HICHILEMA IS USING LAWFARE TO DESTROY THE OPOSITION AND ZAMBIA’S DEMOCRACY-AMB. MWAMBA
Lusaka-23rd July 2024
Patriotic Front Chairperson of Information and Publicity, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba has accused President Hakainde Hichilema of using lawfare and shrinking democratic space to destroy Democracy.
He cited the case of Kwacha and Kabushi seats which stolen when the State prevented Hon. Bowman Lusambo and Hon. Joseph Malanji from contesting after the seats were nullifed.
He said it was public knowledge that the Constitutional Court has confirmed this position.
He said in his quest to destroy the Opposition the UPND has given numerous Ward Councillors jobs, especially in the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education.
The intention has been to cause by-elections and steal these seats.
He said there were more serious were the schemes to use the law, the threat or use of force against political opponents, and courts of law to destroy members of the Opposition accusing them of corruption, crimes, and hate speech.
LAWFARE
Amb. Mwamba stated that what was at stake was the use of lawfare, which is the strategic use of legal proceedings, judicial warfare, and court proceedings to intimidate or hinder political and business opponents.
He said even business entities in Zambia have not been spared. He said those deemed to be sympathetic to the Patriotic Front have been scandalised and denied government business on the allegations that they are Patriotic Front or Patriotic Front sympathesisers.
For example, these business were accused of supplying air. He said even when audits were extensively done, including the forensic audits of debt contracted by the State, government refused to clear the debts.
He said , the Ministry of Finance refused to pay, and many businesses went bankrupt and lives have been lost.
He stated that the country has witnessed how they have singled-out Mikalile Trading and his loan given to the Zambian Government. Government has defaulted and that loan has been subjected to audits after audits, and recently, the Ministry of Education was directed to cancel the receipt of educational material from the enterprise under the loan.
What is at stake is the destruction of democracy and the rule of law.
He said Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa has written extensively on the shrinking democratic space and the use of Law fare by President Hichilema; “How Zambia’s President is using lawfare to subvert democracy.
“Sometimes, democracy dies with a bang. But more often, democracies die slowly. In plain sight, at the hands of elected officials. Through the gradual erosion of political norms and institutions”, wrote Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt in their book “How Democracies Die.”
Mr. Mwamba was speaking at the Press Conference held by Patriotic Front, Secretary General, Hon. Raphael Nakacinda.
Amb. Mwamba please need my advice, press conferences one after the other will not deter HH. What you need to do first is to sort out the party status with miles sampa. Seek true reconciliation and withdraw of cases from the courts. then assign people to go round to visit party structures to give them hope thirdly start funding party structures like provincial and district levels. When you were in government you neglected the structures and they are completely dead don’t even pretend. These are the levels that can stop HH from destroying what you are alleging. HQ level can not stop him after all most of you guys have issues. My numbers 0976219269
0964951190
Mr chishala you are straight to the point the PF have lost strategy.If I was part of them I would firstly work on reconciliation with Sampa and other members and ask for withdrawal of all court cases.And advise all members especially Sinior ones not to be breaking the rule of law with impunity.All the cases that are in courts of law for PF are self inflicted or they were avoidable.HH is not the one who is shrinking democratic space no.The councilors and other officers of councils applied for permanent jobs like in the teaching service and were accepted without segregation nowing that they are PF didn’t matter with new dawn.From word go HH said it’s one Zambia one people.And all the cadres were told not to commit any crime against other citizens because they will be on their own.PF supporters were welcomed in UPND.Some of your people who sued in political cases are facing criminal cases and may be off politics forevermore depending on individual situation.Make better plans for the sake of your party.Misleading strategies will not work.The ruling party is still loved by the people so much.
Mr. Muleta sorry if I sounded to be a pf member. No sir I am not. What actually I am telling these pf guys is that they should stop talking too much complaining and alleging that HH is the one destroying them . No it may not be hh but their lack of strategy and direction or full of themselves. These pf guys were too selfish during their time to the extent that they forgot about their structures. Imagine even up to now they don’t know their weakness and they are daily blaming HH for their disorganization. I do not support HH but I should not blame him for pf problems no no.
Emmanuel Mwamba shouldn’t be quick to react to any issues with emotions and anger but should exercise civility and calmness. Any genuine and upright thinking person if he was given an opportunity to choose between being a local government Councillor and being employed in the civil service many persons with opt to be employed in the civil service. When employment opportunities prevail there is no discrimination and any person is free to apply despite their political affiliation. Also, when applying for employment it is a person’s choice and not government choice to force people apply.
Similarly, when those people who were in PF committed and orchestrated crimes when the courts of law find them guilty, that is not using the state to destroy democracy. The PF was very abusive, aggressive, oppressive and it took the law into its hands and thought it would be in power forever. When law breakers and criminals are brought to face justice that is not to say democracy is shrinking. Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
Ebwamba can continue parroting just like that Matero Dr shuwa2 all they like on top of which ever shit hill. It will not change the fact that these pfools think they’re above the law. Alot of BS in their heads that’s all. Complaining about councillors and council chair persons today when the same PF refused to pay them their gratuities since 2013 till now that courts have directed the government to pay immediately which is effective before this month-end and when the apply for civil service jobs ati lawfare what rubbish is that?
Mr Chishala,I get you thanks for the clarification.You know these PF guys are not serious they make alot of noise for nothing.We have tried to help them by giving them good ideas but they jump into the furnace imidiately you finish giving advice.In short they don’t listen.We want them to give the UPND government proper checks and balances.Now we don’t have who to tell when we notice a mistake on government side.The PF have let us down just like Fred and his Socialist Party.