STATE HOUSE has dismissed as ‘laughable’ claims by opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema that President Michael Sata is behind a ploy to assassinate him.
Hichilema made the claims during a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, saying the alleged attacks on him while in Ndola on the Copperbelt, were orchestrated by the Head of State.
State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah said the Head of State was in fact wishing Hichilema long life and that no one wanted to assassinate him.
Chellah said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the nation did not take Hichilema seriously as it was evident that he was fond of issuing unsubstantiated claims.
Chellah said Hichilema’s exaggerated outbursts were not new and that President Sata would not embrace a culture that was alien to Zambian politics.
‘‘He doesn’t surprise Zambians and the President because assassination is not Zambian and his claims are laughable and extremely exaggerated.
“Mr Hichilema thrives on inflammatory remarks. He thinks he can improve his political party by provoking the Head of State,’’ he said.
He urged Hichilema to carry out a self-introspection and show to the Zambians that he could be regarded as alternative leader instead of preaching hatred.
During the media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Hichilema said the suspected Patriotic Front (PF) party cadres that allegedly attacked him at Sun FM Radio on the Copperbelt aimed at eliminating him.
He alleged that the Police knew the people that were behind the attempted attack but did not apprehend any suspects.
Hichilema, however, called for calm among his supporters and asked them not to fight back whenever they were attacked as this would perpetuate violence in the country.
And Chief Government Spokesperson Joseph Katema described as unfounded claims by Mr Hichilema that Government sponsored cadres to harass him.
Dr Katema has since described as baseless Mr Hichilema’s threats to take Government to the International Criminal Court, let alone to call for the resignation of President Sata.
He said the PF Government was disciplined and did not condone lawlessness and indiscipline by anyone regardless of their political affiliation.
He reaffirmed Government’s zero-tolerance for violence, regardless of who was involved as was evidenced by Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba who condemned acts of violence against Hichilema, immediately after it happened. – Times of Zambia
Chella u re speaking rubbish
A dim response, too shallow for a Presidential spokesman.
Chellah ! Your days are numbered ..PF is NOT the only party that has ruled Zambia . UNIP was once there , MMD was once there , You are here passing through so don’t grow big headed . Don’t forget there is another life after that life .
It appears pf is full of people who are not only liers but are brainless. Surely Dr. Katema and the useless challah, this is the best you can offer. Have you forgotten how your cadres fought running battles on the airport road in chelstone, you call that discipline Do you need your haeds examined at chainama? Your response is not only rubbish but foolishness of the highest disorder.
Chella go and tell that nonsense to your wife and girl friends we are too learned to listen to the like of you go back to school idiot.
Chella, yes we are intelligent and very alert to politics, we know want is happening on the ground. We agree with HH’s concerns and the violence we are witnessing is caused by your cadre. It is your Governments reponse which is laughable.
Chellah, we want our freedom and democracy back. If what HH is saying is not true, why those manoeuvres on HH by your cadres at Sun FF Radio in Ndola? Why did your cadres victimize Nevers Mumba in Chinsali? Why did your cadres beat Fr.Frank Bwalya? Why didn’t the police stop all this all arrest perpetrators? Chellah you will not win to rule by Pangas and Machetes. You have angered people by increasing the cost of living and poor economic performance of Zambia from where MMD left. If I were you, I would listen to people’s demand and fulfil their desire instead of reining violence.
My biggest concern is; why the police have failed to arrest cadres that were wielding weapons such as machetes, catapaults and guns. Why have the police failed to arrest the perpetrators of such violence? We are told that the troublemakers were ‘bused’ from Kitwe, why did the police fail to stop these buses and arrest everyone on the bus and confiscate the weapons ‘of mass destruction’? The police should know that one day, these thugs will turn against them and they should not cry foul at that time.