HICHILEMA ACCUSED OF HYPOCRISY AND SELECTIVE JUSTICE
….as Dr M’membe empathizes the importance of ensuring equal application of the law as a cornerstone of democracy and constitutional order
Lusaka… Monday February 10, 2025
Socialist Party (SP) leader Dr Fred M’membe has accused President Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND of promoting selective justice and stifling free speech through the regulation of digital and social media platforms.
In a statement, Dr. M’membe stated that the government’s actions were undermining democracy and eroding public trust in the country’s justice system.
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Dr. M’membe alleged that critics of President Hichilema face daily intimidation, arrests, and imprisonment on charges such as sedition, espionage, and hate speech.
He argued that these charges were often baseless and aimed at silencing political dissent.
He further accused the government of abusing law enforcement and judicial systems to suppress opposing voices.
He asserted that the government’s actions were designed to prevent political opponents and ordinary citizens from holding the President accountable.
According to Dr. M’membe, the current administration seeks to stifle public discourse and control opinions by manipulating social media platforms and enforcing draconian laws.
The Socialist Party President also accused Mr. Hichilema of hypocrisy, highlighting that the UPND had previously relied on digital platforms such as Zambian Watchdog and Koswe to criticize opponents and ascend to power.
“We are not shocked because Mr Hichilema is on record admitting how he personally spies on citizens, who engage in political expression through various social media channels such as the WhatsApp messaging application,” Dr M’membe stated.
“Mr Hichilema and the UPND’s hypocrisy is actually scandalous. How can people who rode on the back of rogue media like Zambian Watchdog and Koswe, which operated on Facebook and other digital platforms to malign and maliciously defame private citizens as a way to put the UPND in power be this ruthless and declare war against free political expression on digital and social media platforms? Why do they think they have a reserved seat to act as they wish towards others but the same should not be done to counter them? What is so special about them?”
He questioned why the same platforms were now being used to curb dissent against the ruling party.
Dr. M’membe further stated that the application of justice under the current administration was biased, with UPND members and sympathizers often escaping prosecution despite wrongdoing.
He warned that selective justice undermines the integrity of the criminal justice system and risks fostering lawlessness.
Calling for change, Dr. M’membe urged the government to uphold the principles of equality before the law and warned that history has shown that societies practicing selective justice ultimately fail.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring equal application of the law as a cornerstone of democracy and constitutional order.
HICHILEMA ACCUSED OF HYPOCRISY AND SELECTIVE JUSTICE
