.HICHILEMA

By FLAVIOR CHISHALA
 –

MMD youths in Lusaka have condemned assertions by United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema that there was a ploy to assassination him.
MMD Lusaka Province youth treasurer Elijah Manda said the assertions by Mr Hichilema were not only careless but also immature for a political leader.
‘‘We wish to condemn in the strongest terms the assertions by Mr Hakainde Hichilema the president of UPND that some people, especially from the Patriotic Front and Government are intent on assassinating him,’’ Mr Manda said in a statement.
He said such careless talk could only attract vengeance from Mr Hichilema’s enemies who could take advantage of the claim to harm the UPND leader since there is still a decoy to cover them.
Mr Manda said Zambia has never been known to bask in the culture of political assassinations and called for tolerance and maturity among political leaders.
‘‘As MMD and harbingers of the democracy and good governance that we laboriously fought for and won in 1990, we demand tolerance and maturity from our political leaders, especially those in serious political organisations and positions,’’ he added.
Mr Manda said it is not necessary for political leaders to be so desperate for power to the point of courting death like Mr Hichilema was doing.
Last week, Mr Hichilema claimed that the suspected PF cadres that attacked him in Ndola when he appeared on Sun FM Radio Station were part of a ploy by President Michael Sata to assassinate him.
But State House reacted angrily to the claim, describing them as laughable and an exaggeration by Mr Hichilema who should not be taken seriously as it was evident that he was fond of issuing alarming statements and unsubstantiated claims.