By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean Tembo says the increasing levels of desperation by the ruling Patriotic Front party Government ahead of the August polls is regrettable.
Mr Tembo says the acts of desperation have largely manifested themselves through the use of state media institutions such as ZNBC, Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia to malign political opponents.
“ Instead of using these taxpayer-funded institutions to share the visions and manifestos of all political parties who are participating in this year’s general elections, the PF and its Government have turned state media into weapons of propaganda that are used to peddle ridicule and hate against political opponents,” he said
Mr Tembo said that the party’s comments on the issue of gays and lesbians were grossly misrepresented in the July, 21, 2021 edition of the Zambia Daily Mail Newspaper.
“We have reason to believe that this was a deliberate ploy. At no time did we say that we shall prioritize this issue if elected into office. Our position on this matter is that if elected into office, we shall put this matter to a referendum so that the Zambian people themselves can directly decide whether lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders should be de-criminalized or not,” he said.
Mr Tembo said their approach to the governance of the nation places special emphasis on the fundamental tenets of democracy.
“We are fully aware of the fact that some citizens might be violently opposed to the potential de-criminalization of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. Their views are greatly respected, hence the proposal to put this matter to a referendum so that the majority of the citizens can decide how to proceed,” he said.
Mr Tembo has since urged the media to learn how to report things accurately and not have an undue inclination for sensationalism, especially state media houses that are funded by taxpayers’ money.
