Press Statement
15.07.20
President Lungu this weekend performed one of his political theatrics in Western province where he went to commission a Zesco pole in Shangombo, by accusing opposition leader HH and UPND of political violence.
No matter what rhetoric he deploys, Lungu and PF are the ones perpetuating this violence in the country.
We know Lungu loves meaningless politics of spectacle and for all his theatrical behaviour, we know Lungu has no interest in stopping the political violence as ruling by fear and intimidation is part of his character and that of the current PF leadership. The PF of Michael Sata is long dead.
As far as I am aware, since President Sata died, PF under the leadership of Lungu has never advanced or practiced popular democracy and internally, their politics is extremely centralised and authoritarian and it is this authoritarianism that they communicate and unleash to the Zambian public.
As commander in chief of the armed forces, if he had the will, it would simply take one word from the head of state for all this political violence PF thugs is unleashing on innocent Zambians to end immediately. They simply tolerate it as it suits them for it gives PF a false sense of being popular. This false sense is what makes the PF commanded police and hierarchy tolerate these thugs within PF butchering innocent citizens mercilessly like what happened in Mufulira when UPND offices were attacked by PF thugs.
We must make it abundantly clear that any political leader especially a President that perpetuates violence in a constitutional democracy is a threat to that order. A leader that threatens freedom of speech and assembly as President Lungu is continuously doing undermines our freedoms.
It has become definite that President Lungu has become a threat to our democracy and there needs to be a response from the Zambian people that makes it abundantly clear that the people of Zambia will not tolerate violence and intimidation. We must make it clear that we will not allow our democracy to be destroyed by PF buffoons.
The current political lawlessness and political disorderliness and the violence that exists is a pure reflection of the party in power and has nothing to do with UPND and it’s leadership. Absolutely nothing.
The current political violent prevailing atmosphere in the country demonstrates the lack of leadership from President Lungu and it is this political trajectory that has characterised the thuggish behaviour of PF.
We reiterate once more for Mr Lungu to desist from careless political statements meant for drama performances and simply end the political violence in the country. Such careless statements have led to loss of investor confidence and economic collapse in other countries.
Finally, we ask Mr Lungu and his PF govt to take real development to Western province. As a reminder, Lewanika general hospital is in a shocking dilapidated state and we expect a President to travel to Barotseland to commission a state of the art hospital or passenger airport in the province and not to commission a single Zesco pole. Zesco has many project managers and engineers whose job it is do that.
Zambia Foward
Oliver Amutike
UPND SA Chapter Chairman.
