COVID Should Not Be Politicised To Disadvantage Election Competitors – HH

United Party for National Development party President Hakainde Hichilema has urged the Patriotic Front not to weaponise COVID-19 to disadvantage political opponents.

Speaking in a radio interview on Wednesday Mr Hichilema said that it is unfortunate that President Lungu, who have been campaigning through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, have turned around to ban future rallies. 

As a result of President Lungu’s decision, Mr Hichilema believes that COVID-19 is being utilised as a weapon by the Patriotic Front to ensure opposition parties are unable to spread the message of their manifestos before election day in August.

In the interview, carried out by Kwangu Liwewe, the UPND leader commented on the amount of campaigning which the patriotic front have done within the midst of the pandemic. 

“Covid should not be politicised to disadvantage competitors in an election. Covid arrived February 2020, PF have rallies throughout 2020 and yet they didn’t allow us to hold our meetings,” he explained.  

Very wary of the severity of the situation within the country,  especially since the arrival of the Indian variant, Mr Hichilema remains determined to continue his campaign in line with COVID-19 protocols.  

“As the opposition, we will go out there to mobilise our voters but we will protect our own lives and lives of our supporters. We won’t be reckless about it,” Mr Hichilema said.

In spite of the issues with rallying which his party has experienced, the UPND president remains hopeful for a free and fair election.

“No one should play with the elections of 2021. The ECZ has a duty to carry out a free and fair election. Our colleagues at ECZ understand what is at stake and we encourage them to do that which is right.”

Photo: Lusaka Times