Contact: UPND Media Director Ruth Dante Heaton 0976503165/
Email: info@upndzambia.org
PRESS RELEASE
THE POLITICAL WILL TO END POLITICAL TENSION ALREADY EXISTS
Lusaka ( 20.07.2022)
THE United Party for National Development has welcomed and agreed with calls by Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya to end political tension and bitterness in the country.
The call by Mr Kafwaya is in line what President Hakainde Hichilema has been championing before and after becoming Republican President.
To avoid political tension and bitterness after he was released from the 127 days of a trumped up treason trial, he forgave all those that were involved in raiding his house and arresting him for a trumped treason charge.
This is the man who after winning issued a decree to end political cadreism in public places to end political tension and violence against political party members.
This is also a man who has by all means embraced everyone in the public service all in a bid to end political rivalry considered as a drive of political bitterness and tension.
It is worthy to note that the UPND has been championing of peace and unity in the country as evidenced by President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment and always insisting to work with former President Edgar Lungu.
On a number of occassions Mr Hichilema has invited President Lungu as ‘Father of the Nation’ to represent the country on a number of State functions.
The Head of State, for instance, invited President Lungu during the funeral of fifth Republican President Rupiah Bwezani Banda and veteran politician Sikota Wina when he himself was denied an opportunity to bid farewell to Dr. Kenneth Kaunda when in opposition.
For UPND and its leadership, the party has always been ready to provide leadership with a peaceful environment and bring about unity and what the PF must do for now is to support President Hichilema’s peace efforts in the country just like Mr Kafwaya has said.
During the PF’s rule, citizens who identified themselves with the UPND and openely supported President Hichilema could not trade in markets and bus stations because they were being attacked.
There is fresh air across markets, bus stations and media houses since UPND formed government as there is no traceable attacks on these public instititutions, thanks to President Hichilema who made it clear just after being elected that cadresm would not be tolerated under his rule.
Calls by Mr Kafwaya must be taken seriously by all well meaning Zambians for the benefit of having a more united and peaceful country.
As a party, we also call upon Mr Kafwaya and entire PF rank and file to respect his views of supporting President Hichilema’s to remai united as a country.
We also agree with Mr Kafwaya that it is true there can only be one President at a time and must be respected.
Mr Hichilema must be respected as Head of State while President Lungu must also be recognised as Father of the Nation.