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Citizens First party leader, Harry Kalaba, has joined calls urging President Hakainde Hichilema to take decisive action against Education Minister, Douglas Syakalima for alleged hate speech.
Syakalima faced criticism after reportedly referring to certain individuals as “monkeys” in comments published by a news tabloid, where he accused unnamed groups of plundering the nation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Kalaba described the remarks as divisive, insulting, and unbecoming of a senior cabinet minister.
He warned that the president’s failure to act against Syakalima would signal endorsement of such rhetoric.
“As Citizens First, we are deeply concerned with the recent remarks by Education Minister Douglas Syakalima, which undermine the integrity of his office and threaten national unity,” Kalaba said.
He criticized Syakalima for what he called “divisive rhetoric and political propaganda,” stating that such behavior was incompatible with the responsibilities of a leader tasked with overseeing the education sector.
Kalaba also condemned Syakalima’s claim that the UPND government had achieved more in three years than the late President Kenneth Kaunda did in his 27-year tenure.
He described the assertion as a disrespectful affront to Zambia’s history and Kaunda’s legacy, citing foundational achievements such as the establishment of the University Teaching Hospital, the University of Zambia, and the Kariba Dam.
Read More: Govt warns media against promoting hate speech, urges responsible journalism
“President Kaunda’s contributions to Zambia’s development and regional liberation cannot be diminished by baseless comparisons aimed at political gain,” Kalaba said.
He challenged Syakalima to substantiate the UPND government’s claims of progress, questioning their tangible achievements beyond the privatization of national assets and the rising cost of living.
Kalaba also recalled Syakalima’s earlier controversial comments labeling certain regions as suffering from a “poverty of the mind,” stating that such inflammatory language should prompt immediate disciplinary action.
“In any serious government, such behavior would warrant immediate action. We urge President Hichilema to address this matter as the integrity of the nation depends on accountable leadership,” Kalaba stated.
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