By SIMON MUNTEMBA
IT is a sign of cowardice and guilt for Senior Chief Mukuni to start issuing threats over calls for UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema to be probed over the alleged fraudulent manner in which he handled the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, says Zambia Republican Party president Wright Musoma.
Meanwhile, the Patriotic Front (PF) is shocked at the levels of bitterness and aggression that Senior Chief Mukuni exhibits every time MrHichilema is called to account for his wealth.
Senior Chief Mukuni has warned that the battlelines would been drawn if Mr Hichilema was arrested for the role he played in the privatisation of State-owned enterprises.
Mr Musoma observed that Senior Chief Mukuni was now shaken because the privatisation scandal of which he was a beneficiary had resurfaced.
He warned that all the dubious dealings that surrounded the privatisationof state companies would be exposed and that those founding wanting would face the law.
Mr Musoma said the traditional leader had every right to shiver now that Government had assured of taking action in the matter because he allegedly benefitted from the fraudulent sale of Intercontinental Hotel in Livingstone.
He urged the chief to stop his empty threats, saying it was a sign of cowardice.
“Those threats by Senior Chief Mukuni are cowardly, I am sure he can now sense danger,” Mr Musoma said.
PF Lusaka Province secretary, Kennedy Kamba, said the levels of bitterness, agitation and aggression from Senior Chief Mukuni every time Mr Hichilema is called to account for the role he played in privatisationwas utterly shocking,
Mr Kamba said he was surprised at the levels of bitterness that Senior Chief Mukuni has against the PF and President Edgar Lungu.
Senior Chief Mukuni is alleged to have said the PF wanted to arrest the UPND leader, poison him and completely eliminate him ahead of the 2021 general elections.
Mr Kamba wondered why Senior Chief Mukuni would get agitated every time Mr Hichilema was called to account for the role he played during privatisation.
“Why it is that Mr Hichilema and his close allies that include Senior Chief Mukuni gets so bitter when the man is called to explain himself and tell the nation about his wealth and the role he played in the country’s privatisation programme?” Mr Kamba asked.
He accused the traditional leader of having resorted to divisive and tribal approach to issues.
“We know the chief is UPND but his position and status requires him to approach issues with high levels of sobriety. He is more of a UPND cadre and a tribalist than a chief! This country expects traditional leaders to be a uniting factor,”Mr Kamba said.
He said Mr Hichilema was not above the law and if he was involved in any criminality at a time of privatisation, he must face the law like anybody else.
Mr Kamba said the courts would either exonerate or convict him on the allegations against him by Ms Nawakwi who served as Finance Minister at the time of privatisation.
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