By Daily Revelation Correspondent
Lawyer Linda Kasonde says President Hakainde Hichilema would not be President today if Zambians hated Tongas, in response to ‘Bally Wannabe’s’remarks that Dr Kenneth Kaunda fired Simon Kapwepwe because of tribalism, mainly against Tongas.
”This is precisely the kind of divisive tribal talk that has led Zambia to where it is today. If Zambians hated Tongas, HH would not be in office today. Please stop this,” stated Kasonde.
Billy Wannabe had tweeted that Dr Kaunda asked Kapwepwe to resign as Vice-President because of tribalism.
”Kaunda built UNIP under the One Zambia One Nation motto, but when Kapwepwe became VP, he wanted to sideline other tribes mainly the Tonga’s. Tonga’s protested and had Kaunda fire him in 1971, four years after he was appointed VP,” Bally Wannabe stated. “Tonga’s considered Kapwepwe ungrateful to them especially that it was Harry Nkumbula who recruited Kapwepwe into the Africa National Congress (ANC) when Nkumbula formed the first ever indigenous political party in 1948. However, in 1958, Kaunda, Kapwepwe, Sikota Wina, and others resigned from ANC and formed UNIP because Nkumbula decided to participate in elections on the terms dictated by the colonial government.”
Wannabe stated that Kaunda appointed Kapwepwe as Minister of Home Affairs after the 1964 declaration of independence and later Minister of Foreign Affairs.
”While he was VP (1967-1971) his tribalism led him to secretly form the United Progressive Party (UPP) on the Copperbelt which he envisioned to be more pro-Bemba unlike UNIP which had allowed other tribes to participate in the governance of the country. He was fired by Kaunda in 1971,” Wannabe stated. “Kaunda banned the tribal UPP and arrested most of its members. In 1972, Kaunda instituted the Chona Commission led by Mainza Chona (a Tonga) to make recommendations for the constitution of a ‘one-party state.’ After months of public hearings, the commission’s report was submitted to Kaunda in October 1972. The one-party state was inaugurated on 1st January 1973.”
Bally Wannabe stated that the one-party state came about because of Kapwepwe’s tribalism.
”He resigned from politics in 1973 and went to live at his farm in Chinsali. He died on 26th January 1980,” stated Bally Wannabe.
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