Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota says the government could not have sent a worse message to the United States reminder on deteriorating human rights situation in the country than arresting FDD leader Edith Nawakwi.
Sikota, who heads the United Liberal Party, said shortly after US Charge D’Affaire in Zambia warned of the increased cases of political violence and shutting out of Freedom of Expression the police arrested Nawakwi for addressing a party meeting on the Copperbelt.
Below is Sikota’s sentiments:
TELLING THE AMERICANS TO GET OFF OUR CASE – UNDIPLOMATICALLY
This morning I heard on the news that Ms. Young, the American Charge D’Affaire in Zambia, said the Americans were worried about the threat to democracy that the rising levels of violence in the country was posing. Ms. Young also said in very diplomatic speak that America was worried that there were signs that Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Assembly were not been properly adhered to in Zambia which was downgrading (rebasing) our democratic credentials.
In the same news broadcast I learnt that our government had a swift and blunt response to the Americans as the next news item was about the FDD President Edith Nawakwi’s arrest and questioning in Mufulira for meeting her party members and addressing them whilst on a party mobilization tour.
The Zambian government was sending a response to the Americans diplomatic plea in the crudest and direct way, “GET OFF OUR CASE. WE SHALL DO AS WE PLEASE. AFTER ALL WE HAVE ALLOWED YOU TO EXPRESS YOURSELVES EVEN THOUGH WE SHALL IGNORE YOU! SO WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT?”
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