By Isaac Zulu
Economic and Equity Party leader Chilufya Tayali has charged that United States of America Vice-President Kamala Harris is coming to Zambia to follow the puppet President, saying the forthcoming Summit on Democracy that will be held here is a sham.
Tayali said that the summit, which coincides with the the visit by United States of America Vice President Kamala Harris, is meant to use Zambia as a platform to counter China’s influence on Africa by the US.
“They know that in Zambia they have a puppet President of the United States of America. They know that there’s a puppet President in Zambia and can easily push their agenda. They know that they can massage his ego and tell him that they can give him money, this and that, provided he bends to their conditionalities,” Tayali said. “So for me, this forthcoming Summit on Democracy is a sham and only meant to counter react to China’s influence on Africa. They want to use Zambia as a counteraction to China’s influence on Africa by the US. It is not a Zambian thing.”
He said that Zambia’s democracy has been deteriorating under the UPND government, saying that he has been a victim of unwarranted arrests by the administration, even on flimsy accusations where he was expressing his freedom of expression.
“There’s no need for those coming to Zambia to say that Zambia is an example of democracy or a beacon of democracy in Africa,” said Tayali. “And as you know, I have personally been arrested eight times ever since the UPND formed government. You wouldn’t believe it. Of course, there are other leaders of opposition political parties who have been arrested and charged on trumped up charges. Democracy is deteriorating under the UPND government. It is not right for anyone to say that Zambia is a shining example or a beacon of peace in Africa. Zambia’s democracy is a sham.”
