Thu, 18 Jan 2018 11:17:11 +0000
By PRINCE CHIBAWAH and ANDREW MUKOMA
WE have credible information that the recent riots in Kanyama were or-ganised by the UPND top leadership because Hakainde Hichilema and his deputy saw votes in the deaths of those who died of cholera, PF media Director Sunday Chanda has maintained.
And Mr Chanda said the UPND leader’s desperation for power has forced him to use back door methods to take over from President Edgar Lungu.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Chanda said the UPND cadres were behind the riots as part of their attempts to politicise the cholera outbreak.
Mr Chanda was reacting to a statement issued by UPND Southern Provincial deputy spokesperson Neto Halwabala in an effort to distance the UPND from the riots which had been widely condemned by various stakeholders countrywide.
“Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and Sunday Chanda are accusing us (UPND) of being behind the riots while Lusaka Provincial Youth Chairman Kennedy Kamba and Max Chongu are telling the nation that riots re instigated by foreigners,” said Mr Nato in statement issued to the Daily Nation yesterday.
But Mr Chanda wondered why it had taken an official who was very far from Kanyama, where the riots took place, to preach to the people of Zambia about something he did not witness.
“Kanyama is a PF stronghold that’s why we have credible information that the riots were engineered by HH and GBM. Because these two politicians always pray for bad things to happen in our country so that they can champion their partisan interests. And why did it take an official from Southern Province to comment on the matter? Does he know why GBM and HH are quiet over the matter?” asked Mr Chanda.
Mr Chanda explained that President Lungu had a duty to protect the life of every Zambian.
“It’s not the responsibility of HH and GBM to protect the live of Zambi-ans. But it is the duty of President Lungu to provide what is good for all Zambians including those affected traders. And that is what the head of state is doing.”
Mr Chanda further urged Mr Hichilema to retire from politics if he had lost the vision for the UPND.
“HH has lost it. He has attempted to grab power through the back door but the people of Zambia have said no! Because they believe in Presi-dent Lungu’s vision and leadership,” said Mr Chanda.
