United Party for National Development (UPND) has welcomed president Lungu’s directive on tribal remarks.
In a statement made available to the media today, UPND Party Secretary General (SG) Stephen Katuka said his party UPND hopes that his officials will respect it and stop misinterpreting it to launder themselves from the tribalism statements they have been making.
Below is the full statement
17th January 2016
Lungu’s ban on tribal and hate speech
We welcome the remarks by President Edgar Lungu calling on his PF Government and party leadership to stop hate speech and tribalism.
We however hope that his officials will respect it and stop misinterpreting it to launder themselves from the tribalism statements they have been making.
We hope it will not be another of those usual rhetoric orders he issues after something has backfired but still continues with the same vice underground.
We have so far heard too many statements from President Lungu condemning violence but the exact opposite is still being done by a number of his thugs.
To date, our leaders can hardly move around the country for party mobilisation activities as they risk being physically attacked by PF thugs or state sponsored police brutality that resorts to teargasing, shooting, and arresting our members.
As UPND, we always want to concentrate on issue based politics of addressing challenges our people have been going through such as high cost of fertiliser and other inputs for farmers, power cuts, increasing inflation rates resulting in high cost of living, job loses and lack of job opportunities for our people, especially youths and the general economic meltdown.
This should form the hallmark of our debates in the country rather than trying to divide our country through fomenting tribal divisions and hate speech as a way of diverting attention from real issues and hope to win votes.
In fact we would have expected President Lungu to go further and urge those who have uttered tribal remarks such as Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda, PF Secretary General Davies Chama, his deputy Mumbi Phiri and others like Chairperson for Information and Publicity Frank Bwalya to unreservedly apologise as a way of showing remorse.
Regrettably, it is clear from the statements made so far by Chishimba Kambwili and Frank Bwalya that the duo does not agree with Lungu’s directive and are now explaining it in manner that tries to absorb them of being guilty of their tribal remarks.
This means that Chishimba Kambwili and Frank Bwalya have completely ignored Lungu’s directive and are unlikely to change or the President has completely lost his authority and he cannot discipline the two gentlemen. This does not surprise us. His directive to immediately review the Public Order Act was similarly ignored by those he tasked to do it.
Lungu must also direct public media houses such as Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail, ZNBC to be responsible enough and guard against being used but must promote national unite by accommodating divergent views and feature other players fairly in their coverage.
Stephen Katuka
UPND Party Secretary General
Great now let’s have proper debate last about the economy etc UPND is ready
Let’s have no more of the tribal nonsense and spend the rest of the time until August to debate real issues that affect Zambians. We could start with live tv debates between government officials VS the opposition.
His directive does not imply that Upnd should now have express practice of tribalism with impunity. It’s because of Upnd nature of being tribal that inticed other people to be talking against your practice. You need to stop being tribal you hyenas.
Yayayaya, kwena ba UPND you indeed have a big problem—EGO_’malitis’!
The President has provided a perfect opportunity for you to save face and get yourselves out of the tribal quagmire you created for yourselves. Yet you find it fitting to issue such a half-hearted statement of support. And you wonder why people feel that you guys WILL NEVER accept the fact that TRIBALISM exit for as long as it suits your political agenda.
This was an opportunity for your bwana “UPND Party Secretary General” to counsel, not only your Party members, but all other citizen too against this EVIL. Instead what do you do? You go back to what you are comfortable with; EMPTY ACCUSATIONS and rhetoric of SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS. This simply shows political immaturity on your part. Learn to join hands with the…
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This simply shows political immaturity on your part. Learn to join hands with the republican President on certain issues without the usual blame game—YOU LOSE NOTHING BY DOING SO!!
@HH Techilema and Yambayaba, the president has issued a ban on tribal remarks and you are busy issuing tribal remarks hiding behind your pseudo names. You are the people that have been promoting this tribal talk because you are die hard PF cadres who see no hope in yourselves without PF. You are disappointed with Lungus pronouncement. UPND is not tribal, does not issue tribal remarks and does not accuse people of practising this vice without any evidence. Your strongest weapon has been taken away and you are now holding on to a straw. Go on and insult me because thats your specialty.
Are u doing the same? your Mumkombwe openly said it’s time for Tongas to rule but we have heard nothing from your HH condemning such utterances. Or is it. Because your tribalism has blinded not to see that such speeches promote tribalism? you are not serious leaders.
….Are u doing the same? your Mumkombwe openly said it’s time for Tongas to rule but we have heard nothing from your HH condemning such utterances. Or is it. Because your tribalism has blinded not to see that such speeches promote tribalism? you are not serious leaders.
The chief myself in upnd must also condemn tribalism.
Instead of these Upnd maroons taking an initiative to condemn their own practices this their SG is throwing it on pf as if pf is the one which told them to be tribal. This is truly laughable indeed. This is an opportunity for you to council your members to stop being tribal. Ecl is only helping you to realise how this evil has affected you ba chimbwi. Looks like these guys are proud to be what they are.
I know we are not native speakers of English, but we need to pay attention to the way we use the langue. Does the following sentence make sense? “Instead of these Upnd maroons taking an initiative to condemn their own practices this their SG is throwing it on pf as if pf is the one which told them to be tribal.”
Looking at your reasoning, are you implying that the mission of PF is to divide the country on tribal basis? We know that the guys you have alluded to are tribal bigots. Kambwili insulted people from Northwestern province and guys like you rejoiced. You believe that people who talk trash are intelligent. People go back to school and learn critical thinking. You really need it.
I wish Zambia could go back to 1991 when every Zambian was excited to go the polls. Please lets stop this tribalism demon, it’s clearly worsening the countries economic.
One love.
Comment:President lungu meant well when he banned hate speech & tribal remarks. But let HH tell his party leadership also becoz UPND are the major culprits.
President should fire Frank Bwalya, Mumbi Phiri and Davies Chama
Comment: HH should tell his membership not to be tribal,even in the way they vote.He should make a statement that tribal bolting is evil
Unless HH is not covered by the media when he is uttering tribal remarks as preached day and night by PF cadres. Most tribal remarks heaped on HH are made by Sunday Chanda, Chishimba Kambwili, Frank Bwalya, Davis Chama and Mumbi Phiri. I’m not UPND but a neutral observer.
Ba upnd,what bout your leader hh.when is he going to come out en condemn the vice?he should not just hide his thick face kwati namakila ichisushi.
IF I PRESIDENT LUNGU MEANS IT, HE MUST DROP KAMBWILI FROM BEING SPOKES PERSON AND ASK LUBINDA TO BE THE SPOKES PERSO BECAUSE WHEN GIVEN TALKS, THERE IS ALWAYS SENSE. AS THE MATER OF FACT, THE FIVE, (KAMBWILI, MUMBI, CHAMA, CHANDA AND FATHERLESS BUT CHAKOLWA FR. BWALYA) ARE DESTROYING THE PARTY AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT DEMOTED, THIS WILL CONTINUE.
@10 the likes of ck fb mp dc are the kind of weapons that mmd lacked to defend their stay in power. If mmd had such calibre within it’s ranks pf would ‘ve find it hard to penetrate mmd strong holds. If Ecl drops them pf will be as defenceless as what mmd was prior to 2011 elections. Just learn to live with them baba.
There goes freemasons, instead of also telling there myopic cadres to do the same, they are now attacking what the president of the Republic told us his people
uPMD cadres should not twist the president’s directive in order to escape their tribal stench. President Lungu’s directive is to his cabinet and party officials and not to the rest of us in the nation. I for one will continue criticizing uPMD for its tribalism until they issue a statement to deny what has come from their own mouths and hearts. If they they don’t do that it is an admission that they believe that uPMD can only be led by a tonga, simple. So guys lets continue telling it to their faces until they change. These are the same people (now regrouped under uPMD) who forced KK to abandon multi party democracy and introduce One Party State in order to avoid a split of the country and tribal war Rwanda style. KK is still alive, ask him. Imagine where Zambia would be with its…
@hh techilema, that is very correct. That is why uPMD has hastily issued a statement welcoming Edgar’s orders. It’s a relief to them that Edgar seems to have saved them from the tribal tag. And now the cadres want to twist it to include us common men and women. uPMD is tribal party and very soon you will prove that a leopard cannot change its spots. They will expose themselves and shoot themselves in the foot as I always say, because their party leadership was founded on tribal lines and they simply don’t know any other way of living or conducting their affairs. I predict that before the elections the GBMs and the dr Bandas will not be able to hide their presence anymore and the party will implode…watch this space for God does not wish to allow tribalist elements to rule Zambia…
PF IS CONFUSION IN ZAMBIA.
Sejani , “only a TONGA will rule UPND”
Munkombwe in 2011, “its time for a TONGA to rule Zambia”
We will never forget these words from our friends but thanks President Lungu for putting a stop to tribal talk. Its one Zambia one nation.
tombwas are tribal by nature and we cant change them may be God. even Jesus Christ can loose elections in Tonga land. Shame on you maggots .
Pf will NOT win lungu will not win because of lies which kambwali,chama, mwamba know that HH does not manipulate stories. Do u know wako ni wako rubbish? Anyway you will not win! V for HH! Great news kambwili the pig has been reported to police for his tribal and hate speeches by UPND lawyer.
Comment:Chama, Chanda and other names are already sued for tribal hate speeches, ati tuleteka dirty mouths!
Comment:Most if not all who hate HH are refuges who have joined pf they ran away from tribal wars from Congo.
Comment:Most if not all who hate HH are refuges who have joined pf they ran away from tribal wars from Congo.