The Law Association of Zambia has strongly condemned the recent tribal remarks attributed to two PF Cabinet Ministers.

On Sunday, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda was quoted encouraging the people of Chipata to vote for their tribesmen in the forthcoming Presidential and General Elections.

During the Sunday Interview TV programme, Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili issued disparaging remarks to voters in the Southern Province on the basis that they are unlikely to vote for the ruling party in the upcoming general elections due to their tribal inclination.

LAZ President George Chisanga said the remarks, coming as they did, from very senior Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament, are not only misplaced but they are extremely unfortunate in a country that is democratic and which is home to numerous tribal groupings forming one sovereign unitary state.

Mr Chisanga said LAZ wishes to remind the Nation that Article 23 in the Bill of Rights of the current Constitution protects all Zambian citizens from discrimination on the basis of tribe.

He added that the preamble of the newly enacted Constitution of Zambia Amendment Act No.2 of 2016, which the two Honourable Ministers were instrumental in enacting, recognises the equality of citizens in the new preamble.

The preamble reads,

“WE; THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA:

ACKNOWLEDGE the supremacy of God Almighty; DECLARE the Republic a Christian Nation while upholding a person’s right to freedom of conscience, belief or religion;

UPHOLD the human rights and fundamental freedoms of every person;

COMMIT ourselves to upholding the principles of democracy and good governance;

RESOLVE to ensure that our values relating to family, morality, patriotism and justice are maintained and all functions of the State are performed in our common interests;

CONFIRM the equal worth of women and men and their right to freely participate in, determine and build a sustainable political, legal, economic and social order;

RECOGNISE AND UPHOLD the multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi religious and multi-cultural character of our Nation and our right to manage our affairs and resources, sustainably in a developed system of governance; RESOLVE that Zambia shall remain a unitary, multi-party and democratic sovereign State;

RECOGNISE AND HONOUR the freedom fighters who fought for the independence of or Nation in order to achieve liberty, justice and unity for the people of Zambia;

AND DIRECT that all State organs and State institutions abide by and respect our sovereign will”.

Mr Chisanga said on numerous occasions, LAZ has advised all stakeholders to eschew all manner of ill talk and hate speech, which are indicative of tribalism.

He said tribalism has no place in the political discourse of this country adding that the rights and dignity of all Zambian citizens must be maintained and respected, particularly by the Government whose functionaries and officials are sworn to the constitutional duty of protecting all citizens of the Republic regardless of their political persuasion or tribal origins.

“Tribalism can only sow seeds of hatred and violence that are at odds not only with the Christian ethos of the country but also with the need to recognise basic human dignity,” Mr Chisanga said.

He added, “LAZ finds itself duty bound to offer a timely reminder, not only to the two Ministers responsible for these unfortunate remarks, but also to all Zambians, of the earnest plea made by His Excellency the Republican President Mr. Edgar Lungu, on the occasion of officiating at the Human Rights Day on 10 December 2015, when he called on Zambians from all walks of life to join in the fight against tribalism, regionalism and their attendant off shoot of hate speech, which have been given an undesirable prominence by social media in the country.”

“Our reminder is also to all Political players that as we head towards the tripartite elections we should at all times desist from championing any agenda based on region or tribe. – If indeed the Government is serious about constitutionalism, the rule of law and the respect for human rights and human dignity, then all its leaders must be seen to act accordingly for the benefit of all Zambians.”
Mr Chisanga urged the ruling PF government to desist from making divisive tribal remarks, and be patriotic, by leading the way in averting ethnic tensions that are beginning to show in a country that is known as a beacon of peace in the whole of Africa.

PF Lusaka Province Chairperson Horrance Longwe has said that claims by Mr Sampa that when he leaves the PF, he will leave with the membership in Matero are unfounded.

Mr Longwe said that the people that are being used by Mr Sampa in the media are not part of the PF leadership in Matero constituency.

And PF Lusaka Youth Chairperson Kennedy Kamba has asked Mr Sampa to clearly state where he belongs.

Mr Kamba said Mr Sampa is not working with the party structures in Matero.

The two said this in a walk in interview at ZNBC studios in Lusaka today.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Sampa proved futile as his mobile phone went unanswered.

And The PF Leadership on the Copperbelt has accused its Mpongwe Member of Parliament Gabriel Namulambe of working in isolation.

PF Copperbelt Chairperson Teven Kainga has accused the Mpongwe lawmaker of distancing himself from party activities.

Mr. Kainga made the allegations at a PF meeting in Mpongwe today.

The meeting was addressed by the PF National Elections Chairperson Jean Kapata.

But Mr. Namulambe has told ZNBC news in a separate interview that some PF members on the Copperbelt have been demanding money and animals from him.

Mr. Namulambe said it actually some PF district leaders in Mpongwe who have isolated him because he has refused to succumb to their corrupt schemes.

The Clergy has been encouraged to prepare their congregants and ensure that they elect leaders who will serve them as opposed to the ones who wants to become masters after being put into office.

Speaking during Let the People Talk program on radio Phoenix Bishop John Mambo who shared the platform with Fr. Lupupa of the Catholic Church said it was the duty of the church to ensure that their congregations are told to stop electing leaders based on blood and using their hearts.

“We want servants who will serve the people and not masters who will become arrogant once we give them the mandate to run the country. We want a President or MP who will understand that his promises are merely interviews by the people who will be employing him and the church must prepare the people when electing these leaders,” he said.

He noted that 5 years was a long time to have a leader who is arrogant and does not listen to his masters who are the voters.

And speaking during the same program Fr. Lupupa noted that leadership was about providing an environment that ensures equality in the country.

“Leadership is about providing that kind of environment were people are happy with themselves and government facilitating that the big cake that Zambia has is shared equally, that everyone gets what he has to get from that cake.

I would like to warn my congregation not to vote for people who are very bitter because a bitter person cannot make anything better. We want a President who will not be divisive, we want a person who is loving, we want an all embracing President or MP, somebody who understands what the people are going through, somebody approachable and you can relate to easily, that is the type of leader we want and I will spend a lot of time opening people’s eyes and telling them not to be bought by politicians,” he said.

Meanwhile some listeners who participated through live phone calls called on the church not to be by standers and watch the country disintegrate into arnarch due to careless politicians who do not know how to tame their tongues.

Elder Muludnda of Ndola said freedom of speech did not mean freedom to spite as has been happening of late were politicians are saying whatever comes to their minds.

He said there is need to ensure that politicians moderate the way they debate national issues and that the church should counsel those found wanting.

Another caller who identified himself as Sunday called on the church to strongly condemn the language used by information Minster Chishimba Kambwili when he featured on the Sunday Interview.

He said the language used by the Minister was provocative and should be condemned by all well meaning Zambians including the church.