EX priest and UPND member Frank Bwalya has noted that the opposition should learn to address President Hakainde Hichilema with respect no matter the grievances they may have against him.
These sentiments come after former president Edgar Lungu accused President Hichilema of misbehaving and being a coward and Nkana Member of Parliament Binwell Mpundu comments stating “whoever wrote the president’s speech does not mean well for the people of Zambia.”
Bwalya, who is the UPND Media director under president support programme responded by stating that the opposition must remember that what the president says comes from an official government document which is evident enough that what he says is always planned.
He said politicians should learn to seek for political mileage in a responsible manner especially when addressing things to do with presidency.
“That’s what the Catholic bishops mean when they call for responsibility in the manner we do our politics. You can’t say the president misbehaved by repeating what others have said about this constitution. What former president Lungu said was an insult. There should be a line and a certain level in which you do your politics, you should be responsible.”
“And as for the presidential speech, that speech is a government document. The president doesn’t just wake up and start talking anyhow, he speaks from an informed point of view,” he noted.
Bwalya also dismissed allegations suggesting that the UPND administration had brought about dictatorship in the country.
“It’s not true that Zambia has gone to the days of dictatorship. If you are claiming that it has, then highlight the things that happened in the past which even made the PF to lose. We don’t feel bad because it’s not true that we have gone to dictatorship,” refuted Bwalya.
He added that even the police had become more professional under the current regime.
“The police have their own concerns, they have their own rules they are not controlled by the government. If the police decide not to allow a certain meeeting for the opposition, we can’t question them because it’s their job. Police are professional. When opposition leaders appear at court, we are not seeing people being shot. The president does not tell the police what to do. Sometimes, the police act to the contrary based on their own reasons which they give,” he shared.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, October 1, 2024
