KOPE RUBBISHES ASSERTIONS THAT GOVT IS SILENCING OPPONENTS 

By Kalobwe Bwalya

IT is not true that the Government is conniving with the Zambia police to silence the opposition in the country but is merely trying to ensure that peace and sanity is restored, United Party for National Development (UPND) National Youth Information and Publicity Secretary Francis Kope has said.

In an interview, Mr. Kope said the opposition had been given all political space to carry out their political rallies and campaigns without any intimidation and that the police only moved in upon seeing that the environment was not conducive in terms of security thereby carrying their duties within the confines of the law.

He said police had a mandate to prevent crimes, protecting people’s lives and property and also to restore order in the country at all times and that to prove that the UPND was committed to promoting democracy, Cornelius Mweetwa, who was a chairman of information in the party and Chief Government spokesperson, was on record advising the police to allow the opposition to hold rallies and to speak to the people.

He said not long ago, police gave permission to the opposition under the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) umbrella to hold a rally which proved to be a flop not because there was any external influence from the Government or the police, but that this was because Zambians were more enlightened and understood that thieves could not change their course overnight and that there was nothing new Edgar Lungu and his cheerleaders could tell them.

He stated that under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, the opposition had been allowed to speak than before and even had the luxury of insulting those in Government every day, something that was almost a taboo under the PF reign.

He said when the UPND was in opposition, the PF did not allow them carry out any political rallies or meetings and that this was the reason why people of Zambia resolved to vote them out of power.

He said UPND members were being attacked and beaten by then PF cadres and police were toothless unlike in the current leadership where the police were now executing their duties accordingly.

“It is not true that the UPND leadership is not allowing the opposition in the country to hold any public gathering and the government cannot sink so low to take such an undemocratic path of not allowing them to hold rallies because it is their democratic right to do so,” Mr. Kope said.

He added that President Hichilema was a man who upheld democracy and he expected people’s rights to be respected and that every person was free to speak and not to be discriminated upon.

He observed that some leaders wanted to be treated special even when they knew that what they were doing was against the laws of Zambia and further advised political parties to allow the police to carry out their work because they were mandated to ensure that people’s lives were protected.

“It is shocking that some political parties are trying to become dramatic instead of being focused and help the Government to foster development. They want to bring confusion in the country which will not be entertained,” he said.