Mocking grieving family evil, says FDD
By Thandizo Banda
THE Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has strongly condemned Luapula Province minister Njavwa Simutowe and other United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters who were captured on a video celebrating South African court judgement on the repatriation of the mortal remains of the late former president.
FDD spokesperson Anthony Chibuye described the behaviour as evil and satanic.
“It’s indeed such evil and satanic behaviour that even a member of Parliament who is also Muchinga Province minister can shamelessly take to social media and portray such behaviour,” Chibuye said.
Speaking in an interview with The Mast, Chibuye said it was clear that the UPND and its members were indeed excited with Lungu’s death.
“We also want to challenge President Hakainde Hichilema to come out clean on the allegations from the different sections of society who believe that he [president] has vested interest in the funeral away from the normal,” he said.
Chibuye noted that suspicions by the grieving family that some interested parties might want to use Lungu’s body for rituals should not be ignored.
“As a party, we challenge the President because the office he occupies is not UPND but a republican one and we want him to come out clean on what damage he will suffer for not seeing the body of ECL [Edgar Chagwa Lungu] or preside over a possible state funeral. If the president will not give us clear answers, then we will also grow suspicious…, he said.
Chibuye also challenged Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti to discipline the “dishonorable” MP who featured in the widely shared video for bringing the House into disrepute .
And an advocate for industrialisation and development Cephas Musonda has warned that those celebrating the death of the former president risk attracting curses into their lives and the nation as a whole.
Musonda expressed disappointment that p servants like Simutowe had joined the wider UPND party members and supporters in celebrating the death of the former head of state and mocking his family.
“UPND need to reflect on the perception that they are a grouping of heartless people.Who celebrates death of another individual, in this case that of a former president?” Musonda said.
He urged the UPND to draw lessons from the famous book of John 11 verse 35 of the Bible in which Jesus wept.
The advocate for industrialisation and development noted that even in the event that Lungu’s body was to be repatriated and buried in his home country, there was not need celebrations especially by senior civil servants.
