One of Zambia’s main opposition party, the Socialist Party (SP), has decried what it calls the rising tribalism, repression and corruption pervading the country, while calling for a serious national dialogue to address the issues.
National President of the SP, Dr Fred M’membe, who made the call in a statement in Lusaka on Thursday, said the situation in the country requires a “serious national dialogue”, while alleging that the country had been “set on a risky path of destruction” by the President Hakainde Hichilema and the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND.
While lamenting the precarious situation in the country, M’membe stated that Zambia had an “intensifying crisis of governance, rule of law, democracy and social cohesion”.
“There is a rise in tribalism and grand corruption which has left a dark spot on the unity, patriotism and democracy of our country. It is no longer a secret that Mr Hichilema has set this country on a risky path of destruction,” the SP leader alleged.
“The sharp rise in repression, ethnic bigotry, grand corruption, tribalism and many other vices has left a dark spot on the unity, patriotism and democracy of our country,” he said.
He also claimed that “political competitors, private citizens and other critical voices were degraded and brutalized through unseen repression and hardship without any tolerance and restraint.”
“There is an intensifying crisis of governance, rule of law, democracy and social cohesion in Zambia under President Hakainde Hichilema.
“The truth is, things are no longer the same anymore. This country is deeply divided. It is in unfathomable problems,” M’membe added.
“The manner in which government had been circumventing the law and abusing state institutions is a clear testimony of the illegitimate intentions of this administration.”
M’membe emphasized that the country was bedeviled with a lot of difficulties ranging from the economy, politics and social issues.
“The thoughtless manner in which this administration has been circumventing the law and abusing state institutions is a clear testimony of the illegitimate intentions of this administration.
“The government had incapacitated the rule of law and constitutional order in the country and is going about its daily business with impunity, without oversight or regard for cultural, political and economic consequences of their actions,” he further alleged.