Zambians in worse bondage than at independence – Imboela

…says there is no freedom to celebrate, Zambians are in worse bondage than they were at independence, reveals opposition will shun October 24 celebrations as she accuses UPND of brutality, intolerance, calls for the release of political detainees By NATION REPORTER ZAMBIA’S 62nd independence anniversary will be difficult to celebrate because the UPND regime has yoked Zambians to the worst form of bondage than they were at independence, Saboi Imboela has said. Ms Imboela, the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the country’s democratic space has shrunk to the lowest ebb under the UPND with the opposition being suffocated to the extent that they are standing at a cliff of obliteration. Ms Imboela has announced that the opposition would not participate in this year’s Independence Day celebrations because it did not feel free in its own country. “To be honest with you, it’s very, very hard to celebrate independence or think of celebrating it because it’s like we are not free in our own country,” she said in an interview yesterday. Ms Imboela said the situation was particularly painful because opposition figures, including Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu had remained in custody alongside many other people whose cases had attracted a lot of public attention but with the State ignoring the concerns. “The democratic space has really shrunk. At least there was the freedom to talk, but right now, just the freedom to talk is not there,” she said. She accused the UPND administration of being “very brutal, very intolerant” and “very, very ruthless” towards the opposition. Ms Imboela said President Hakainde Hichilema should use the independence period to promote genuine national unity by considering the release of people in custody whose charges could be dropped. “This country really needs healing. We really need healing. We need reconciliation and true unity. If President Hakainde Hichilema is serious about unity, he should use independence time to actually call for real unity,” Ms Imboela said. Ms Imboela called on President Hichilema to establish a genuine national-building agenda centred on social cohesion, democracy and human rights. She also condemned the attack on former PF chief executive officer Davies Mwila at the Supreme Court, warning that failure to take stern action could encourage further violence. Ends.

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