Why has the government banned a song that draws attention to ethnic imbalances in public appointments?

Why has the government banned a song that draws attention to ethnic imbalances in public appointments?

 …Zambia has 10 provinces. Out of the 10 police provincial commissioners, 9 are from three provinces: Southern, Northwestern, and Western. Out of the 9, 6 are from Southern Province.

By Sishuwa Sishuwa

THE Zambian Government has banned a hit song that rallies voters against politicians who sell mines to their friends, engage in corruption, divide the country on ethnic lines, enact unjust laws, and cause hunger. Unable to locate its creator, the Government arrested the song instead.

The UPND administration is very good at making terribly bad decisions. The spokesperson of the Zambian government, Thabo Kawana, held a press conference on Thursday this week where he directed the regulatory authorities to arrest the song. On Friday, the state-controlled but inappropriately named Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) swung into action, banning the song.

Mr Hichilema, you often complain that we only criticise your leadership without offering solutions. Fine, I will offer you a solution on one concern that the song raises: ethnic divisions. Please abandon ethnic-regionalism and appoint people who reflect the ethnic diversity of Zambia’s 10 provinces. Once you do this, no one will criticize your leadership for lack of adequate ethnic inclusion or diversity. Instead of banning the song, you will do well to address the concerns highlighted by the song.

Let us take the issue of ethnic divisions more seriously. Let us look at the leadership positions of Zambia’s security services, starting with the Zambia Police Service. The command structure of the police consists of four positions: Inspector General (IG), Deputy IG-Administration, Deputy IG-Operations, Deputy IG-Special Duties. These positions are currently occupied as follows:

1. Inspector General – Graphel Musamba (Central Province)
2. Deputy IG-Administration – Charity Munganga (Lozi, Western Province)
3. Deputy IG-Operations – Fred Hamaamba (Tonga, Southern Province)
4. Deputy IG-Special Duties – Fanwell Siandenge (Tonga, Southern Province)

As stated, Zambia has 10 provinces. Out of the 10 police provincial commissioners, 9 are from three provinces: Southern, Northwestern, and Western. Out of the 9, 6 are from Southern Province.

1. Copperbelt – Mwala Yuyi (Lozi, Western Province)
2. Lusaka – Ronald Zaambo (Tonga, Southern Province)
3. Eastern – Robertson Mweemba (Tonga, Southern Province)
4. Northern – Simunji Mulonda (Lozi, Western Province)
5. Luapula – Creto Kaanza (Tonga, Southern Province) 6. Southern – Moon Namalongo (Tonga, Southern Province)
6. Central – Yobe Luhana (Luvale, North-Western Province)
7. Western – Ray Hamoonga (Tonga, Southern Province)
8. Northwestern – Brightion Siwale (Namwanga, Northern Province)
9. Muchinga – Dennis Moola (Tonga, Southern Province)

Let us add the remaining security services:

1. Zambia Security Intelligence Services – Friday Nyambe (, Lozi Western Province)
2. Zambia Army – Choongo Zyeele (Tonga, Southern Province)
3. Zambia Air Force – Oscar Nyoni (despite the Eastern Province-like name, he is in fact ethnic Tonga from Mumbwa area, Central Province)
4. Zambia National Service – Maliti Solochi (Northwestern Province).

How does any sane person say it is “divisive” for anyone to draw attention to this lack of adequate ethnic diversity in public appointments?

Source: https://x.com/ssishuwa/status/2060682810768097520?s=20