By Patson Chilemba
You are hiding in some shell, says Raphael Nakachinda in response to Paul Moonga’s admonition that he should tame his tongue in relation to how he speaks to President Hakainde Hichilema.
And Nakachinda said as opposed to giving life to the issues raised by Moonga, he would instead focus on matters that are relevant to the country’s ethos, including condemning the intimidation of judges by UPND cadres, AFRICOM and the government’s passive posture towards what he termed the flagging off of the homosexual drive campaign in Zambia from the liberal western countries.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Nakachinda said he did not want to give life to the issues raised by his fellow central committee member Moonga, as he preferred that they be handled away from Daily Revelation.
He said if he were responding to issues outside the party he would have been quick to respond, but did not feel it necessary to do so.
But asked if he agreed that his actions warranted him to tame his tongue to avoid getting into trouble as Moonga suggested, Nakachinda insisted that he would not say anything beyond what he had already said to avoid giving undue attention to “issues that are neither here nor there.”
“If it is Mr Moonga you want me to debate with I have a forum within the party to which he and me can be able to exchange views and not Daily Revelation. I would want us to focus on the very important issues,” Nakachinda said. “The most important issues right now is the intimidation of the judiciary, where not only contemptuous comments are being made from the office of the President through now the cadres that are being mobilised to go and try and intimidate the judiciary the judges, the magistrates. That is unprecedented. Even in the era of what people are saying caderism under Patriotic Front, there was never a time that PF cadres would go to the judiciary to go and protest the decisions, or indeed rulings of the court.”
He said pronouncements were being made in broad day light in the precincts of the court attacking the very character of the court.
Nakachinda said there were many other issues touching on the very fabric of the country right now, including issues to do with AFRICOM, and the homosexual drive.
“The workshop that just concluded in Siavonga. These are matters that speak and border on the very life and ethos and values of our country,” Nakachinda said, saying the reports from the conference were speaking to “the fact that it was a conference that was analysing statistics and data, obviously in relation to the people that may be involved in such practices (homosexual practices). Now that is against the law. And if indeed that workshop went to discuss specifically these matters, and we are aware that other workshops that came in the disguise of discussing democracy, governance of young people but in the end advocating for these rights, sponsored by European countries.”
Nakachinda said there was a clear crusade, including the flying of gay pride flags at the Swedish and Finish Embassies, which he said was just a “flagging off the campaign.”
“It’s an indirect way of flagging off the campaign in Zambia, and we haven’t heard anything from government in terms of what their position is. The Zambian people are expressing concern, the same way we were expressing concern when UPND was in opposition that they have signed an agreement with the liberal network to promote these, what we consider abominable practices in this country, “ Nakachinda said. “Those are the issues that I would want to delve into discussing than to discuss opinions of individuals who in this situation may not be relevant to the process. Because we would expect that in relation to what you asked me earlier that when somebody expresses their opinion, they should demonstrate themselves how diplomatic they would be in providing checks and balances to this government.”
He continued: “You can’t be seen to be like you are defending the same government and then expect that those who are in disagreement with the government would use a language that you yourself are not demonstrating in anyway. You are hiding in some shell and then expect that you start becoming a coach on how others should undertaken the assignment of providing and balances. So I think there are many serious issues that we should address that affect the Zambians people, will affect the Zambian people.”
Nakachinda said the Zambian posture has been consistent on issues of homosexuality.
“It’s just that this time around we are using deceit as a means of wanting to achieve something. If you took that question to the Zambian people directly that does Zambia subscribe to the idea of introducing gay and lesbian and transgender rights in this country? They will answer you,” Nakachinda said. “You don’t have to be doing it in a subtle manner, the way it’s being done this time around. This is basically the UPND trying to justify to those who sponsored them that they are doing something about it. And these people are coming here under the impression that these laws will be implemented hence the passive attitude that UPND has exhibited in allowing activities on our land that in time past have never been permitted. And it’s very unfortunate for them because I can tell you that is a sure sure reason for the UPND to be put on the line in 2026, the moment they begin to temper on issues that speak to the convictions of the Zambian people, the moral fiber of this country and things that we consider abominable.”
