WHICH ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION?

WHICH ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION?

…There’s only ‘One Zambia One Side’ today, says Chanda

By Tony Nkhoma and George Zulu

UNITED Prosperous for Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) president Charles Chanda says the national motto ‘One Zambia One Nation’ no longer exists because of nepotism under the current government.

But the UPND has denied the allegation by Chanda, which it says has the capacity to divide the nation because it is promoting ethnic hegemony.

Chanda accused the United Party for National Development (UPND) of rebranding Zambia from ‘One Zambia One Nation’ to ‘One Zambia One Side’ through institutionalised discrimination based on region and political affiliation.

Speaking in an interview with The Mast, he said what had killed the once proud and unifying motto was the blatant promotion of regionalism under the UPND administration.

Chanda said Zambians were able to see and experience the division through regional promotion and appointments in public offices.

“You cannot tell me there’s ‘One Zambia One Nation in the country. Nizakana [I will refuse]. It’s One Zambia One Side. You can’t convince me that it’s One Zambia One Nation anymore,” he said.

Chanda wondered how people from only one region of the country found it easy to get employed and promotions in the civil service when those from other regions tried in vain.

“We also need to look at the issue of unity. Unity is important. We have a crisis now. Every day when there are appointments, the scale is one-sided,” he said.

Chanda said the current leadership needed to strike a convincing balance to resolve the crisis they were creating.

“Why are people from one region the only ones getting these positions? Go into the civil service, ask for the director, assistant or director and you will be shocked. Inspector, inspector of what? Inspector of this? Go and check, and you will be shocked if it is One Zambia, One Nation,” he said.

Chanda said the country had to be rescued from abuse of authority and the damage the UPND was doing to its unity.

“It must be a united, prosperous and peaceful Zambia. This is what we need to promote. A Zambia for all. That is what we want. We have what it takes to ensure that we bring sanity in this country,” Chanda said.

He said Zambia was facing a serious crisis where majority felt the pain of having a leadership that kept dividing the nation on a regional basis.

“Apart from that, this country is facing a crisis, and it needs to be rescued when it comes to abuse of authority. The people that we appoint don’t have a human heart. They can abuse the power the way they want,” Chanda said.

He said people were being arrested through political instructions based on the political party they belonged to and the region they hailed from.

“Do you know that there are people who have been arrested, not because they committed a crime but because instructions were given, and the one giving instructions, he’s not even a lawyer, he’s not a judge, he’s just someone who was given political power? You know, something strange is happening in the country,” Chanda said.

He warned politicians abusing State power to stop or face the wrath of the people’s power next year.

Chanda said the true and real power belonged to the people of Zambia and not those in government.

“As long as there is no separation of political power, the country will continue to experience injustice. We need to ensure the government in power does not influence the justice system. That’s the only way we can have a Zambia that is free and fair. And every Zambian is crying at the moment,” he said.

But UPND media director Mark Simuuwe said Chanda dis not have any message to tell the people apart from promoting tribal hegemony.

Simuuwe said it was unfair for Chanda to accuse government of making appointments on regional patronage when Hichilema had tried to balance all regions.

“I wish to state that this is the first time we are having a true reflection of Zambia under President Hichilema. Just look at Cabinet appointments, 50 per cent of ministers are from the northern region. Look at the appointments at the PS [permanent] level; more are from the northern region. Before UPND took over, if you went to ZRA [Zambia Revenue Authority], 90 per cent of the workers there were from the northern region, and we have not fired anyone. Till today, 90 per cent of workers at Zamtel and ZRA are from one region, the northern region. So what is Chanda talking about?” he said.

Simuuwe said Chanda lacked unifying messages for Zambia, urging him to offer alternatives to the challenges the nation was going through.