PF Cadres Continue To Disrupt UPND Radio Appearances

Members of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party have continued to disrupt radio appearances from UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, despite a warning to stop from the government. 

The latest incident took place on Monday in the town of Isoka, in Muchinga Province, where members of the PF violently invaded the Isoka Community Radio Station, interrupting a radio interview with Mr Hichilema. 

The PF’s District Chairman for Isoka District, Gerald Silwamba, was largely unsympathetic, accusing Hichilema and the UPND of provoking such attacks with ‘cheap political tactics’ to elicit sympathy.

“While we respect the freedom of speech, that freedom should not be used to provoke situations and insult sympathisers of government’s fight against corona virus,” Mr. Silwamba said.

He went on to commend the police for their quick response to the attack and issued a call for calm amongst other PF members who might consider similar actions. 

This latest incident follows two similar occurrences in Muchinga Province last week, in which Mr Hichilema was blocked from appearing on both Mpika FM and Muchinga Community Radio in Chinsali.

The PF’s Chairman for Muchinga Province, Alex Simuwelu issued a statement after the second attack, saying that the UPND was not welcome in Muchinga as it undermined that nation’s unity in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Posting on Facebook after Monday’s attack, Mr Hichilema called the incident “Yet another unfortunate day for freedom of speech and democracy in our country”. 

He went on to decry the PF as a “truly a violent and evil organisation” and suggested that their days in government were numbered.