By KETRA KALUNGA
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is not involved in the leaked audio and therefore does not have to disassociate himself from it, Presidential Spokesperson, Anthony Bwalya has said.
Mr Bwalya said in an interview that President Hichilema would never engage or promote conversation, publicly or privately, that borders on undermining the country’s democracy.
Mr. Bwalya was responding to a consortium of civil society organisations’ call for President Hichilema to disassociate himself and government from a leaked audio in which his political advisor, Levy Ngoma and Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security Permanent Secretary, Josephs Akafumba were allegedly plotting the downfall of Harry Kaaba’s Democratic Party (DP.
Mr. Bwalya said the leaked audio has not been subjected to a professional and independent verification process to authenticate its legitimacy or to ascertain the identities of the individuals behind the voices.
“The President does not need to disassociate himself from a matter he is not involved in. The President does not and will never engage, participate or promote conversation, publicly or privately, that borders or may be understood to border on undermining the democracy of this country,” he said.
And Mr. Bwalya assured that the government would continue to work with the civil society movement on all constructive matters of national interest.
He said the President would continue to honour his commitment and ensure that democracy continues to thrive and be respected by all.
Mr. Bwalya said President Hichilema’s focus remains that of steering the country back to economic prosperity through accelerated trade and investment with the region and beyond and delivering on the promise of jobs for the youth, access to quality education for all.
