Sat, 03 Jun 2017 13:15:22 +0000
THE ranting by the shadowy group calling itself ‘‘Mau Mau of Southern Province’’, assuming it exists, that it will embark on a vicious guerrilla-style campaign to eliminate Easterners working and living in the south of the country, makes sad reading.
We say ‘‘if it exists’’ because there is no proof that the letter purported to have been authored by the group was actually written by an organised group of people with a common purpose. It could have been the work of an individual with a criminal mind who wants national attention by hiding behind a tribal theme to make a political statement.
Everything about that statement addressed to Southern Province minister Edify Hamukale stinks of the work of a cranked mind craving for publicity. The issues or the so-called demands it makes to Government bear resemblance to the product of a tribal monster, if not the work of a mentally deranged political cadre.
In fact there are no political or coherent issues the statement raises other than making treasonable threats against innocent people in a failed attempt to raise tribal tension. It is one of the worst cowardly attempts to falsely and criminally project the country as being on the brink of civil strife.
Much as the so-called Mau Mau grouping could be the work of a social media maverick, we call on the State apparatus not to take anything for granted. The authors of that document must be hunted down and made to face the full wrath of the law.
We cannot allow drunken political imbeciles to be using fliers to agitate for things they know cannot be achieved. Especially where they threaten the security of the country by trying to make citizens who have lived together for centuries rise against one another for no apparent cause. These are criminals who must be sought, found and caged.
In these days of electronic media where anybody can share their ideas with anyone through mobile phone, social media, newspapers, radio or television, the ease of communication has created an opportunity for political malcontents to pollute the media space with their filth.
Regulatory organisations such as ZICTA must be always on their toes to follow up any suspicious communication by people using the electronic media. Ordinary citizens need to be protected from criminal elements who want to disturb the peace by advocating for ideas that threaten the security of the State.
The police, too, must be proactive and swing into action to investigate people who pose danger to the security of the country, especially those who openly advocate for war. There is no grave danger to Zambia’s peace and security than anyone who can dare to threaten to eliminate people of a certain tribal orientation such as those from Eastern Province.
This is a serious matter deserving attention from the highest security command. Its intention is obvious: to cause disquiet and mistrust among citizens. This is how the Rwanda genocide started. A group of misguided individuals start making unsubstantiated claims and allegations.
Over time people begin to believe the nonsense and a seed of national strife takes root. In Rwanda’s case the security organs did not do their job or aided and abetted the conspirators through silence and inertia.
By the time government woke up to the reality that the country was on fire, it was too late. By then impunity and tribal hatred had taken the centre stare. When that point of no return is reached, no-one can stop the madness.
That is why it is important to stop the Mau Mau of Southern Province – if they do exist – in their tracks. They advocate war, so they must be neutralised by military means.
Those who want to eliminate others by the sword, must removed by the sword.
