Sat, 24 Jun 2017 09:51:25 +0000
By VIOLET TEMBO
THE planned solidarity protest by the opposition United Party for National Development in Ndola yesterday suffered a major setback as only a handful of people turned up.
The much publicity protest meant to show supported for incarcerated leader Haikande Hichilema, failed because people chickened out.
This is despite the defiance that party District Information and Publicity secretary (IPS) David Zimba had shown last week when announcing the planned protest which the local officials had intended to stage with or without police permission.
Provincial police commissioner Charity Katanga last week warned the group against the protest because the matter in question was still active in court.
The Daily Mail check at the district office yesterday found three land cruisers carrying police officers in riot gear who had sealed the inlet and outlet of the road leading to the party offices.
Party district women secretary Annie Matutu was complained to the few women that gathered about how senior officials both at constituency and district had shunned the planned activity and failed to show up at the office.
Ms.Matutu indicated that it was unfortunate that leaders in her party had chickened out at a time when the membership needed critical leadership.
She noted that during the period that their party leader was incarcerated, the party membership began to shrink.
“It is very unfortunate that leaders at province, constituency and district have shunned coming through to witness how we have been burred to undertake our protest. This is how the party membership is shrinking because they are not providing leadership. If it had been our party leader Hakainde who was coming through, everyone one would have been here. Tomorrow if our party forms government they should not be seen seeking positions in government, you women that have shown brevity that must be awarded, “she said.
Ms.Matutu complained that leaders contacted indicated that they had no transport to get them into the central business district.
Less than ten members turned up at the party district office.
By noon, party district chairperson Jeseph Phiri called for a press briefing where he denounced those individuals still stating that the country was a democratic.
Mr.Phiri told journalists that he was being sort after with his IPS a Mr.Zimba and he anticipated that they would formally be arrested.
Mr.Phiri has appealed to the head of state to intervene in the litigation of their party leader and have him released from custody unconditionally.
He said the party in the district has resolved that once their party leaders was released, the party would offer solutions and checks and balances to the governance of the country.
