WHEN PRAISE SINGERS BECOME DIPLOMATIC LIABILITIES!

By Linda Banks

#BanaBaabo~ WHEN PRAISE SINGERS BECOME DIPLOMATIC LIABILITIES! 😂🇿🇲

One of Bo HH’s approximately eight million unofficial spokespersons has apparently appointed himself Minister of Insults and International Relations!

His latest target? Former Botswana President Ian Khama.

Oliver Shalala wrote;

“This ka gay man is so bitter because the party of his best friend lost power in Zambia and he has lost the chance to run businesses in Zambia.”

On 29 October 2026, Khama reportedly questioned why Botswana’s Foreign Affairs Minister attended President Hakainde Hichilema’s inauguration, describing HH as “Africa’s newest dictator”.

Now, one would imagine that such a damning assessment from a former president of a neighbouring democracy might inspire a little national introspection.

Not in Zambia, iwe! 😂

Instead of addressing Khama’s concerns about democracy and the rule of law, Oliver Shalala reportedly responded with a personal insult, questioning Khama’s sexuality and accusing him of bitterness over Zambia’s political fortunes.

Imagine! A former Head of State raises concerns about democratic decline, and the response from the praise-singing department is to investigate his private life!

Ba spokesperson, the question was about democracy, not bedroom arrangements!

The tragedy is that while our neighbours are questioning the state of our democracy, our home-grown defenders of the establishment are busy providing the very evidence that makes such criticism difficult to dismiss.

You cannot insult your way into democratic credibility. And no amount of praise singing can substitute for the rule of law.

#BanaBaabo #Zambia #Democracy #RuleOfLaw