More than two weeks ago, I wrote an article in which I said United Party for National Development (UPND) may lose the coming elections because of the tribal approach.
At the time, I was insulted by many UPND cadres. However, I would like to repeat it. UPND is more likely to lose this election because of the tribal approach.
We all know that the subject of tribalism is a very negative force in our politics. Some people may vote based on tribe, but overwhelmingly we vote against those whom we believe to be tribalist. Sometimes the term is casually thrown around like a cheap accusation, and certainly Hakainde Hichilema has worked very hard to stay on message and talk about unity during this campaign.
But this doesn’t change the difficult reality that many people that there is actually merit to the tribal tag attached to UPND, not just imagined accusations. This has mostly played out by statements of many of their key endorsements they have welcomed.
Many people will disagree with me once again, but how do you explain remarks from such people below?
Maureen Mwanawasa at a rally says “HH could have been a President long time ago had it not been his tribe.” HH at a rally in Northwestern says, “Do not vote for party that digs Copper from here and develop Muchinga.”
Charles Milupi at a rally says “Southerners, Westerners and Northwesterners should unite in this election to win the President.” Master of Politics of the Belly, one Daniel Munkombwe says at rally, “It is time for a Tonga President.”
Now if the above statements can come from such people, what would you classify them? Are those not tribal remarks? Look at the people issuing them. This is why Dipak Patel’s attempt to disown the statement from Daniel Munkombwe may be too late. The damage has already been inflicted. Why was not the disowning coming from a Tonga?
I will have to state again: If the other tribes unite and support Edgar Lungu, the UPND will lose. The numbers do not favour them. The combined Bemba and Eastern vote accounts for 40.6 percent of the population, leaving precious little space for Hichilema to succeed in the upcoming election.
While certainly UPND will continue its fight and will campaign very hard in the final five days, it would be prudent to prepare ourselves for another PF victory in this election.
The post Mr. Facts: Tribalism Real and Imagined appeared first on Zambia Reports.