UPND failing – Bishop Mpundu

By JOHN KOMBE

THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has continued harassing and gagging citizens as its leadership is averse to criticism and dissenting views, Emeritus Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu has said.

Archbishop Mpundu has charged that there is no change to talk about under the UPND government because according to him there was nothing positive to talk about in terms of the economy, human rights violations and the rule of law.

Featuring on Diamond TV programme dabbed COSTA on Sunday, Archbishop Mpundu said the UPND administration had quickly adopted an autocratic style of governing the country by resorting to gagging dissenting views.

Archbishop Mpundu, the chairma of the My Civic Duty Association (OCiDA) said that people were being stopped from opposing the government which was a clear breach of freedom of speech and the rule of law.

Archbishop Mpundu disclosed that he was influenced not to read the statement by a government official who told him that State House was not comfortable with it as officials believed the statement would cause an uprising and riots against the government.

He stated that it was disappointing that the UPND had not brought the change that it talked about during their campaigns and that it was disheartening that the ruling party was not willing to admit its failures.

Archbishop Mpundu claimed that the UPND administration was determined to silence the voices of the people who were critical of the new dawn administration, which was a sign of a repressive government.

“This was being seen by the UPND attempting to silence every opposing or critical voice. The best that the government can do is to listen to the voice of the people. Silencing people has never worked well for any government,” Archbishop Mpundu said.

Archbishop Mpundu regretted that human rights abuses under the UPND were increasing and were not being respected despite the UPND promising improved human rights while in opposition.

He cited the long incarceration of former PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri as one example.

“Mumbi Phiri was kept in prison for a long time and was only charged after the government was pressured by sympathisers who included OCiDA. The UPND must not expect praise from Zambians for doing nothing and whatever the UPND promised has not been done to warrant any praise. The escalating price of mealie meal and fuel is one such a failure on the part of the UPND,” Archbishop Mpundu said.