Linda Kasonde Says PF Was More Tolerant Than UPND
Former Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Linda Kasonde has raised concerns over the nation’s democratic trajectory, stating that the previous Patriotic Front (PF) government permitted a greater degree of political tolerance than the current United Party for National Development (UPND) administration.
In a comprehensive statement, Kasonde grounded her assessment in her experience as a civic advocate and a citizen observing successive governments. She acknowledged that every administration faces scrutiny but pointed to a growing perception that the space for opposing views has constricted since 2021.
“Under the PF era, even during periods of friction, civic groups and political actors could voice dissent more openly,” Kasonde stated. “Currently, there is a sense that disagreement is being perceived as hostility rather than a legitimate part of the national discourse.”
Kasonde cautioned that limitations on public assemblies, arrests connected to political speech, and stricter media oversight threaten to undermine democratic gains achieved over decades. She urged authorities to view criticism as an essential democratic mechanism, not a disruption.
“The freedoms of expression and association are constitutional imperatives, not mere suggestions; they form the bedrock of our democracy,” she emphasized. “A government’s legitimacy is fortified by engaging with all voices, including those that are uncomfortable.”
Her comments coincide with calls from several civil society and faith-based organizations for the reinforced protection of fundamental rights. The Seventh-day Adventist Church recently encouraged public participation in the constitutional review process, framing civic engagement as both a right and a civic obligation.
Political analysts note that Kasonde’s perspective carries weight due to her consistent record of criticizing intolerance. Having been a vocal critic of the PF’s governance, her current remarks signal a broader, non-partisan concern about a potential decline into a system where rights are contingent on political allegiance.
She concluded that the nation’s leadership must reaffirm the principles of openness and dialogue that have historically united Zambia. “We must not replace tolerance with triumphalism,” Kasonde said. “The same freedoms that enabled political change must be safeguarded for those who dissent today.”
Government officials have not issued a formal response, though sources within the Ministry of Information maintain that Zambia continues to uphold constitutional liberties under the rule of law.
Look at our neighbour in Tanzania
Uyu mdzimai alibe nzelu kapena chikumbukiro cha zomwe zinachitika. Enze kuti, when opposition leaders like HH were not even allowed to enter Eastern Province — should we show her video footage? When HH was running on top of a roof escaping from PF cadres — should we show her the footage? Where was she when Nsama Nsama was gunned down at the High Court — should we show her that footage too? Where was she during the time of the gassing, when every night people lived in fear — should we show her that? And where was she when violence in markets was the order of the day — should we show her those videos?
I honestly hope that article about her is fake.
The seems like Linda Kasonde missed violence and great corruption, stealing from borrowed money.
Maybe ba Linda benze ba beneficiary, maybe she has lost her mind
Where did that tolerance take us? Linda Kasonde shows that the result of that tolerance was the violence and lawless that we saw under PF.
The law has no tolerance. What lawyer can not fathom that?
Democracy can never work in Africa. It is just a pipe dream. You just wait and see how much you are going to miss HH once he decides that he can no longer be bothered to deal with all this nonsense. Kagame has found a formula that seems to work in the African sphere. The trouble is what happens when his tenure comes to an end?
For a supposedly educated & enlightened person like Linda Kasonde to issue a statement that brutal Lungu & his PF were more tolerant than upnd shows the rot among people of her class.
Apparently the majority of Zambians don’t agree with your claims Linda, otherwise your PF would still have been in power with all their violence.
People who benefited financially during the violence from the violence of the PF that traumatized so many opposition upnd at the time & other innocent citizens are the only being disingenuous.
May be to you,Linda,but PF was brutal to me.They enchroanced my my 25. ha piece of land and made charcoal from my trees.I could do nothing but watch.
Maybe Kalimanshi was your boyfriend
PF mobilised a mob to assault Linda Kasonde when she was serving as Law Association of Zambia president. She escaped by a whisker. Now she misses those days.
Oh times do changing