guaranteed these freedoms and rights,” Mr Mwamba said.