By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
EDGAR Lungu come out of your hiding and apologise to the people of Zambia for bad governance and tolerating tribalism, Josephs Akafumba has challenged the former president.
And Akafumba, the National Democratic Congress interim president, says opposition leaders are making themselves irrelevant with unproductive criticism against President Hakainde Hichilema.
In an interview, Akafumba said Zambians needed to know who really encouraged hate speech and tribalism during the PF reign.
“Our people were chocked by corruption, theft and nepotism, worse tribalism. I am happy that so far tribalists have been silenced. They were defeated by Zambians who spoke one language of One Zambia One Nation,” he said. “A southerner is in State House today when someone in the name of Edgar Lungu once said ‘no Tonga will rule Zambia, not in this life time’. Shame on you! Please, come out of your hiding and appologise to Zambians for having tolerated tribalism and hate speech.”
He further urged former PF ministers and vice-president Inonge Wina to apologise to Zambians for having been part of a brutal, tribal and corrupt regime.
“Bo Inonge Wina even neglected her people in Western Province. Has she gone back to Nalolo? I doubt. She is here in Lusaka…” Akafumba said.
He added that Zambians were looking for and expecting constructive criticism from the opposition, the Church, civil society organisations and other activists.
“Zambians are watching you. As opposition leaders you need to be relevant to Zambians. Read the mood and check on what President Hakainde Hichilema promised. Is he backtracking? Is the UPND-Alliance government veering off its course? Stop yapping every morning you wake up,” he said. “The criticism of the recent past and over HH’s trip to the US does not hold water. We all know that the same tactics were used before August 12 and now they are being upscaled all because of the President’s pronouncements that people are free to express themselves. But please know that you are making yourselves irrelevant with unproductive criticism against HH.” Akafumba said people had suffered enough under the PF and would not want to return to that type of government.
He said so far the country was on top of world rankings in terms of governance in Africa.
Akafumba appealed to everyone to be patient with President Hichilema as he strived to deliver on his promises.
“He (President Hakainde Hichilema) needs our support more than before August 12,” said Akafumba.
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