By Judith Mulenga CiSCA Chairperson
The Civil Society Constitution Agenda (CiSCA) strongly condemns the extremely dangerous, discriminatory and unconstitutional utterances by Patriotic Front member Munir Zulu, when he clearly violated the constitutionally guaranteed right of every person in Zambia not to be discriminated against.
During a discussion on Muvi TV’s “The Furnace” aired on Thursday 8th April 2021, and anchored by Kelvin Tabula Chifokolo, Munir Zulu unashamedly declared that, “the minority cannot rule over the majority” in Zambia. Ironically, Munir Zulu referred to the “genocide in Rwanda”, while he himself was making utterances similar to what caused the genocide in Rwanda.
Munir Zulu’s utterances clearly violate our Constitution. In the Preamble, we the Zambian people commit to “Recognise and uphold the multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural character of our Nation…” Further, the substantive provision of Article 4(3) of the same Constitution also recognizes the fact that “The Republic (of Zambia) is a unitary, indivisible, multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-party democratic State…”
Munir Zulu’s utterances also violate Section 70 sub section (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia, which states that, “Any person who utters any words or publishes any writing expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for any person or group of persons wholly or mainly because of his or their race, tribe, place of origin or colour is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.” Therefore by making the utterances that Munir made on national television, Munir committed a cognizable offence and does not need to be reported by anyone for him to be arrested by the police.
CiSCA wonders where Munir Zulu gets the guts to so recklessly violate our Constitution? Looking at the unfettered diabolical confidence which Munir Zulu displayed during the interview as he spewed his prejudices against other Zambians and his ignorant interpretation of what constitutes minority and democratic elections, it seemed like he had the support of his party’s higher offices. If not, we challenge the Secretary General of the PF to publicly and strongly censure Munir. We believe that Munir, like many other cadres in the ruling party, have been emboldened by other leaders in the party who have similarly uttered reckless statements without retribution from senior leadership in the party.
Munir, has a very low random access memory (RAM) because since 2016 with the 50 + 1% votes needed for one to become President, the so called ‘majorities’ need the so called ‘minorities’ even more than before. If in 2001 during the first past the post electoral process, President Mwanawasa was elected from the so called minority ethnic extraction and became President, what about now? Did Munir miss the memo on the attempted ‘kavundula’ Bill 10 and what its aim was? Does he not know that he is shooting his party in both feet at the same time?
CiSCA calls on the police to immediately arrest Munir Zulu. If they don’t, we will be left with no option but to report his non-arrest to the Office of the Public Protector under Article 244 of our Constitution and if nothing happens with this office, we will escalate the matter to relevant regional and international bodies as we will deem the non action as having exhausted all local remedies. We want to remind this violent cadre and his ilk that non discrimination is the cornerstone of the international human rights framework that compelled the United Nation’s drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted on 10th December 1948 because of the inhuman treatment of the Jewish people and others deemed ‘undesirables’ by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Seventy-two years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this man can brazenly spew such vitriol against other ethnic groupings without any consequences? We cannot allow this level of lawlessness to continue unabated. This is extremely dangerous, and a real threat to our peace and stability. We also would like to take this opportunity to remind the nation that since 10th December 1948, human rights stopped being a sovereignty matter! The global community realized that dictators thrive on suppression of their people’s human rights and on divide and rule.
Zambia is not an “animal farm” where some people are more equal than others. We are a constitutional democracy, and all citizens have an equal claim to the running of the affairs of this country, regardless of their ethnicity, social, economic, political, religious or any other basis. We are all equal, and our equality is unconditional. Period!
Azright, that ka mutafe should be coni….demed! Zambia has enjoyed peace in the spirit of one Zambia one nation. Let’s compete on how best we can serve our people not our tribe. Besides, we all belong to the Zambian tribe. If you go to Europe, your tribe is black African first and then your country of origin second. Go on the African continent your tribe is Zambian period. That boy should be locked up for his comments if PF mean business otheriwse we have a choice in the one and only UNIP, power mulilo. “One Zambia, One Nation”.
Well said! Pity that PF cadres can’t read! And the biggest corrupt PF cadre of them all KZ will ignore you or saying that it’s irrelevant!
The levels of hooliganism amongst politicians and cadres is worrisome. Now we have known hooligans vying for leadership positions. Cadres now have even the audacity to hound somebody from a Government office. These are failures of leadership. They’re doing it because they’re being encouraged. If their leaders disown them they’ll stop. It seems the PF rewards hooliganism. It’s very shameful
It seems cisca and upnd can’t read or understand English. Maybe the interview should be translated into Tonga. Because any normal human being knows that a minority cannot rule over majority. What then is democracy? What are elections for? Don’t we vote so that the one who gets majority votes rules us all? Cisca and your upnd funders go and fuk yourselves with a hot metal rod. Sons and daughters of dogs.
Its this same lack of consequences where people can stone opposition helicopters in Shiwangandu during elections, police can shoot dead innocent people and only move when the President asks for a report. Right now in Minneapolis in the US, a police officer and the chief of police in Minneapolis have resigned after they shot dead an un armed person, they have resigned on their own, that is taking responsibility and accountability seriously. There is no law in this country that stops a civil servant from belonging to any party of their choice, as long as they are not in active politics. The level of lawlessness, in this country is appalling, it requires somebody called a leader to call out and say what is that, stop that immediately
what did he mean by minority? coz the people he was referring as the minority are the second largest if not the largest
And also most PF cadres have a challenge of school when it comes to understanding issues, and then coupled with ignorance which Dr Kaunda when he was President, kept telling us ignorance is a disease
Those cartoons like Muniio Zulu are just digging PF grave deeper. This time for Mukupa to throw away those cadres urinating at PF.
is it legal in this country for a civil servant to be thrown out their office by party cadres ? is it legal to forcefully eject a civil servant out their office? it was so sad to watch a civil servant been eject out of her office.
He needs to be arrested, these chaps will cause havoc. Spax mining was brandishing weapons and all sorts. No one said anything until they killed an innocent person. How far has that case gone, no one knows. He could a free man. Nip it in the bud.
Much ado about nothing. Upnd and it’s surrogates need to find better things to do.
Group rights are different but complementary to personal liberties. Let us look at the concept of minority and why minority rule could be considered unlawful in an election. First of all, voting by one man, one vote could be confusing because majorities are not necessarily statistical but substantive. For instance, the candidates are necessarily products of social forces that produce and reproduce substantive majorities. This process is also referred to as social mobility or ‘bourgoisification’. Substantive majorities are also more likely to meet the qualifications necessary for election and re-election. These include minimum educational qualifications, adequate financial and human resources for canvassing and campaigning, articulate and versatile communication capability to win votes,…
Ba mayo Judith Mulenga your concern on comments by Munir Zulu are correct but given the election fever we should expect such comments on a daily basis by major the political actors it does not matter until their objectives are achieved. Munir Zulu is very junior in the PF rankings and one wonders where he is drawing the appetite to make such comments without rebuke from the PF leadership. Its do this and that and I look somewhere so long it suits our die hard objectives. These cadres come in all shades, those old enough will remember from UNIP regime to current situations. We had the Nakawala’s of this world, mention them the list is endless, its their season and they are unstoppable, mark my words.
CISCA and UPND knows the procedure if they fill insulted by being referred to as the MINORITY let them formally report to the police there after go to court if their is any substance in their complaint but let them be reminded that only the MAJORITY rules in Zambia according to our constitution (50+1) kwasila so stop being cry babies
Dr. Makasa Kanondo, learn to write responses that are relevant please.
Zambian citizen how do you sleep at night seeing cadres hounding a civil servant at her office. The youth of the country unemployed and abusing drugs and alcohol. Cost of living going up, a depreciating kwacha. The young people including kaizer and bowman put ku wire. The ruling party holding a sham convention with no voting
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