REPUBLISHED: UPND TIGHTROPE WALKING “HE WHO SPARES THE ROD HATES HIS SON, BUT HE WHO LOVES HIM IS CAREFUL TO DISCIPLINE HIM.” 13 January 2023 Zambia as a diverse community, has potential both for peaceful coexistence as well as for conflict. Since Zambians cannot always agree on all matters, exercising tolerance is an acknowledgement of individual and community differences and acceptance of diverse points of view. In recent years we have seen a sudden and continuous rise of intolerance around the country, especially in political strongholds, in the form of divisive talk or threats against citizens with divergent views. Have we forgotten that Democratic societies are built on the concept of political tolerance? In a democratic society it is expected that we put up with those who do not share our political beliefs, and should respect their right to free speech, freedom of assembly, and the right for them to promote their political objectives. Sadly, the governing party – United Party for National Development (UPND) has relentlessly grumbled at the growing number of critics. UPND members loathe all who criticize this government and have conjectured that the critics are hired guns of the opposition, with the ill intention of undermining the government. These supporters convey the impression that only governing party officials and cadres should have opinions on how this country should be governed. The governing party through their President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema and their Secretary general Mr. Batuke Imenda have unleashed a spate of insults. It is worrisome to witness the intolerance being propagated by the President Hakainde Hchilema, who has on a number of occasions responded to critics by calling jokers, dull, illiterate and other demeaning words, while his Party Secretary General Batuke Imenda recently described the Archbishop of Lusaka Alick Banda as “ the Lucifer of Zambia”. One wonders, what is wrong with criticism? Or when is the right time to criticize the government and it’s governing party? Should Zambians wait for five years or ten years before they can have a say on how they are being governed? Or should we wait for the governing party to be back in opposition for it to be criticized?Must we now act like the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) who wait for politicians to leave office before they initiate corruption investigations? What happened to the assurance that the UPND party would change how politics was done in Zambia? As a matter of fact, Zambians voted for UPND because they expected this administration to be more tolerant of critics, something most Zambians did not experience during the reign of the Patriotic Front (PF). Hence, the increase in the number of people criticizing the governing party. This can be validated by the silence of many Zambians when the PF was the governing party.A number of Zambians described the 2021 general elections as a silent protest. The silence of many Zambians can be attributed to the violence that used to be unleashed on people who differed with the previous regime. It is in the interest of the UPND to grasp the fact that people tend to criticize what they love, in the concept of “Spare the rod, spoil the child”. Does it mean the UPND do not understand what made them win elections? Governance is a collective; it means all Zambian’s play their part in the running of the country. Some will govern, others will criticise those in government, when they perceive things to be going in the wrong direction. Zambians did not vote for UPND because they were convinced it had all solutions. Much of the margin of victory was due to the silent protest votes against the PF. Get in touch with us on WhatsApp +263786654620 John 8:32 "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” #zambianwhistleblower #zwb ©️ Zambian Whistleblower (ZWB).