UKA TO SUBMIT SUPPLEMENTARY PETITION TO US EMBASSY CALLING FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST SOME GOVT OFFICIALS
By Michael Kaluba and Chileshe Mwango
The United Kwacha Alliance-UKA- intends to submit a supplementary petition to the US government to reinforce the need for targeted sanctions against President Hakainde Hichilema and other top government officials for alleged human rights violations.
Addressing the media in Lusaka today, Alliance Chairperson Sakwiba Sikota stated that the movement will join various other stakeholders in providing evidence to warrant such action from the international community.
He cited Zambia’s shrinking democratic space, the gagging of citizens through legislation such as the dreadful impending amendments to the Independent Broadcasting Authority-IBA- Act to regulate online platforms and other undemocratic vices presented by Our Civic Duty Association-OCIDA-, as reasons that have led Zambians to be disillusioned.
Mr. Sikota also questioned the veracity of the variety democracy report, which recently ranked Zambia as the third most democratic country among nine nations contending with the prospect of autocratic rule, calling it a fraud, especially given the contents of the OCIDA letter.
Meanwhile, some members of OCIDA have distanced themselves from the letter written to the United States embassy in Zambia demanding that it imposes travel and financial sanctions on selected senior government officials for alleged human rights abuses.
According to a petition letter addressed to US ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, dated march 8, 2024 and signed by OCIDA Chairperson Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu, the targeted sanctions must be imposed on these officials to serve as a deterrent.
But addressing the media in Lusaka today, OCIDA Trustee Leslie Mbula said just like the decision to write to the US embassy, most of the statements have been issued by the OCIDA Chairperson without consulting other members.
PHOENIX NEWS
From word go I knew that the move was engineered by PF criminals specifically Edgar lungu the former Gasser, tribalist, corrupt and killer
Very true. The outbursts from the retired Bishop smacked of PF and Brebnar’s bitterness. Prime tv this morning played clips from PF terror my plea is that all tv stations should dedicate some prime time to replay those videos for the senile Bishop and his cohorts to be reminded of where we are coming from. Theres no way we are going back there. I am amused that they are appealing to the USA for travel sanctions against individuals to the imperialists. They were quiet when Esther took a delegation of 25 to the US to receive an obsolete fire engine and we became the laughing stock of Africa; when Edgar took a horde of musicians to the UN General assembly and spent time partying.. OCIDA as a respectible group of eminent persons has been defiled by piwer hungry individuals. Bishop Mpundu busy saying HH does not consult nor take advice and today we are told he himself actually makes decisions without consukting the membership.
True … ZNBC and Prime TV should create time to play clips of PF violence.
It will help some of our people with short memories about the dangers of going back to PF.
If PF had gone through in 2021, Zambia would have become another Haiti!
PF cadres would have morphed into armed militia!
Our Kwacha would have gone the way of the Zim dollar! Remember that PF failed to achieve any traction on Debt Restructuring. They told IMF and WB to go to hell, only to send the then Finance minister to Washington to meet the same people they told to go to hell!
Let’s not forget where we are coming from so that we should know where we are going!
Ne Sikota I held you in high edteem until the time you left uond to firm your party
Ba Sikota, this is what we call fishing. You have nothing to say. Bit its good because the fact that you are holding press briefings without being tear gassed is glaring evidence of democracy under the new dawn govt.
UKA does not want peace!
They want problems always!
UKA are the Authors of the OCIDA letter!
A bunch of idiots who once turned our country into turmoil and they have forgotten the criminality they did just like a woman forgets the pain after giving birth,if there was a way all these terrorist could be terminated from the face of our country zambia because their characters are tantamount to criminality, and its high time Zambia should wake up and not allow them near the helm of power because they are a danger to our society, these foolish idiots
Faka mulilo, twachula under this autocratic government, tamwaba umuntu umo controlling , agriculture, Zesco, fra, CDF, finance, ERB, Kwacha exchange rate (yapena nakabili), mines, Zccm-ih , ama council, judges, national assembly etc etc result is no rain , resultant ni nsala mu chalo! Twafwa!
Sakwiba Sikota is talking nonsense here. How have citizens been gagged and democratic space been shrunk by a proposed legislation? It’s like drowning in a dry body of water. As a lawyer, he surely knows what constitutes evidence.
ECL signed the cyber crime act into law and every lawyer worth his salt should know that
So, is it just politics for SC Sikota to be pounding on that topic when seated next to the person who signed it into law?
Why didn’t ECL whisper to him that colleague actually I accented to that law or are they both blind lawyers?
Has ECL forgotten that he expelled the American Ambassador and no sanctions were imposed on him and his criminal government?
UKWA or uka you will never cease to amaze us
UKA – mostly known as banch of irretrievable people who are frustrated in politics and knows better than before as failed party.
Sc Sikota can not stand in front of unfaithful people like bena Nawakwi. I also respected Chishala Kateka who had wisdom when articulating National Issues but alas. Mama lelooo.
Archbishop Telephone Mpundu nicknamed by late Sata, was credible but he is now loosing wisdom too because of UKA people.
Please let us reflect where we are coming from. History is our base and best teacher which can help us well. Nothing did sure PF found when it took over from MMD?
1. How much was a dollar to Kwacha?
2. How much was fuel which they even subsidize.?
3. How much was mealie meal?
4. How much money was in the reserves?
These questions people must ask themselves and compare were we were left. Governance is not a one day thing but it’s a process. Don’t insult but analyze issues. Talkers are not implementors. Try to cultivate a field and know how much a 50 kg of maize to produce will cost you.