. Hichilema

By HOPE BWALYA, HELLEN TEMBO and MUNAMBEZA MUWANEI –
THE Patriotic Front (PF) has called on the United Party for National Development (UPND) to stop inciting its members into celebrating that its leader Hakainde Hichilema has become Republican president.
PF deputy spokesperson Frank Bwalya said inciting members to celebrate before the ruling of the Constitutional Court could be made was a recipe for conflict and anarchy.
Many residents in Siavonga, Mazabuka and Monze broke into jubilation on Wednesday evening after they got information that Mr Hichilema had been given the presidency by the Constitution Court.
Speaking during a live television interview on Prime TV’s Day Break programme in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Bwalya said the celebrations in most of the UPND’s strongholds could incite other regions in the country to start celebrating as well which could lead to chaos.
“The UPND is inciting its members in Southern Province to celebrate that they have won. They want to create this confusion that Mr Hichilema has won. The idea is to attract the international community that there is conflict in the nation that the winner is not known,” he said.
On the violence in some parts of Southern Province, Mr Bwalya said the problem was being perpetrated by selfish UPND leaders who were bent on inciting hate speech and violence.
Mr Bwalya said people of Southern Province were peaceful, kind and loving people who aspired for a united and peaceful Zambia.
Meanwhile, Zambian Voice president Chilufya Tayali has said that the UPND should not declare themselves as winners before the Constitutional Court makes the ruling.
“It is sad to see UPND supporters celebrating that they have won when the matter is in court. The problem started during the elections. Mr Hakainde Hichilema started leading on social media and the UPND declared themselves as winners on social media which has become now difficult for them to accept that they lost,” he said.
Mr Tayali said in an interview that the prejudice brought confusion such that his supporters have failed to accept that he lost.
He said the petition should not even have taken place if only Mr Hichilema had accepted the results.
Mr Tayali said it was unfair to hear the UPND saying that President-elect Edgar Lungu occupied the office of presidency illegally, when he was declared as winner by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
And some residents of Mazabuka, Kalomo and parts of Choma were yesterday in celebration frenzy after a fake rumour went round saying that the UPND leader had won the election petition.
The celebrations are said to have started around 02:00 hours yesterday upon hearing the fake story and some residents of Mazabuka’s Kabobola Township went agog.
This news spread to Choma’s Chandamali, Kalomo’s Mawaya and other towns that went into wild celebrations that were characterised with music, dancing and honking of vehicles.
Southern Province Police chief Godwin Phiri said his officers in Kalomo arrested one person for conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
“It is regrettable that some mischievous elements continue to fun instability by outrageous pronouncements,” Mr Phiri said. “Police are well-positioned to act accordingly and anyone participating in lawlessness will only have themselves to blame when found on the wrong side of the law.”