A renowned freedom fighter in Zimba district, Lazarous Sikawala has called for continued peace in the country this year onwards.

Mr. Sikawala says  to achieve this , Zambians should avoid hate speech and mudslinging, a situation he says is detrimental to  the country’s continued peace and harmony.

He says Zambians should this year onwards be on the alert on self centered individuals who would issue tribal remarks in 2025 by reporting them to authorities for punitive action.

In an interview with ZANIS,  Mr. Sikawala called for an immediate stop of careless talk bordering on tribalism adding that this has the potential of causing disunity in the country.

“Tribalism and hate speech is a danger to national peace and unity. Tribal politics actuate toxicity in the nation. I, therefore, discourage tribal politics and appeal to the conscience of its proponents to desist from engaging in this vice,” he stated.

Admitting that the Zambians are generally facing social-economic difficulties going by the high cost of living, unemployment, load shedding among other challenges, he advised  political players to unite and use one voice to lead the country out of the troubled waters.

Zambia has people of different colours, tribes and faiths and can not develop when people are not in harmony with one another, especially leaders who were the drivers of the nation, Mr. Sikawala said

And his counterpart Joseph Miyanda  has urged Zambians  to strive to promote peace and unity through the ‘One Zambia One Nation Motto’ introduced by first republican president, late Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.

Mr. Miyanda  who said hate speech and segregation on tribal lines should at all times be discouraged, appealed to the conscience of its proponents to desist from engaging themselves in tribalism.

 “Tribalism has the potential of tearing this nation apart. Stop these little tribal imaginations against others.

“There should be no “you are from that part of the country or that” mentality. We’re One Zambia One Nation,” he said.

 “Tribal sentiments disunite people and hamper national development in the country. People need to know that together, we can continue to hold Zambia in highest esteem without necessarily losing our cultural tribal identities,” he stated.

 Mr. Miyanda however, noted that some people publicly say words which are in bad faith because they are scared to lose their ‘bread and butter’ from masters.

The fourth and last quarter of 2024 was marred and characterised a debate on tribalism and corruption in Zambia resurfaced with some people accusing the New Dawn administration of being selective in the graft fight.

But Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelious Mweetwa recently vowed that the new dawn government provides equal opportunities across ethnic, religious and gender considerations.

Mr. Mweetwa, who is also Minister of Information and Media, stressed that tribal remarks being issued by politicians mostly must be condemned by all well-meaning Zambians.