Hichilema to the United States: Recall your Ambassador. No thanks, responded Washington
By Sishuwa Sishuwa
Last year, President Hichilema unsuccessfully tried to get rid of the US Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales after he criticised the government for corruption. According to credible sources on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Hichilema’s officials asked the Biden administration to recall Gonzales, but the US State Department rejected the request.
Gonzales, who arrived in September 2022, is the first US Ambassador to Zambia since 2019 when his predecessor, Daniel Foote, was forced out of the country by Hichilema’s predecessor, Edgar Lungu. Foote had also criticised corruption, saying “The current Government of Zambia is stealing millions of dollars in public funds…[and] wants diplomats to be compliant, with open pockets and closed mouths”.
The attack on Gonzales is not an isolated incident; it is part of a wider strategy by Hichilema to escape accountability by seeking the removal of diplomats who publicly criticise his administration. A European diplomat who attacked present-day corruption was recently warned about their conduct while others have been intimidated into silence. Hichilema also unsuccessfully lobbied the Vatican to remove the Archbishop of Lusaka Alick Banda who has been a sharp critic of his policies or actions.
For Zambians, Hichilema has simply placed significant restrictions on political and civil rights. Over the last three and half years, his administration has either enacted or maintained repressive legislation that undermines freedom of expression, regularly arrested ordinary citizens and civic activists who criticise him or his officials, largely suppressed peaceful assemblies and protests on governance concerns, and frequently abused state institutions such as the police and the judiciary to arrest and imprison political opponents, mainly opposition lawmakers, on trumped-up charges like sedition.
https://x.com/ssishuwa/status/1923343951240499253
Hakainde seems not to like anyone that speaks their mind, or speaks the truth. He wants everyone to lie that he is the best president ever on this planet. But the truth is that he is amongst the worst presidents this world has ever seen. Certainly the worst president ever in SADC. He is likely to hold that record for centuries. Do not be fooled by any fake achievements you will be seeing leading up to elections. Do not be conned again. Stay alert and vote to remove this liar dictator from office. Let us liberate our country.
Reject tribalism, corruption and oppression.
God bless Why Me and Captain Ibrahim Traore.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
Not to long ago,the American ambassador to South Africa accused the ANC government-where you reside- as being complicit in the ukrainian war through arms shipments to Russia.And now Trump says there is a genocide against white people in South Africa.Ambassador Gonzales says American drugs and medical supplies have been found in 2000 phantom pharmacies in Zambia.All these accusations are half truths.Don’t you smell a rat?
Gonzales sure does have issues
Chula homo now resorting fabrications. It will not you any less chula homo!!!!!
Is this not the same man together with Mr. Mmembe who have been calling the west especially the US as imperialists and almost calling them evil when they seem to be good books with the new dawn government. But today they are good people and angels just because they have produced a report which does not support the new dawn government. If this is not inconsistency, then I don’t know what it is.
Reality has just dawned on Membe and company.They have now resolved to shed their fake ideologies.They will now be directed by the wind.First join PF-Tonse thieves and everything shall follow
This is where the opposition political parties expose themselves. They like riding on anything & anyone that discredits the ruling party but unfortunately for them, we’re able to see through them & their desperation to rule.