PRESIDENT HICHILEMA IS DESECRATING TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES BY TURNING THEM INTO UPND RALLIES

Lusaka- Monday, twenty fifth November 2024

We have noticed with deep considerations how a transparent sample has emerged that President Hakainde Hichilema has rapidly turned noble conventional and cultural occasions and ceremonies, into public rallies and conferences for the United Party for National Development (UPND).

This is visibly demonstrated  by political  actions which have taken place in any respect conventional ceremonies that President Hichilema has lately attended or officiated.

They have turn out to be political ceremonies to assemble conventional leaders and opposition MPs to endorse him and pledge assist for him for his authorities and for his 2026 re-election.

The photos from the ceremonies verify and present a tragic depiction the place UPND regalia litter the group.

Further, at these ceremonies, President Hichilema brazenly reveals contempt by recognising Mafinga MP, Robert Chabinga as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Patriotic Front Acting President even when he is aware of that these issues stay energetic within the court docket.of legislation.

He additionally makes use of the occasions to parade members of the Opposition and Patriotic Front renegade MPs. This is sowing seeds of discord, confusion and helps fracture the unity within the Opposition.

Yet that is hypocrisy of the very best order.
During his time within the Opposition, Presodent Hichilema punished UPND MPs, Mayors and Council Chairpersons for merely receiving President Edgar Lungu.of their constituencies or districts.

The instances of Council Chairpersons of Kaoma, Bindundu Mutti, and Kafue Council Chairperson, Thomas Zulu are examples of Hichilema’sintolerance. He expelled them from the UPND for receiving President Edgar Lungu who was on nationwide duties of their districts.

For instance, President Hichilema suspended Prof. Geoffrey Lungwangwa and Hon Teddy Kasonso for merely supporting a Parliamentary Bill, Bill 10, an motion that defiled parliamentary sovereignty and independence.

President Hichilema punished MPs and others severely for merely sharing the precept of co-existence and tolerance for nationwide duties and occasions.

THE CASE OF THE 2024 CHABUKA TRADITIONAL CEREMONY HELD ON SUNDAY,24TH NOVEMBER 2024

The ceremony was preceded by a gathering of Luapula chiefs by authorities.

A letter dated 18th November 2024 invited all their Royal Highnesses from Luapula. It learn;

“Luapula Province will be receiving six (6) Cabinet Ministers. They are coming in the province to discuss various developmental projects to be undertaken in all the Chiefdoms.”

“In view of the above, we are cordially inviting you our Royal Highnesses to attend this important meeting with the Cabinet Ministers,” reads the letter dated November 18, 2024 signed by Luapula Province deputy everlasting secretary Prudence Mwansa Chinama.”

“Provincial Administration will cater for your travel and upkeep logistics. The meeting will take place at SALI RIVERSIDE RESORT in Mansa on Wednesday; 20th November, 2024 at 14:00 Hours. There will be lunch provided before the meeting.”

Further it turned clear that Chief Mukuni, the chief of the Toka-Leya folks within the Livingstone, Zimba, and Kazungula districts of Southern Province, was a political emisary of President Hichilema and was coordinating, behind the scenes, the chiefs attendance for this upcoming political occasion.

We want to specific gratitude and present solidarity with  Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe, who heads and leads the Lunda Kingdoms, who stayed away from this politicised occasion.

We additionally thank the 4 chiefs in Mansa who. regardless of super strain, additionally brazenly expressed concern and reservations on the desecration of the preparations of the occasion and boycotted the trafitional ceremony they’ve attended for many years, altogether.

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA HAS TAKEN OVER THE PATRIOTIC FRONT AS DEFACTO PRESIDENT

At his course, State House organised and supported a sham Patriotic Front Extral-Ordinary General Conference.

After this we noticed a course of headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Milner.Muyambango the place modifications on the Registrar of Societies had been made that noticed Matero MP, Miles Sampa put in as Patriotic Front President a provess that illegally changed President Edgar Lungu.

Again at State House course, we noticed recent modifications at workplace bearers of the Patriotic Front. President Hichilema has recognised Robert Chabinga as Acting President of the Patriotic Front as his current remarks in Mansa present.

We is not going to be shocked that extra modifications could also be effected to alter from Robert Chabinga to whoever President Hichilema can be snug with.

Clearly President Hichilema is the defacto President of the Patriotic Front as he makes modifications as he wills.

We have beforehand said that President Hichilema has tried to destroy democracy and the Multi-Party character of Zambia by frwquently sponsoring confusion within the Opposition and proscribing their actions.

REMARKS BY MANSA MP, DR. CHITALU CHILUFYA PLEADING THE CASE OF HON. NIXON CHILANGWA AND HON. RONALD CHITOTELA

We have famous the remarks made by former Minister of Health and Mansa Member of Parliament Dr. Chitalu Chilufya the place he stated there was anger by the folks of Luapula.relating to the instances of Hon. Nixon Chilangwa and Hon.Ronald Chitotela. He additionally pleadied for apparwnt leniency for them.

It should be made very clear that Hon. Nixon Chilangwa and 5 others want is to be granted their constitutional proper to the due means of the legislation and to be granted their proper to innocence, bail and enchantment.

Infact the 2 demonstrated that Magistrate Martin Namushi was brazenly bias and was conducting the trial on the behest of officers from Lusaka.

Hon. Chilangwa proceeded to file an official grievance to the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC) and backed the grievance with audio and written proof and in addition searched for the Magistrate to recuse himself.

Despite this mounting proof and demand for accountability, the Magistrate ignored the considerations and proceeded to listen to and jail, Hon. Nixon Chilangwa. Hon. Ronald Chitotela, the Council Chairperson, Hon.Kalumba Chifumbe, Davy Kaniki, Chabu Chitotela and Kunda Chitotela.

Further, the six have appealed in opposition to this conviction and unfair incarceration and have sought bail pending enchantment.

But this has been patently denied as is the brand new phenomenon the place the courts of legislation have all of a sudden refused to grant bail of their case and within the instances of Hon. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, Hon. Bowman Lusambo, Mrs. Wanziya Kampyongo, Francis Muchemwa and others.

What Hon. Chilangwa and Hon Chitotela require are to be granted their elementary rights to the due means of the legislation and different ensures granted by the Republican Constitution.

CONCLUSION

It is obvious that in his determined try to hunt re-election in 2026, President Hichilema has chosen to sacrifice the sanctity and respect that these cultural occasions and conventional ceremonies characterize and has with out disgrace, turned them into political rallies and endorsement for his candidacy.

We urge conventional leaders to acknowledge the menace that President Hichilema now poses to our tradition and make sure that the organisation of those ceremony is devoid of partisan politics and campaigns despute the strain from State House.

Our enchantment to President Hichilema is that the desecration and politicisation of conventional ceremonies may have lasting harm, and he’s suggested to restrain himself and limit his campaigns within the political enviornment. He is inspired to fulfill us within the subject than to conduct partisan politics underneath the shelter of conventional ceremonies.

Issued by:
Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
Chairperson of Information and Publicity
Member of the Central Committee
PATRIOTIC FRONT