NAKACHINDA SHOWING ZAMBIANS COURAGE TO DISCUSS UPND TABOO SUBJECTS This morning we want to advise Zambians to be careful about the way seemingly maverick individuals, such as Raphael Nakachinda, are being treated because of speaking out on subjects others are afraid to even think about. Praise singing of leaders and parroting of single view are some of the early signs that a society has moved from simple minded sycophancy to collective mediocrity, cultism and, historically, fascism. Zambia's history of "wamuyaya" is an example. First President Kenneth Kaunda was not responsible for giving it currency. It was his lieutenants and party militants who gave it religious fervour, and purveyed it by shutting out any suggestion that there could be another leader in Zambia, through all forms of intimidation. Outgoing Dictator Hakainde Hichilema is taking Zambia through the same route. Whereas KK's system relied only on "UNIP IS POWER", or the supremacy of the ruling party over government and every other institution, Outgoing Dictator Hichilema has built for himself a cult based on solid tribal backing, a party whose declared policy is to his ruling party's leadership within the tribe, hordes of online goons to troll, bully and intimidate anyone criticising him, or expressing non- conformist opinions, and anyone deemed a threat to his hold on power. In addition, Hichilema has weaponised the legal system to proscribed expression of independent opinion by use of provisions on hate speech and seditious practices. This even the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, Irene Khan, has noted in her preliminary report. Police have now become gate keepers of journalism, whose Cyber Crime Unit combs through media publications checking what critics, media, clergymen and opposition politicians have said, which they can squeeze into their own mould of seditious practices or hate speech targeted at the President's tribe or the other regions politically aligned with it. The tribal and regional base of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), so potentially decisive, is a matter that Outgoing Dictator Hichilema has refused to address because it has served his political ambitions well thus far. This matter is virtually a taboo subject for any member of this party, or the President's tribe. Raphael Nakachinda, Patriotic Front Secretary General, and also Tonse Alliance SG, is among very few Zambians with the courage to confront this subject, and others, which cowardly Zambians will not touch even with a 10-metre pole. Others who have tackled these seemingly taboo subjects are Socialist Party Leader Dr Fred M'membe, and Historian Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa. Nakachinda has, in this instance, expressed a heroic opinion on the subject of the dangerous tribal and regional orientation of the UPND,based on observable facts. Unleashing the ruling party serving current Zambia Police on him, to charge him with hate speech or seditious practices, will not change these facts. These are facts he was telling voters in Petauke Central to ponder as they prepare to vote in the by- election. But the significance of his observations goes beyond Petauke to the whole nation of Zambia. Nakachinda's courage should actually be emulated. Zambians need the courage to think independently and express their opinions freely, regardless of whether this makes Outgoing Dictator Hichilema and his tribal and regional support base squirm. Nakachinda's courage to speak his mind is the stuff of men and women who are able to keep a country from tilting into full scale dictatorship, into which Hichilema and his party seem set to turn Zambia. John 8:32 "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” God forbid. Have a good day. ©️ Zambian Whistleblower (ZWB).