By NATION REPORTER
THE tribal utterances attributed to individuals linked to the Sugilite scandal in Mansa is factually incorrect and unacceptable, Cornelius Mweetwa has said.
Mr Mweetwa, the UPND spokesperson says the ruling party was not sure who made those utterances in the group among which was Mwense Town Council Chairperson Stephen Chikota.
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A video has gone viral in which Mr Chikota and his colleagues who were in a police cell claimed that the police had released people who were either Tonga or Lozi due to high tribalism while those who were Bemba had been left languishing in police cells.
He said that the Tonga had neglected them despite them sacrificing a lot for the party in its ascension to power.
But Mr Mweetwa said the UPND was a peaceful party and that it would not condone any tribal talk being perpetuated by some of its members.
“What I can say is that the utterances coming from that cell is totally unacceptable and factually incorrect, which should not be supported by all well-meaning party members. It is unacceptable that people should commit crimes and when the law catches up with them, they should resort to tribal mongering instead of being contrite and showing remorse,” Mr Mweetwa said.
Mr Mweetwa said the party had not yet considered whether the matter was worth being pursuing because it was not a big issue and that the ruling party was not going to lift it to prominence by making comments.
Mr Mweetwa however said he understood that the people making the tribal utterances were in anguish and were looking for sympathy from the general public, albeit the wrong way.
Mr Mweetwa said they the governing party was waiting for Mr Chikota who had indicated that he would issue a comprehensive statement in due course over who was involved in the Sugilite scandal.
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