OPEN LETTER
18-02-2024
ATTENTION: BISHOP MPUNDU TELESPHORE
Ref: Claims of Shrinking Democracy in Zambia
Greetings to you, sir. I hope this letter finds you well. I have been trying to reach you through your old contact number that we shared notes on during the struggle for a better Zambia.
First and foremost, I want to categorically bring to your attention that you are among the church leaders from the Catholic Church whom I hold in high esteem. Your vocal voice during the liberation of Zambia from a thuggish state under the PF administration cannot be forgotten so easily. However, there is one important thing that you brought to the attention of the Zambian people that I do not agree with: your claims that there is a shrinking democracy in Zambia.
In my career in political science and other fields, we have critically compared different cases of governance and development. For example, if we want to see the difference between you and another Catholic father, we will delve into the present history and certainly anticipate or predict the future based on character. It is for this reason why I find your claims to be unjustifiable and unrealistic. In case you have forgotten, my leader, under the PF administration, we had thugs controlling bus stations and markets. These thugs also got involved in various crimes, such as beating those suspected to be anti-PF. You are one of the people who was threatened by PF thugs under the administration of Mr. Lungu. Additionally, the previous administration shut down hundreds of media houses. The PF under President Edgar Lungu killed several citizens in politically motivated killings, for example, Mapenzi,Jackson Kungo, Matapa, Vespers, Lawrence, Nsama Nsama, Joseph, and many others.
You are very much aware of how PF under the administration of the former President Mr. Edgar Lungu sponsored tribalism through Mr. MR.CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, who has been convicted of hate speech. You are aware of how Mr. Edgar Lungu, while in Kafue at a by-election, made it clear that citizens in Kafue would only be given development if they voted for a PF candidate, even when he knew that CDF is constitutional and must be delivered to all Zambians irrespective of one’s political ideologies. You’re aware how Mr. Edgar Lungu blocked Mr. Hakainde Hichilema campaigning but today we see the opposition like Harry Kalaba on campaign trail without harassment.
Today, we have never seen Mr. Hakainde Hichilema’s cadres beating up civilians like Lungu’s cadres did. We have seen the freedom of expression being granted to us citizens, though the opposition is using it to talk about baseless things instead of sharing their manifestos. You are aware that PF under the administration of President Edgar Lungu stole public resources, for example, the Makasa and Nthumpa University, where nothing was done. You are aware that President Edgar Lungu told you, me, and all Zambians that his ministers and senior government officials were corrupt, and today when these corrupt people are arrested, the narrative is being twisted to be a tribal target.
What I have failed to understand is your claim of shrinking democracy. What do you mean exactly? Have you tried to reflect back to where we are coming from as a nation and where we are right now? Like I have said, I hold you in high esteem, and I’m shocked at how you have changed goal-posts to go and shake hands with the very people who caused and watched these injustices and now throw the dirty stuff at HH and call him a dictator.
If I may ask once again, since Hakainde Hichilema came into power, how many by-elections have we had, and how many citizens has he killed using his cadres and the police? Are you truly making your allegations genuinely my leader?Which hypothesis have you used to arrive at your claims? Under the men, you have teamed up with, going to church or to the funeral was a crime. Mr. Lungu watched his members abusing journalists to the extent of urinating in the mouth of one Post journalist, calling other citizens rats. One truth I wouldn’t dispute is the fact that our economy is not doing well, but even then, deep down, you know who borrowed money to exceed the debt ceiling, putting our nation in an awkward economic situation.
You are a senior citizen, and you need to inspire us, the young generation, with consistency and truthfulness in what you say in the public. I would really appreciate learning more about your claims of shrinking democracy today in Zambia.
Wishing you God’s blessings.
Yours sincerely,
SIKAILE C. SIKAILE
CONCERNED CITIZEN
Sikailesikaile2030@gmail.com
My view is that PF is not a bench mark to draw a comprehensive conclusion to whatever dilema Zambians might be facing at any given time.From Berlin.
But when you say shrinking, it means something was better/bigger etc. So in this case PF is the past regime and we can only compare or make reference to it alone. Let’s not move away from the point.
Sikaile Sikaile has just asked a good question to the father who if he was a parent would have reasoned nicely.
Self denial is very problematic
Ati father father. Father to who?
This cross dresser mpundu sits on his brains. Your catholic organisation has no democracy and you abuse tu kapenga
Archbishop Tresphore Mpundu was one of the most consistent and courageous critics of the notorious PF regime together with Ms. Laura Miti and Ms. Linda Kasonde. No one can take that from him.
However, I donot agree with him when he says the democratic space is shrinking. Yes, more can be done to enhance our budding democracy. The PF took away our rights and freedoms. So how can one talk of shrinking democratic space if it never existed in the first place?
UPND used to hold rallies under PF. Pictures of UPND rallies are there as evidence. Today no opposition political party has ever held a rally under UPND. If this is not shrinking democratic space, what is it then?
Ba Kaoma, do you live in Zambia? UPND or any other opposition party were not allowed by PF to hold any rally during the run up to the August 2021 elections.
Even the airspace was restricted. Only PF’s Mr. Lungu and his ilk were allowed to fly courtesy of ZAF. If you have evidence to the contrary as you claim, please let us have it!
If you wore a red scarf or any red clothing during the PF regime, it was virtually a death sentence!
JMC
You know for a fact that despite limitations to their freedoms, opposition political parties held demonstrations and rallies under PF. UPND was able to do this. Point to just one demonstration or rally that has been held since August 2021 by any opposition party. What you find is zero. Learn to be truthful!
Not even Fred Mmembe’s SP that was not in government has been allowed to hold even one demonstration or rally. Retired Archbishop Telesphore-George Mpundu’s observation about the shrinking democratic space is on point.
So ba Dr. Mulenga are you saying that the ultimate defining factor of democratic space is the holding of rallies? What about the closing down of critical media houses (Prime TV, Komboni radio, Post Newspaper), the raiding of radio stations by PF cadres to stop opposition leaders engaging the public, PF cadres beating up those wearing opposition party gear.
The list of contraventions is endless and you want us to judge democratic space on the basis of holding rallies or protests?
JMC
Are you saying media stations are free from political interference today?What about the intimidation of media houses hosting critical voices like that of Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa? Or the attempt to.have a TV station twist the narrative of the Cornelius Mweetwa embarrassing interview in which he disclosed how the UPND in oppositioñ worked with Kambwili to undermine the former ruling party by supporting his hate speech campaign against Tongas? Does this not point to a growing temptation on the part of the party in government to begin to undermine press freedom? With the growing intolerance towards opposed views, are we not likely to see the media carrying critical voices being threatened with reprisals just like before especially as we get closer to the next elections?
Dr baku matero when you talk, idiots like bowman, na gunyu masaka sound like professors compaired to you. Imwe fisushi fye coming out of head!!!
Ba Dr. Mulenga, how many media houses have been closed by the UPND government? How many opposition leaders have been prevented from appearing on radio stations by UPND cadres?
Today people freely move about in PF regalia without a care. In case you are not aware, there was a Delta Force and Nato Forces (hefty thugs sponsored by the PF) who used to harass innocent citizens, even on the roads.
Like I said in my original post, there is still a lot to be done to enhance our democracy but the current democratic space is ten times better than under PF. So overall, the democratic space has not shrunk. It has actually expanded from way was obtaining under the notorious PF.
Impenfu
Go and say thst to your dad. That description best fits him.
JMC
Closure of media houses can be one form of restriction of media freedom but not the only form! Even where media houses were closed under PF, they did not remain permanently closed. In case you wish to inform yourself about restrictions of media freedom under UPND, even when not even one media house has not been closed, you are well advised to Google for yourself the Freedom in the World 2023 Country Report on Zambia (https:freedomhouse.org) done by the respectable non-profit organization based in Washington DC. Freedom House is best known for political advocacy surrounding issues of democracy, political freedom and human rights. It is an authoritative source of information on progress countries in the world are making in advancing civil and political liberties. It is used in academic circles like political science by respected scholars on democracy like Professor Larry Diamond and others. I used that myself for my political science papers whilst pursuing my PhD abroad.
JMC
Further to our very civil discussion, check out in the Freedom in the World 2023 Country Report on Zambia for restrictions of media freedoms under the UPND under D. Freedom of Expression and Belief.
I had hoped that in your previous posting you would have given me even one case of an opposition party under the UPND being allowed to demonstrate or hold a rally. Freedom of association, assembly and expression are part of the political and civil liberties that political parties should enjoy in any democracy. I am not saying holding rallies and demonstrations are the only political freedoms. No, that is not my point!
Apart from cases of physical beatings, there are many reported cases of intimidation of media practitioners under the UPND which have the inevitable effect of media restrictions that can take the form of self-censorship that is common with the public media.