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| Fr. Frank Bwalya |
... Frank Bwalya Defends Hichilema’s Defense of Chipo Mwanawasa
Lusaka, Zambia – November 13, 2024
Fr. Frank Bwalya, Director-General for Media in the United Party for National Development (UPND) Presidential Support Programme, has responded to accusations from Thandiwe Kitis Ngoma, who criticized President Hakainde Hichilema’s intervention in defending Chipo Mwanawasa, the daughter of late President Levy Mwanawasa, from damaging rumors.
Ngoma’s open letter, published in The Zambian Observer on November 9, questioned Hichilema’s public remarks, which she suggested were "disrespectful" to Ms. Mwanawasa and prioritized the President's public image over her dignity.
Ngoma specifically objected to Hichilema addressing rumors regarding an alleged inappropriate relationship between him and Ms. Mwanawasa, which had been circulating on social media.
In his response, Bwalya rejected Ngoma’s accusations, calling them “baseless and unfounded.”
He defended the President’s actions as a necessary and compassionate response to what he described as “malicious rumors” falsely suggesting an inappropriate relationship between Hichilema and Ms. Mwanawasa.
“The President’s intervention was not about advancing his own image, but about protecting Ms. Mwanawasa from the harmful lies that were circulating,” Bwalya said.
He clarified that Hichilema addressed these rumors to safeguard Ms. Mwanawasa’s reputation, which had been unjustly tarnished by baseless allegations.
Bwalya also explained that the President’s public remarks were made at the Lusaka Multi-Facility Economic Zone, not at State House, as Ngoma had suggested in her letter.
“The President took the opportunity to address the rumors in a public forum to ensure that the record was set straight,” Bwalya stated.
While Ngoma argued that Hichilema’s comments “paraded” Ms. Mwanawasa in a public manner, Bwalya disagreed, emphasizing that the rumors had already thrust her into public scrutiny.
“The false allegations had already publicly implicated Ms. Mwanawasa, and the President’s statements were aimed at dispelling those falsehoods, not exposing her further,” he explained.
Bwalya also raised concerns about the underlying political motivations behind Ngoma’s criticism.
“Instead of addressing the individuals responsible for spreading these harmful rumors, Ms. Ngoma has focused on criticizing the President, who intervened to protect Ms. Mwanawasa,” he remarked.
“This appears to be an attempt to undermine the President’s leadership.”
Furthermore, Bwalya urged the public to engage in fact-based, constructive discussions about sensitive issues.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that public discourse is grounded in truth, especially when it comes to matters that could damage reputations or stir up political tension.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure that the truth prevails and that we do not contribute to the spread of misinformation,” Bwalya said.
Bwalya reaffirmed the UPND’s commitment to defending individuals against harmful rumors and misinformation, emphasizing the need for a responsible and factual approach to political discourse in Zambia.
He underscored the government's stance against the spread of damaging rumors and the importance of protecting public figures from baseless accusations.
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