Kambwili
Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili has recommended that opposition UPND disbands if it fails to address tribalism because it was causing disunity in the country.
Kambwili has since urged traditional leaders in Southern Province to immediately assemble the UPND leadership and address the spectre of tribalism that has emerged in the region.
He says there is a danger Zambia may degenerate into tribal war if the vice is not curbed.
Kambwili, who is not new to controversy, says he would have disbanded UPND if it was within his powers.
The Roan MP has also advised the people of Western and North-Western provinces to understand that the UPND was only using them to get UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema into State House.
He alleged that the opposition party had reserved the positions of Parliamentary Chief Whip and leader of opposition in the House for Garry Nkombo and Jack Mwiimbu because they were from the same region.
Kambwili accused the UPND of being the source of tribalism, alleging that the people of Southern Province were using the party to install Hakainde Hichilema as president on the basis of tribe.
He warned the opposition party will remain in the opposition in perpetuity because of tribalism. Kambwili further says attempts by the UPND to camouflage itself by using a few people from Northern and Luapula Provinces was not going to help Hichilema from taking over the governance of the country.
“When Poniso Njeulu and Greford Monde accepted to be appointed deputy Ministers by president Michael Sata, one UPND official issued a tribal statement that as far as the party was concerned, it had not lost any member because the two were not Tonga.
“And Hakainde Hichilema is on record having scolded one chief in Southern Province for entertaining Bemba speaking people. So the UPND is only about Tonga. I am calling on the traditional leadership in Southern Province to sit their subjects down and warn them about the dangers of tribalism,” Kambwili is quoted by the Daily Nation.
He says all the 73 tribes in Zambia needed each other and that no region was more important than the other.
Kambwili stated that President Lungu had been preaching unity and had since his ascendancy to the presidency been condemning regionalism because the Head of State understood its perils.
“Let us remain brothers and sisters. Bembas need Tongas and the opposite is also true. The people of Eastern Province need those in Southern Province. We all need each other and we should never allow Zambians to be dismembered on account of regional feelings,” said Kambwili.
Zambia Reports