By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
The Government has dismissed as untrue claims by the UPND that its leader, Hakainde Hichilema, was not invited to the State Funeral for Dr Kenneth Kaunda, which was held yesterday July 2 2021.
Information and broadcasting services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga said to the contrary, Mr Hichilema – along with several other political leaders were invited as per the usual standard practice with state functions.
Mr Malupenga said the claims were flying around the various social media platforms that the government of Zambia had neglected to invite the opposition political leaders, including the UNIP president, to Dr Kaunda’s State Funeral.
“Zambians were watching live on television UNIP president Bishop Trevor Mwamba and MMD’s Dr Nevers Mumba – among several others, were all in attendance at the main arena in Lusaka’s Showgrounds. This is confirmation of the bad faith with which these claims were made”.
“ The Court of Public Opinion may wish to take judicial notice that some of the political leaders complaining of non-invitation to the State Funeral have never been known to honour all invitations to various state functions, which invitations they proudly and publicly spurn,” he said.
Mr Malupenga said that the Government has continued and will continue to invite political leaders to the various state functions in line with its standard practice and procedure.
This is according to a media statement issued by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services PS Amos Malupenga.
