Zambians ‘lynch’ Nevers on social media
By Mast Reporter
NEW Nation Party (NNP) leader and former tele-evangelist Dr Nevers Mumba has come under a barrage of flak on social media after posting a quote in support of President Hakainde Hichilema’s Friday address to the National Assembly.
Dr Mumba, who is not new to controversy, posted on his official Facebook page, “We must all say no to hate speech, we must reject divisive politics – HH.”
But users flocked to the post to troll the clergyman-turned politician accusing him of selective outrage at hate speech.
They argued that under the United Party for National Development (UPND) government, it was only hate speech when it was uttered by those opposing or criticising President Hakainde Hichilema and the policies of his administration.
Some users wondered why Dr Mumba had failed to condemn the utterances by Hichilema in Choma, Southern Province, where he told the crowd he was addressing that they used to suffer harassment at Inter-city Bus Terminus in Lusaka for merely coming from the region before he became president.
In 22 hours the post had garnered 692 reactions, 385 comments and four shares.
One of the users, Fenny Nkandu Kalebaila, accused police of arresting people in certain regions while letting of the hook others in other regions engaging in hate speech.
“[I]Am yet to see others from different regions arrested for hate speech,” Kalebaila commented. Some of the other comments:
How about tribal appointments?
But he is a champion of that. When he was in Choma, he made our sisters and brothers in Southern like they are the most hated colleagues. A leader who should have been championing unity, as opposed to divisiveness.
They don’t love me because of my origin! Say what it is. Hate speech or love speech?
The rule of law must be applicable equally, not the way it has been selective, sir.
Hate speech shouldn’t only target people from a certain region. It should be inclusive. That Choma incidence, that was pure hate speech and nobody acted on it. Ba mumba iseni mu nshila. Zambia could have been a better place if we practiced what we preach.
In Zambia it only becomes hate speech and divisive politics when its coming from someone who is not close to UPND or HH speaking against those from their region or strongholds. There was a comment or statement that our dear President made ku Choma which sparked a lot of debate. You never made any comment or condemning that statement. If that same statement was made by an opposition leader, nga mwalicita condemn the same day.
Maybe “all” has a new meaning.
It must not be impartial. Whether you are a member of the ruling party or opposition. We must all be treated equally and squarely. And law enforcers must do it to the highest standards of justice.
The problem is that he’s the one on the forefront. The only people who are scared of this are those from the opposition. His people are untouchable.
Yes, the statement is true and we welcome it.unfortunately it is not hate speech when it is coming from us but only if it is coming from others.
President with the heart of the nation peace, love and harmony is his talk and preach through out before and since he occupied plot.
Ati they hate him because of where he’s coming from.… Bushe iyo te hate speech yena?
We just use hate speech when we hear ama ngels from icipani bapontela bantu… and no one to blame them from icipani what we know is that … they must lead by example … maybe that’s why babwezamo bantu …
What constitutes hate speech by Zambian definition unselectively?
In an interview with Frank Mutubila on Frank Talk, after a live Zambia shall be saved broadcast from Namibia, he asked you if you ever considered joining politics. Your answer in your own words. “Frank; that would be like a demotion to me”. My question is have you been demoted? Only when you answer this question will I take you seriously. I have asked Frank to ask you this question for me, but to no avail. Thanks.
Is HH practicing what hes saying? What he said in Choma, did it reflect what he is claiming now?I hope he is not referring to Munyaule song. Otherwise the song doesn’t have any hate speech in it but only facts.
