UPND Lusaka Chairperson, Obvious Mwaliteta has called on the nation to remain United and not allow people who are not even real politicians to use tribalism for their selfish benefits and divide the nation.
In the past weeks, the nation has been dented with some tribal talks coming from some opposition party leaders who declared a tribal war, raising concern from the members of the public.
The statements led to the subsequent arrests of Members of Parliament for Lumezi Constituency, Munir Zulu, Mfuwe constituency, Maureen Mabonga, and Brebner Changala who were further charged for espionage.
“Another thing I want to talk about is about people trying to drag this nation 60 years backwards with tribalism.”
“It’s so painful to see people who are not even politicians, [but] because by chance they found themselves in parliament they want to champion issues of tribalism so that they can get this government back,” stated Mwaliteta
He said the opposition using tribalism as a weapon to gain back governance does not come as a surprise to the UPND government as it was used before when President Hichilema was in opposition and it failed.
“They tried to bring it here and there and it never worked. So if it never worked before it will not work even going forward. So the best thing to do as a Christian nation, let us be orderly as we do our politics,” he said
Mwaliteta said politicians can argue over the cost of living and governance, but tribes should be a no go area as people only have one Zambia to live in.
“So it is very important that we become very orderly as people. We follow the law the way we used to do and if you are looking for sympathy, I think that is not the right way of doing things,” he said.
He said that as Lusaka province, it will be their responsibility to ensure that no one from both the ruling and opposition misconduct themselves in such a manner.
Meanwhile on the issue of cadreism in market places, Mwaliteta said the party still stands on its ground of ending cadreism, stating that there is no cardreism in markets as the Lusaka City Council has confirmed that the revenue from the markets has increased compared to the previous years, indicating that marketers are operating without fear and interference.
“And on the issue of bus stations and markets that they are careers there is not true. What people are saying is happening in town. Those people you see are not cadres, you see they are cadres and call-boys because busses are loading every where in the CBD so they are using the call-boys to move the station. I have not heard of anyone who has been harassed, I see PF cadres in regalia in downtown and no one has harassed them, contrary to what would happen a few years ago,” Mwaliteta said.
He shared that if at all they were cadres in town, Former president, Edgar Lungu wouldn’t have walked the streets with a lot of junkies and cadres around him like he always does because they would have stopped him.
“If we had cadres in town, they would have intercepted, there was going to be blood there but now non of happened. Why should stories of cadres only be there when Lungu is there and if he isn’t there are not there? No we don’t have cadres in the CBD as the UPND.
“Look even me I have moved alone. A provincial chairman of PF could not have moved alone but with cadres everywhere.”
“But I am a worker of the people why should I be moving with body guards everywhere like am the president or like I want to threaten people? So there’s no cadreism actually it’s just people trying to paint UPND black because removing cardreism is achievement and they are not happy,” Mwaliteta said.
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba June 1, 2024
