By ROGERS KALERO
POLITICAL persecution and selective application of the law driven by tribalism are not only creating tension in the country but also diluting the “One Zambia, One Nation” motto on which Zambia was founded, Howard Kunda, has said.
Mr Kunda, the president of the Zambia Wake Up Party says the country was now divided with the motto of “One Zambia, One Nation” being diluted because of political persecution and selective application of the law where people from certain tribes, regions and political parties are being persecuted for various cases, while those from the governing party and preferred tribes were enjoying their freedom regardless of the crimes they commit.
In an interview, Mr Kunda, who is former Muchinga Member of Parliament and son to late Vice-President George Kunda said instead of fighting poverty and hunger, Zambians needed reject the dictatorial tendencies of the UPND government, tribalism, selective application of the law and other vices being perpetrated by the new dawn administration.
He said there were clear cases of selective application of the law, political persecution which were being driven by tribalism in which only opposition politicians were being persecuted, while ministers and government officials mentioned in the Auditor General’s report and in the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) were not being pursued.
“This country does not belong to one individual, one tribe or one political party or a group of people from certain tribes. It belongs to all Zambians from all the 73 tribes. So, no group of tribes should persecute others. This fight against corruption should not target certain tribes, but it should be indiscriminate.
“This so-called fight against corruption which is targeting certain tribes is divisive and can be best described as political persecution. This political persecution and selective application of the law is diluting the ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ motto on which our nation was built by first republican President Kenneth Kaunda,’’ Mr Kunda said.
Mr Kunda said it was sad that President Hichilema and his administration who were expected to embrace unity of purpose to fight poverty and hunger had embarked on a crusade to divide the country on tribal, regional and political lines through tribalism, hatred, vengeance, selective application of the law and other vices.
He said Zambians were not interested in tribalism, divisions, hatred and nepotism, but were interested in peace and development with majority of them affording to have three meals per day, decent jobs from the mining, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and other sectors of the economy.
“This government has become unpopular within a short time because Zambians have never tasted this brutal and incompetent leadership which is using the police to intimidate opposition politicians and its critics.”
“Apart from being brutal to the opposition, this government has exhibited incompetence of the worst order with all the sectors falling apart, while poverty and hunger is worsening in communities. Under the UPND, Zambia is falling apart,” Mr Kunda said.
Author
