Governance Activist David Kakoma says the decision to deregister the Democratic Party, which former Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba intended to stand on in 2021, shows serious levels of dictatorship, intolerance and brutality in the manner in which the Patriotic Front is governing.

In a statement, Sunday, Kapoma charged that the PF was creating a dictator in President Edgar Lungu by doing everything possible to silence those who opposed him.

“Time and time again does the pride of man influence his very own fall. While denying it, one gradually starts to believe that he is the authority, or that he has great moral dominion over others, yet it is spiritually unwarranted. Dictators are usually made by those around them sometimes without realising, sometimes intentionally. I have stated time and again that the PF membership is making a huge mistake by treating President Lungu the way they do. Slowly but faster than necessary we are forming a dictator in President Lungu. It is very true that President Lungu and the PF will stop at nothing to make sure they stop anyone with divergent views from speaking and exercising our rights and freedoms,” Kakoma stated.

“The decision by the PF regime to deregister the Democratic Party signals serious levels of dictatorship, intolerance and brutality in the way the PF is governing us. It must be very well known to the PF and President Lungu that this country does not belong to one person or one political party. Zambia is for every Zambian and we must all be free to belong to political parties of our choice and exercise our democratic rights.”

He observed that the PF was panicking because they knew exactly what it meant for them to lose power in 2021.

“Truth is the PF has crippled our economy beyond comprehension and President Lungu knows this truth. The PF knows what it means for them if they lose power in 2021. This is the reason why fear and panic has entered the PF camp, unfortunately through the front door. It is human that when we are afraid, we lose all senses of analysis and reflection. Our fear paralyzes us inside out. Besides, fear has always been the driving force behind all dictators’ repression. The PF must know that the Zambian people are watching with interest. President Lungu can force himself on our people but time shall surely come for him to say good bye. It is that time the PF leadership needs to think about. What kind of legacy are you going to leave behind? What should Zambians remember the PF for? Why is it that those in PF do not care about the wrong things happening in our land?” Kapoma asked.

And Kapoma advised young PF officials to advise President Lungu appropriately, for the sake of the country.

“I know, we can not bite the same finger that feeds us but I seriously and humbly appeal to the conscious of those surrounding President Lungu. I want to appeal to the conscious of young and vibrant future leaders witlhin the PF. I want to appeal to my good friends and comrades. Antonio Mwaza, Bowman Chiloshi Lusambo, Sunday Chanda and indeed all the younger generation within PF. What will your children say you did for this country? Why allow wrong things within your party and say or do nothing about it. Why are you failing to advise the president to do the right things? Serious corruption has been exposed in the PF government but in his own wisdom, and in my view lack of wisdom, President Lungu has remained silent about it. Those eating with the president have rubished the report, worse off threatening those who carried out the investigation. This is a strange and unfortunate way of handling issues of this magnitude,” stated Kapoma.

“I remind the PF that the hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people returns to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. We can be mistreated now but it really is only a matter of time before Karma does what she knows best. PF can stop the UPND, NDC, NAREP, UPP, EEP, DP, MMD and indeed any other political party. They can stop Hakainde Hichilema, Chishimba Kambwili, Harry Kalaba and yes they can stop Chilufya Tayali and the smooth spoken Elias Chipimo but the wishes and aspirations of our people can not be stopped. Zambia rise up and fight for your rights, safeguard our democracy.”