MMD and the United Party for National Development (UPND) are reputed to be the two biggest opposition political parties in Zambia. They like to be seen as using their political clout to champion limitless freedom of expression that would, significantly, give them a strong standing in the country.

Nonetheless, some recent daring maneuvers applicable to the political strength or lack of it of these two parties have put their supposed political might or ambitious posturing in question. With UPND, it was the police clashing physically with scores of its cadres who forced their way into Woodlands Police Station in Lusaka where the party president Hakainde Hichilema was summoned for questioning.

Understandably, the clash was triggered by the UPND cadres, who forced their way onto the police premises and attempted to dictate events.

But look at what happened to the UPND president following his questioning, after a party cadre tried to sprinkle baby powder on his head to symbolise victory.

For MMD, meanwhile, it remains very sad that MMD president Nevers Mumba had to plead passionately to the Supreme Court that sending him to prison in a case he was cited for contempt of court would be like sending the entire MMD membership to jail because his party had no money to elect another leader. So, what happened to the MMD’s slogan

of ‘Don’t Kutina’?

For MMD and UPND to both reach their desired position of true opposition hegemony in Zambia, the party presidents must be sure to first gain courage and ownership of their media invectives they direct at the PF administration, beginning with undoing all their cowardly shortcomings.

Mubanga Luchembe.