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.

Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider what it calls his anti-people policies that are causing hardship and escalating insecurity in the country.

The PDP, which made the call on Thursday during the party’s 98th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at its National Secretariat in Abuja, also urged the President to urgently convene a special National Security Council (NSC) meeting to “proffer a holistic solution and measures to curb the disturbing insecurity in the country.”

In a Communique issued at the end of meeting and signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, the party said it was worried by the anti-peoples policies of President Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

The former ruling party it was difficult to understand why Tinubu has not reconsidered some of his policies, “which had led to worsening insecurity, harrowing economic hardship, soaring unemployment rate, high cost of food and other necessities of life with pervading misery and despondency across the country.”

“NEC expresses concern over the ill-implemented policies of the insensitive APC administration, leading to worsening insecurity, harrowing economic hardship, soaring unemployment rate, high cost of food and other necessities of life with pervading misery and despondency across the country,” the communiqué reads.

“NEC expresses serious apprehensions over the spate of acts of terrorism and violence including the escalated cases of mindless killings, mass abduction of innocent Nigerians and marauding of communities in various parts of the country.

“NEC condemns the insensitivity, nonchalance, incompetence and arrogance in failure of the APC administration which continues to conduct itself in a manner that shows that it has no iota of interest or commitment towards the wellbeing of Nigerians,” the PDP added.