PF Destroy Yet More UPND Billboards

Another billboard belonging to the United Party for National Development has been destroyed by suspected Patriotic Front cadres outside the Heroes Stadium in Lusaka. 

Images of the damaged poster were shared to social media on Tuesday by UPND presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema. Mr Hichilema responded to the attack with equanimity, writing: “We build, they destroy. Just like they have done to our economy. Vote for CHANGE for a better Zambia.”

The poster, which bore an image of HH’s face above the message “Vote Hakainde Hichilema for Change” has now been entirely torn down. It follows a similar attack against another billboard in the capital over the weekend. 

Reacting on social media, Zambian voters fiercely condemned the attack and criticised the Patriotic Front for its continued displays of violence. 

One Facebook user wrote “It is the same way they have destroyed every aspect of the country, jobs, education, economically and even socially, its their nature!”

Supporters of the UPND leader seemed largely unperturbed however, encouraging HH to carry on campaigning regardless. A Facebook user called Stanley Peace Siwale wrote, “Hakainde Hichilema don’t worry about the billboards! You have already put a billboard in our hearts and minds…! Wether they remove everything.. they won’t touch our hearts.”

HH responded to the comment from his personal account, writing “that’s the spirit.”

Attacks against UPND billboards by PF cadres have been raging practically since the campaign began. The sign near the Heroes Stadium was first vandalised back in May, following an attack by suspected PF cadres against a printing company that was making T-shirts for the UPND campaign.

The continued attacks have prompted criticism that the PF is not serious about maintaining peace in the build up to August’s elections. Last week, President Lungu was condemned for not attending a peace conference at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre. The event was organised by a number of civil society organisations and attended by every other leader of a major political party. 

In response to the president’s absence, the UPND issued a statement saying that Mr Lungu did not take matters of peace or national security seriously and accused him of being the “number one sponsor and supporter of political violence in the country”. 

PF cadres climb the billboard (left) in order to take it down.

PF cadres (top) finish rolling up the billboard.