AMERICA BASED UPND MEMBER WALKS OUT  SAYS HICHILEMA HAS BETRAYED THE PEOPLE

AMERICA BASED UPND MEMBER WALKS OUT  SAYS HICHILEMA HAS BETRAYED THE PEOPLE
.. George N Mtonga Cites Oppressive Laws

April 21, 2025

Today, I announce my decision to resign from the United Party for National Development (UPND), a party I have faithfully supported for over a decade.

For more than 10 years, I stood with UPND through its most difficult struggles and its proudest moments. I believed deeply in the party’s vision — a vision of democracy, transparency, and the protection of fundamental freedoms. I committed myself to advancing our shared ideals, defending the right of every Zambian to speak freely, and fighting for a government that would serve rather than silence its people.

I joined UPND in 2015 during a time when it represented hope for millions. We fought together for a Zambia that could embrace true democracy and reject oppression. Through victories and defeats, I remained loyal, believing that we were moving toward a freer and fairer nation.

However, the recent passage of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act of 2025 has forced me to make a difficult, but necessary decision. This law represents a fundamental betrayal of the ideals that first drew me to UPND. It curtails free expression, empowers government overreach, and threatens the very liberties we once promised to defend.

I have spent time reflecting, debating internally, and hoping for a different course. But my conscience will not allow me to remain part of a party that has chosen to forsake the principles of freedom and openness.

Dissent, I believe, is a patriotic act. Democracy cannot survive when fear replaces free thought. It is with a heavy heart, but a clear conscience, that I step away.

Leaving UPND is not an act of bitterness; it is an act of fidelity to the values that matter most to me — freedom, human dignity, and political accountability. My commitment to Zambia remains as strong as ever. I will continue to fight for the rights of every citizen, to speak up for democracy, and to hold those in power to account, regardless of party.

This is not the end of my journey. It is the reaffirmation of a greater mission:
To always stand on the side of liberty.