A group of PF cadres this morning presented a ‘letter of solidarity’ to the Chinese Embasy, thanking Ambassador Yang Youming for not attending a luncheon hosted by UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema. The cadres were led by PF information committe vice-chairperson Charity Banda and Lusaka Province youth chairperson Kennedy Kamba.
But Ambassador Yang ignored the cadres, who ended up handing over the petition to a female gate attendant as police in full riot gear kept vigil at the embassy.
The cadres had originally planned to march through the streets of Lusaka to denounce the 15 diplomats who attended Hichilema’s luncheon, but the Zambia police denied them a permit as they felt doing so would disturb the smooth flow of traffic in the city.
Meanwhile, PF Lusaka Province Youth Chairperson Kennedy Kamba has accused UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema and the 15 diplomats who recently visited him of planning to introduce gay rights if the UPND is elected to office.
Speaking when he addressed about 100 PF cadres after a presenting a letter of solidarity at the Chinese Embassy, Kamba alleged that the UPND intends to remove the Christian clause in the constitution if it assumes office after the August general elections.
Below is the letter:
His Excellency Mr Yang Youming
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia
Chinese Embassy in Zambia
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA.
February 29, 2016.
Your Excellency,
RE: COMMENDING YOUR GOVERNMENT FOR BEING AN ALL-WEATHER FRIEND OF ZAMBIA
We refer to the above captioned subject.
Indeed we wish to commend your great country for being an all-weather friend to Zambia. The solid relationship between our two countries which dates back to the pre-independence time has benefited Zambia greatly in various sectors. Our country boasts of the Tazara rail line, Tazama pipe line, the mighty Tuta bridge, Levy Mwanawasa hospital in Lusaka and various infrastructure developments by the great people of your country. Moreover, Chinese contractors have been playing a pivotal role in our government’s ambitious infrastructure development agenda.
We have no doubt that China values the friendship with Zambia and wishes to preserve this relationship. Hence we believe that the reason you would not be party of any meetings and activities contrary to the provisions of the Vienna Convention is to ensure continued good diplomatic relations with our great country.
Therefore, we wish to commend you and your government Your Excellency for not engaging in activities that clearly point to involvement in our internal political issues. Moreover, we are happy that your conduct during elections in our country has been above reproach. You have worked well with sitting governments in Zambia and you have never tried to influence the Zambian voter through gimmicks such as endorsements of opposition leaders. Moreover, you have never tried to force our country to embrace practices such as homosexuality that are at variance with our traditional and religious beliefs.
Against the above background, we wish to sincerely commend you Your Excellency and your great country for staying out of our internal politics.
Finally, it is our prayer that China will continue to be a shining example of the mutual respect that should characterise diplomatic relations.
Yours faithfully,
Charity K Banda (Ms)
VICE CHAIRPERSON, PF INFORMATION COMMITTEE