GOVERNMENT has condemned and warned against continued use of tribal statements in the run-up to next week’s presidential election.
Chief government spokesperson Joseph Katema, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said in a statement yesterday that political actors must realise that the tribalism being exhibited in the campaigns has the potential to undermine the unity and co-existence the country has enjoyed over the last 50 years.
“Zambia is bigger than any individual, political party or indeed tribe and, therefore, this by-election should not in any way be used as a conduit for tribalism,” he said.
Dr Katema said tribalism, wherever it has been practised, has not yielded any positive results but has instead been a recipe for ethnic conflicts resulting in stagnation in development and loss of life.
“Government wishes to remind all those campaigning on tribal lines that Zambia is a democracy and people have the right to choose a leader of their choice regardless of tribe.
“Zambians have for the last 50 years lived together under the motto ‘One Zambia, One Nation’, and any attempts by some individuals to cause Zambians to rebel against this value should be condemned,” he said.
Dr Katema also said Government finds it shameful, unacceptable and inconsistent with the Zambian way of life that people can still campaign on tribal lines.
He said Zambians should take lessons from countries in which tribalism has resulted in serious ethnic conflicts disrupting the normal way of living of the people and that they should also reject such attempts by putting aside their ethnicity and voting for a leader of their choice.
Dr Katema said Government expects all political parties to be responsible in their campaigns and avoid tribal talk to safeguard the peace and unity Zambian people have continued to enjoy.
He urged the media not to promote tribal talk by ignoring those whose campaigns are premised on tribalism.
Meanwhile, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) director Priscilla Isaacs says the final election results are likely to be announced after three days due to rains.
Speaking during a public discussion on challenges of holding a snap election in Lusaka on Wednesday, Ms Isaacs said the delay will be due to difficulties that the commission encounters in transporting ballot papers in rural areas especially with the onset of rains
And Ms Isaacs said it will be desirable for the commission to print ballot papers at Government Printers in Zambia.
She said, however, that Government Printers has obsolete machines that stakeholders may not accept for printing ballot papers.
After next Tuesday, I hope Zambians shall demand responsibility. An election does not mean you let up.
Well said my brother. Even if your preferred candidate wins, ensure that you hold them accountable and don’t just agree because they are in power. Let’s hold ourselves to higher standards whatever the outcome.
“Yesterday [Tuesday], I said Southern Province chiefs in 2008 led by chief Mukuni, we supported Rupiah Banda. In 2011 we supported Michael Chilufya Sata. Why should we now not support HH? Why should it be turned tribal for us to endorse HH?” Munkombwe asked.
The Tribal entities are well known. Let Zambia have a non tribal president.
A human brain will of course just pedal the intent perception of mind flow. There is always a failure to act normally but on impulse and emotion.
You need prayers bro lol. Go on.
Official results from debate
1.Nawakwi
2.Chipimo
3.Nevers
4.HH
5.Sinkamba
Well done iron lady,you hammer the men so called economists.
Direct quotes:
Maureen Mwanawasa at a rally says “HH could have been a President long time ago had it not been his tribe.”
HH at a rally in Northwestern says, “Do not vote for party that digs Copper from here and develop Muchinga.”
Charles Milupi at a rally says “Southerners, Westerners and Northwesterners should unite in this election to win the President.”
Master of Politics of the Belly, one Daniel Munkombwe says at rally, “It is time for a Tonga President.”
Check the company map of the PF. It is indeed a tribal map.
It is true that we must condemn these tribal tendencies most perpetrated at UPND rallies including some remark attributed to MMD’s Elizabeth Chitika.
Please let us go beyond condemning and involve prayers against this evil spirit of tribalism which can put our country to flames. Pray that God may turn away people’s hearts from voting for such parties.
By the way, why didn’t HH condemn Munkombwe outrightly at the same rally since he spoke after the old man?
This is a joke. How can a government of tribalists warn against tribal campaigns? This government of clowns is amazing!!!!!
PF is known Tribal grouping scheming others as such.
Katema must first clean PF stinking Tribalism if hez to make sense.
If one can not accept to be led or cannot vote for HH who is Tonga, it is not HH who is tribal but me who swears not to support him even if I know that he is the best candidate.