Zanu-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu Sunday dismissed reports that his party is attacking the new Zambian administration led by President Hakainde Hichilema.
Last week, the United Party for National Development (UPND) accused Zanu-PF of frivolous attacks on its leader over his close alliance to Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa.
However, Mpofu doused the reports alleging that Zimbabwe and Zambia continue to enjoy cordial relations.
“Guided by our President’s symbolic gestures in endorsing the will of the people in Zambia, it would be remiss for anyone to think that Zanu PF has an unexpressed sense of resentment about the outcome of Zambia’ recent plebiscite. It must be underscored that Zanu PF is a pro-democracy adherence party,” Mpofu said.
“We have no business in attacking the democratic latitudes of fellow neighbour states. We have been consistent in meeting all our diplomatic obligations with the Republic of Zambia with no bias exertions on any of Zambia’s heads of state over the years. Our seasoned political experience would never permit us to be drawn to the narrow preferential sentimentality on whoever is the President of Zambia or not,” Mpofu added.
The two countries’ relations came under threat when President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba labelled Hichilema a “sellout” earlier this year before launching another attack during the latter’s inauguration last month.
The attacks also continued on social media with some Zanu-PF fans continuously attacking Hichilema’s administration which prompted a response from Hichilema’s spokesperson, Joseph Kalimbwe.
Despite the outcry, Mpofu further stated that his party is “…loyal to the history we share with Zambia. Had it not been for Zambia we wouldn’t have gotten our independence.
“Therefore our allegiance to Zambia has deep roots in the perennial anti-colonial legacy which cannot be eroded by any change of administration in Zambia. In supporting Zambia’s current democratic transition, ZANU PF wishes to affirm its commitment to strengthening its relationship with all its traditional revolutionary constituencies in Zambia.
“This is because we are a party committed to incessantly igniting the flame of decolonisation with all progressive and anti-colonial forces in the SADC region,” Mpofu said.
