By Isaac Zulu
PF cadres should not start a war that they cannot sustain by provoking UPND cadre in violence, ruling UPND Central provincial chairman Albert Chifita has charged.
And Chifita charged that leaders of opposition political parties that are saying that President Hakainde Hichilema should take the opportunity by the visit of United States of America Vice President Kamala Harris to tell her that he is not a puppet of the West and not an advocate of gay rights are being petty.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Chifita said in normal circumstances UPND cadres had to react because they were provoked.
“You have heard that the UPND cadres were provoked. And you don’t expect them to fold their arms. In normal circumstances, they had to react,” Chifita said. “The Patriot Front cadres should behave themselves. They should not start a war that they cannot sustain.”
He was, however, quick to advise UPND members to heed the directive by the President Hichilema that they should not engage in political violence.
“Our advice to the UPND members is that they should not fall prey to the Patriot Front members’ violence. They should stick to the directive by the President that they should avoid any violence. Let us observe peace,” Chifita said.
And Chifita said that Harris will be coming to Zambia to discuss serious issues with the Head of State, saying President Hichilema has a serious economic development agenda and would not engage in petty discussions.
He said that every government has a right to align itself with countries of its choice, provided such nations do not interfere in the governance of the country.
Chifita said that Zambia enjoys some cordial relations with the US and “discussing petty issues such as West puppet and gay rights would constrain the existing relationship with the US.”
“Do they want us not to align ourselves with the United States of America when we have been receiving a lot of aid from that country? We have been financial assistance from the US for HIV/AIDS programmes under PEPFAR, technical support in many areas development. We have been enjoying cordial relations with China, Japan and the United Kingdom; among others. China has been giving us loans and technical support in different spheres and sectors of the economy. So we can not do away with China just like we can not do away with the United States of America,” Chifita explained. “The United States of America Vice President Kamala Harris is coming to Zambia for serious business and very important engagements and not to discuss petty issues that might just constrain the already existing cordial relationship. President Hakainde Hichilema has a serious economic development agenda and would not waste time engaging in some petty discourse being raised by leaders of opposition political parties. Those leaders of opposition political parties accusing President Hakainde Hichilema of being a puppet of the West and being an advocate of gay rights are just being too petty.”
He said that individuals claiming that President Hichilema of being a puppet of the West and an advocate of gay rights are those that have no impact on the Zambian political landscape.
“Ba Wynter Kabimba is a one man show political party. The same applies to FDD leader Edith Nawakwi and Frank Tayali. They have no structures in the country and have no impact on the Zambian political landscape,” Chifita said. “In case of FDD, that party was supposed to form government just after MMD, but the leader has continued to engage in pettiness.”
Chifita said that leaders of opposition political parties have a right to meet Harris, provided she has them on her agenda.
“I don’t think that the issues being raised by these people are even near the agenda that Kamala Harris has with President Hakainde Hichilema. Unless they want to meet her like what Bill Clinton did when he met bena (Michael) Sata and other opposition leaders,” said Chifita.
