RULE OF LAW DEAD UNDER UPND, SAYS MAKEBI

By NATION REPORTER

MAKEBI Zulu, one of Zambia’s renowned legal minds has observed that the attack on former President Lungu by the UPND fanatics is the manifestation of the complete breakdown of the rule of law under the Hakainde Hichilema administration.

Meanwhile, Brebner Changala, the civil and political activist says the hooliganism and barbarism being perpetrated by the UPND without any kind of censure from the governing party leadership should be a cause of concern from all peace-loving Zambians. 

Mr. Zulu said it was clear that political cadreism was still well and alive under President Hichilema, whose message for the end hooliganism was but a lone voice in the wilderness with no ear to hear the call.

Mr Zulu said being a local resident and former Member of Parliament for Malambo, he was certain the people who harassed former President Lungu had been organised by UPND and led by a well-known government leader.

He said President Hichilema was merely offering lip service when he talked about upholding the rule of law because it was clear that observance and respect of the law was not part of the governance style of the new dawn government. 

Mr Zulu was one of the leaders who had accompanied former President Lungu to Mambwe for the Malaila Traditional Ceremony to which he was invited. 

“President Hichilema is doing the opposite of what he always preaches or talks about. I am so disappointed that the person who led the horde of cadres was a person appointed to leadership by Mr Hichilema,” Mr Zulu said. 

Meanwhile, civil rights activist Brebnar Changala has said the rule of law had completely broken down under the UPND administration.

Mr Changala said what transpired in Mambwe District during the Malaila traditional ceremony was a total breakdown of the rule of law.

He said it was clear there was a resurgence of cadreism and barbarism in the country which the UPND leadership was either sponsoring or enjoying.

“Former President Edgar Lungu has every rights that are accrued to every citizen such as right of movement, speech, association and any other rights for Zambians. It is only when cowards who thought that because Mr Lungu lost the 2021 General Elections, he had lost everything that was accrued to him, first of all as a bonafide Zambian,”  Mr Changala said 

He said the actions by the UPND cadres in Mambwe District were an indictment on the state police because they exist to protect law and order.

“Police should never harass citizens as doing so exposes the police as a compromised unit of state security,” Mr Changala said. 

He said former President Lungu did not do anything unusual, uncommon or out of the extra ordinary but had merely exercised his constitutional right like any other Zambian of attending a traditional ceremony to which he was invited.

“It is clear that UPND is uncomfortable of anything and everything to do with Mr Lungu whether he speaks or not. This is a case of a failing administration fearing the unknown,” he charged. 

Mr. Changala said what happened in Mambwe where the former Head of State was attacked by cadres from the governing party was an indictment of President Hichilema.

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