THE HYPOCRISY OF ZAMBIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES
By Julius Tembo
Zambian opposition political parties have swiftly celebrated and extended congratulations for President Mnangagwa’s re-election in Zimbabwe.
This seems contradictory as they appear to admire Zimbabwe’s political and civil atmosphere, potentially undermining their perceived complaints about repression in Zambia.
In Zimbabwe, voters faced challenges with the voter roll, CSO Actors were imprisoned, offices raided, and red flags raised by observers. The restricted pre-election environment hindered opposition rallies and media participation.
This suggests that the Zambian opposition may wish for similar political conditions under UPND’s rule, making claims of persecution hypocritical. It might be beneficial for UPND to learn from Zimbabwe’s disputed ‘FREE, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT’ elections, potentially considering changes in their approach to election monitors based on the Zambian opposition’s apparent views.