Avoid fuelling tribal tensions – Hamasaka

By NATION REPORTER

STATE House has called on Zambians to resist the temptation of fuelling tribal tensions in the country but should endeavour to promote unity, harmony and peace the country has been enjoying since independence.
And Dr Fred M’membe has come to the defence of Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa from the attacks of some rogue online publications after he called out tribalism he believes is being perpetuated by UPND.
Clayson Hamasaka, the State House Chief Communications Specialist has condemned tribal talk, arguing that those peddling hate speech were only fomenting disharmony in the country.
Mr Hamasaka has also denied assertions that he had taken it upon himself to report to police, Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa for hate speech after the academician accused President Hakainde Hichilema of persecuting Bembas and Easterners.
He said in an interview that there should never be a time in Zambia when tribe, ethnicity and regionalism should be allowed to be the mode of governing the country.
Mr Hamasaka said despite the countless times President Hichilema was arrested and thrown into cells and eventually prison, at no time did he ever link his political tribulations to tribe.
“Let’s focus on facts, not fuelling tribal tensions. Let us promote peace, unity and harmony and not foment tribal divisions in the country. There must be no place for tribal talk and divisions in the country. Zambian has known nothing else but unity and harmony and we must never come to a time where tribe should govern us,” Mr Hamasaka said.
“Even President Hichilema, then in opposition with his many police summons and detentions all the way to Mukobeko Maximum prison, never attributed any of his tribulations to tribe, but to the regime of the time,” he said.
Mr Hamasaka recounted how he was victimised, to the extent of being fired but that at no time did he ever attribute his problems to tribe.
“Under the PF regime, I was fired from Evelyn Hone College and a week later, my wife was fired from Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company. Both government institutions. We didn’t blame it on tribal persecution but blamed the regime,” Mr Hamasaka said.
And Dr M’membe has come to the defence of Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa from the attacks of some rogue online publications after he called out tribalism he believes is being perpetuated by UPND.
Dr M’membe, the leader of the Socialist Party (SP) says it had become common for UPND to attack the foreign-based Zambian historian and political commentator by accusing him of being sponsored by the Socialist Party the same way PF accused him of being sponsored by UPND when they were in the opposition.
He said the latest person to make false accusation was Mr Hamasakaand so whatever he said represented the views of the head of State.
Dr M’membe said Mr Hamasaka had reported Dr Sishuwa to police for alleged hate speech against Mr Hichilema.
“They can’t even mask their desperation anymore to gag critics because the whole scheme has their hands written all over it. Since when were alleged crimes reported to police headquarters?” the journalist-cum-politician quipped.
He said should anything happened to the life of Dr Sishuwa, President Hichilema would be held responsible.
Dr M’membe wondered why UPND was so uncomfortable with any criticism of their regionalism and why they were so keen to silence Dr Sishuwa when he had raised important issues.