BY KALOBWE BWALYA
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) Lusaka Province chairperson Obvious Mwaliteta has warned Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP) president Kelvin Bwalya against insulting President Hakainde Hichilema under the guise of freedom of speech.
Mr Mwaliteta said although Mr Bwalya, commonly known as KBF, was free to offer checks and balances to the new dawn administration, he should not use provocative language.
He condemned Mr Bwalya for what he termed as “vulgar and distasteful language” which he used against President Hichilema when he featured on a live programme on one of the local channels.
“His use of words such as irresponsible, liar, incompetent, circus referring to the President of the Republic of Zambia is in itself irresponsible, offensive and has the potential to ignite lawlessness, and we don’t want and will not support that against our political adversaries, “Mwaliteta said.
He said although the UPND appreciated the excitement by opposition leaders on their newly found freedom of speech, this right be exercised responsibly while bearing in mind that President Hichilema had law abiding supporters whose patience should not be pushed too far.
“Who is a liar between a President who promised to employ 41,000 teachers and health workers and did so within a year of becoming President, and a person who woke up a Judge at night to sign dubious papers to usher in the most corrupt and reckless Government in the history of Zambia?” Mr Mwaliteta asked.
He said President Hichilema had since managed to end political violence and thuggery, compared to the PF that allegedly thrived on bloodletting, brutality, corruption and theft of public resources.
Mr Mwaliteta warned Mr Bwalya not throw stones when he lived in a glass house because the UPND would expose him.
“KBF should exercise his checks and balances with sobriety and maturity and we will not tolerate anyone insulting the President under the guise of freedom of speech, “he said.
