Presidential spokesperson Amos Chanda says there is no need to apologize about a comment made by President Edgar Lungu that “6 out of 10 thieves were Bembas”
because he made a joke in his comfort zone.
“President Lungu is an Easterner and made a joke about his tribal cousins, so there was no need for him to start apologizing, his joke meant no harm and there is nothing wrong in joking as cousins,” Mr Chanda said.
Mr. Chanda said the president and the custodians of the Bemba heritage enjoyed a healthy relationship and that was evident for all to see and that if the president had made the comment about any other tribe other than the Bemba, then he would have explained himself to the nation.
He advised people trying to gain political mileage by the president’s jokes to stop because the truth was there for all to hear.
Meanwhile, United Party for National Development (UPND) Chairman for Mines and Freedom Fighter Percy Chanda says it is demeaning and shameful for president Lungu to openly call Bembas thieves.
He noted that not too long ago someone from PF called Tonga’s as Bakachema referring them to as cattle herders carelessly talking about what produced a backlash on PF through the Dundumwezi formula.
“The PF should expect the same backlash from the Bemba’s as another senior PF official insulted people from North Western Province and there was a back lash which he paid for dearly politically”, said Chanda.
Chanda further said that the statement by the head of state shows the president’s view of Bembas.
“If a person can stand up in public and insult others like what Mr. Lungu did to the Bembas. This shows the deep reflection of how he thinks and it’s a mockery of the highest degree for the same man to set up a commission of inquiry into the voting pattern when he is the one perpetuating the hatred”, said Chanda.