If there is one trait the Patriotic Front government holds in abundance it is their ability to self destruct. Barely a few days before the British Broadcasting Corporation holds their Africa Debate in Lusaka under the banner, “Can democracy deliver for Africa?” the Patriotic Front has set the tone by arresting opposition Movement for Multi Party Democracy Nevers Mumba for criticizing President Michael Sata on a private radio station.
Lusaka has deliberately been chosen as the venue following in the words of the presenters, “despite being a model during the PF government’s two years in power there have been cries of deterioration in the governance system”.
For a government that always cries foul every time the whistle is blown for their trampling on the rights of the opposition to criticize and hold demonstrations the timing of their actions could not have been worse.
While the BBC is busy laying the ground for their work the PF would have been fertilizing the ground with the beating of opposition United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema whilst on a visit last week to the Northern Province town of Kasama where his appointment with Paramount Chief Chitimukulu was aborted after ruling party militia attacked him and his entourage.
Rather than shut up the ruling party through the Ministry of Home Affairs deputy minister Alfridah Kansembe justified the attack on national television saying it was not the right time to visit the Paramount Chief.
The Hichilema episode had hardly dried up when the ruling party through their Police Force issued summons for Mumba to appear before them for criticizing President Sata on privately owned Joy FM Radio.
Attempts by President Sata to halt the programme for hosting Mumba failed as the presenter refused and carried on with the programme.
Mumba said Sata had condoned the endorsement debate and could have stopped it long before it spiraled out of hand but was enjoying it.
“The next description is a true reflection; he President Sata is the king of confusion. Even the confusion that is in PF, he is at the centre of that confusion. As long as Mr Sata is there, that confusion will not end.
“He goes to GBM and tells him ‘Iwe GBM, kabiye nomba ku Kasama ubebe ati 2016 ni Michael Sata, pakuti twishibe uyo uletulwisha mu party yesu (Go to Kasama and tell the people that in 2016, it’s Michael Sata so that we know who our enermies in the party are).
“So GBM goes to Kasama and says we will endorse Mr Sata and people begin to get happy. Some of the senior members of the party fall in the trap, not knowing that bashi Chilufya bene ebatumine GBM pakuti beshibe who is the one who is against him.
“So when the others rise up to oppose, he says ‘now we know Wynter Kabimba is the one who is against us, this minister is against us… and then he goes to Kabimba and tells him to hold a press conference to fire those who are pushing for endorsement, then he goes back to GBM at kabiye uchite (go and) organise ama buses uye ume (go and beat up) Kabimba so that he doesn’t have the press conference.
“The whole description of Mr Sata is he thrives in confusion; that is why we are seeing confusion in the economic sector; we are seeing confusion in royal establishments… We have to stop this,” said Mumba of the chaotic endorsement debate that had engulfed the PF.
Whilst President Sata may be at the United Nations General Assembly playing up the nation’s democratic credentials, many back home will still be ridden by images of free marching Patriotic Front cadres on the streets of Lusaka on their way to State House when everybody else is barred by the police from holding peaceful demonstrations.
Those that dare challenge the police are viciously crashed either by the police or PF cadres like University of Zambia students protesting the removal of subsidies learnt.
The police claim to be understaffed but descend in droves on demonstrators without a hint of being with manpower challenges.
And what time for the BBC to be around when for the first time in the history of the country’s democracy, the law fraternity are marching at the High Court to protest the continued unconstitutional stay in office of the acting Chief Justice who is a blood relation of the Republican President and has stayed put despite her name being rejected by the National Assembly as being over age.
So as the PF government rage on their self destructive path they will do well to think twice about their democracy credentials or lack of them. See you on Friday! Just wondering what their spin Doctor at Bwinjimfumu (in case you don’t know him – it’s the heavily compromised Fred M’membe of The Post) has to say!
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