HICHILEMA MUST APOLOGIZE TO LUAPULA OVER SIAKALIMA’S INSULTS
Mr Hakainde Hichilema has chosen to publicly say nothing about education minister Mr Douglas Siakalima’s derogatory remarks against the people of Luapula Province. But this is not surprising at all – it is very much in line with his outlook and character.
There has been a chorus of condemnation from various groups in the country, with 15 members of parliament from Luapula Province petitioning the Speaker of the National Assembly over Mr Siakalima’s insulting comments during a parliamentary committee meeting recently.
According to the audio recording that has gone viral, Mr Siakalima repeatedly referred to the people of Luapula as suffering from both physical poverty and “poverty of the mind”.
Whatever the context or circumstances of the situation, it is highly offensive, reckless and inexcusable for Mr Siakalima to utter the words that he said in the committee meeting.
There can be no compelling reason why Mr Siakalima should be allowed to speak in such a derogatory and dangerous manner and get away with it.
But what is even worse is Mr Hichilema’s deliberate silence over these derogatory remarks against the people of Luapula by his own Minister of Education. That said, we would like to ask the following questions:
1) Why is Mr Hichilema quiet on this highly sensitive and divisive matter?
2) Is what Mr Siakalima said to the parliament committee about the people of Luapula an official government position hence the silence of Mr Hichilema?
3) Should the citizens take it that Mr Siakalima’s insulting remarks are central to the politics of the UPND and Mr Hichilema in particular?
4) Could this be the reason why Luapula Province appears not to be a priority for Mr Hichilema’s corrupt puppet regime as shown by the recent delays we witnessed in the appointment a provincial minister to replace Mr Derricky Chilundika?
5) Why is Mr Hichilema allowing Mr Siakalima to insult the people of Luapula rather than understanding and engaging them, considering the economic hardships and suffering they have caused in this country?
We would appreciate it if the questions above were addressed with utmost sincerity and respect for the people of Luapula province.
Mr Hichilema must know that his silence on this matter speaks volumes about his commitment to curb such divisive rhetoric in the country. He must also know that keeping quiet in such moments makes one to become or look like an enabler especially if the person is a leader.
So if Mr Hichilema is as outraged and offended by Mr Siakalima’s derogatory comments like all of us, let him take full responsibility and publicly apologize and censure Mr Siakalima.
Otherwise, anything short of a public apology and censure of Mr Siakalima from Mr Hichilema will mean that he is agreeable with Mr Siakalima’s insults and he too has no respect or regard for the people of Luapula Province.
We await Mr Hichilema’s response on this important matter.
Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party
Fuledi mmembe chief tribalist trying to look good however HH needs to tame siakalima
Siakalima is either ignorant or a core tribalist Lozi. Not even enough for HH to apoologize on behalf of a living insult throwing Minister .The best thing is for the pipo of Luapula to kick out Updnd from the province.From Berlin…
Who told you Siakalima is Lozi. That is how dense and tribal you are that you don’t even know someone’s tribe and busy mentioning another tribe. Zambia belongs to all not just tribe. Grow up
Homosexual Fresh Mmembe! Just go and kiss Sishuwa’s Arse! You don’t make anymore and nobody listens to you anymore!
Mr. Mmembe you cannot leader anyone with anger. For you everything should be done with anger. Your hatred of a person must have limits.
Your obsession with HH will kill you. Meanwhile HH has chosen to ignore your rantings making you teeth with anger. Hon Siakalima was basing his comment on the basis of the peoples representatives that he has seen and mingles with in parliament. Tubene Fube, that Mpika MP, Chitotela, Kampyongo, Chitalu Chilufya honestly are in the small side. Nanga niboza? Their mental prowess as exhibited by ontributions on the floor of the house from Fube, Mpika MP whose name has never stuck, Given Katuta, etc is pathetic and wuthout any value. Given Katuta has said several times in the floor of the house that tge people of katuta can not comprehend economics and even mentioned that they should be allowed to speak in local languages so that “her people” can understand the budget and issues. I never heard you Fred ask Given to apologise for calling people in her constituency not literate enough to comprehend issues debated in what has been the country’s official language of communication. I remember GBM when under PF and Mumbi Phiri addressing a rally in Livingstone in Bemba! You never raised an eye brow. The educated and elite opposition MPs in parliament make valuable contributions when they speak in parliament; please this group does not include Lunte MP, who by the way is he trully a qualified accountant as he keeps reminding us and himself? We thank God we have an educated and level headed man as current president.
Before stirring up the hornet’s nest, Dr. M’membe must understand what is meant by “poverty of the mind”. Clearly, most people are taking it to mean a lack of thinking capacity.
Poverty of the mind refers to little or no formal education or having a wrong attitude. In terms of wrong attitude, this is quite prevalent in Zambia.
For instance the sense of entitlement common among our people that the government should feed them instead of it focusing on creating an enabling environment for them to thrive.
Personally, I don’t think the Minister used that phrase in a derogatory way. If anything, it should be a wake up call for us to act on this deficiency and liberate the minds of our people.
For those who are getting all worked up over nothing, listen to Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”. He talks about emancipation from mental slavery. It does not mean you are a slave per se.
Dr. M’membe is deliberately misinterpreting the phrase to further his political ends by causing divisions in the nation. What he should realise is that this is a double edged sword. By the time he achieves his ambition of ascending to the presidency, the nation will be so divided as to be ungovernable.