BREBNER Changala has condemned the booing of President Hakainde Hichilema at Lusaka’s National Heroes Stadium where Red Arrows Football Club was battling it out for the ABSA Cup with Kabwe Warriors.
Mr Changala says although Zambians are largely unhappy and angry over the high cost of living, prices of mealie meal and the many unfulfilled promises by President Hichilema, booing him was unacceptable.
Mr Changala, a civil rights and political activist, however said the booing of President Hichilema yesterday was a signal that he had lost favour from the same people who cheered him during his inauguration in 2021 in the same stadium.
He has advised President Hichilema not take offence against Zambians who are now booing him after only being in office for no more than three years.
Mr Changala stated that when President Edgar Lungu lost power in 2021, he humbly and graciously drove to the stadium to hand over power to President Hichilema and Zambians rose to boo him.
“Many times in this country, soccer has often given a signal as to how citizens feel about the government in power and how they are governed. When first republican President Kenneth Kaunda was about to lose power, he was booed at the National Heroes Stadium and was pelted with eggs and banana peels. It was clear then that President Kaunda had lost favour,” Mr Changala said.
“When our immediate past President Edgar Lungu lost power in 2021, he humbly and graciously drove to National Heroes Stadium in the company of his daughter Tasila to hand over power to his successor President Hichilema. President Lungu was booed and one would have expected that when President Hichilema was delivering his inaugural speech should have condemned the act. He did not and yesterday, after being in office in no more than three years, President Hichilema has been booed from the same venue where he was cheered when he was taking the oath of governing the country,” Mr Changala said.
He said President Hichilema went to the stadium to watch soccer in good faith and it should have been a pleasant day for him but that the President had created a hostile environment against himself from Zambians because of his vindictive style of governance which had been rejected.
“It was his time. President Hichilema celebrated when former President Lungu was booed. Today (yesterday) was a pleasant day for soccer-loving citizens and again, as a symbolic act that our President is losing favour after being in office in only two years and seven months, he was booed. I do condemn the booing of President Hichilema not only as head of State but also as an elderly man,” Mr Changala said.
Mr Changala said soccer being what it was in Zambia was also a barometer of what was politically happening on the ground and advised President Hichilema not to be angry but instead evaluate his performance and delivery schedule of his promises.
“This is as the Archbishop of Lusaka, Dr Alick Banda would say this is a time to work and work and not endless talking and self-praise. Let President Hichilema not talk too much about his imagined achievements but let his works speak for him. Let the President deliver and resist self-praise. As to the youth who voted and are disappointed, I can only say to them that they have delivered their message. Let us respect President Hichilema,” Mr Changala said.
