Zambian Mission in India denies protest reports

Sat, 22 Apr 2017 14:15:55 +0000

SOCIAL media reports suggesting that there are protests in India to press for the unconditional dropping of treason charges and subsequent release of UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema are fake and fabricated, says Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga

Ms Kapijimpanga said there had been no such a development in India.

In a statement made available to the Daily Nation by first secretary for press designate to the Zambian Mission in New Delhi, India, Bangwe Naviley, Ms. Kapijimpanga urged Zambians to disregard the on-going stories going the rounds on social media.

She said no Indian national had ever protested at the Zambian Mission in New Delhi to call for the release of UPND leader Hichilema and that the pictures circulating on social media were a total fabrication.

She said the Government of Zambia and that of the Republic of India and its entire citizenry have continued to enjoy warm harmonious relationships as evidenced by several collaborative engagements in the fields of education, health, commerce, science and technology to name but a few.

“The pictures circulating on social media are a total fabrication as the Zambian Mission is not aware of such a protest. The excellent relations can be evidenced by several collaboration in the fields of Education, Health, Commerce, Science and Technology to name but a few,” Ms. Kapijimpanga said.

She has since urged all well-meaning Zambians to ignore the falsehood perpetrated by certain individuals on social media who were seeking sympathy for Mr. Hichilema saying such reports were generated by those fanning the machinations of negative propaganda about Zambia.

Social media in Zambia in the past two days has been awash with propaganda, with reports claiming protests were on the horizon in most of Zambia’s missions abroad as a result of the incarceration of Mr. Hichilema.