Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LUSAKA507
2009-07-17 09:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lusaka
Cable title:  

OPPOSITION PATRIOTIC FRONT FLEXES ITS MUSCLE,

Tags:  PGOV ZA 
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VZCZCXRO9981
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLS #0507/01 1980941
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 170941Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7152
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUSAKA 000507 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV ZA
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PATRIOTIC FRONT FLEXES ITS MUSCLE,
DEMONSTRATES VIEWS ON DISSENT

Classified By: Ambassador Donald Booth for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUSAKA 000507

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV ZA
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PATRIOTIC FRONT FLEXES ITS MUSCLE,
DEMONSTRATES VIEWS ON DISSENT

Classified By: Ambassador Donald Booth for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. In the wake of increased unemployment, high
rates of inflation, and economic insecurity brought about in
part by the global economic downturn, Patriotic Front (PF)
president Michael Sata's prospects for victory in the 2011
presidential elections are brighter than ever before,
particularly given PF's recent alliance with the other major
opposition party, the United Party for National Development
(UPND). However, Sata's approach to dissent within his own
party bodes poorly for governance prospects in any potential
Sata-led government. In one recent incident, a press
conference held by PF Youth Leader Samson Zulu ended abruptly
when PF thugs abducted Zulu and forcibly transported him to
PF headquarters where senior PF parliamentarians as well as
Sata abused and threatened him further for allegedly
insulting Sata. Video footage confirms parts of Zulu's
story, which is but one example of PF brutality against
members who have spoken out against the party. Although some
Zambians have grown wary of Sata's tactics, there are no
indications that his popularity has waned. End Summary.


2. (C) On July 9, emboff met with PF Youth Leader Samson
Zulu, who provided a transcript of his June 5th press
conference in Lusaka, during which he "condemned in the
strongest terms the violence that senior members of the PF
are perpetuating against other members of the party." Zulu
cited as an example the petrol bombing of the residence of
Mandevu constituency vice-chairman Frank Lombe and the verbal
abuse of PF parliamentarian Faustina Sinyangwe, whom PF
supporters doused with beer in punishment for her
participation in the National Constitutional Conference.
According to separate press reports, PF ruffians also
fire-bombed the home of former PF member of parliament
Saviour Chishimba when he publicly spoke out against the
party.


3. (C) Zulu also criticized the PF for failing to hold a
general conference, which according to the (unadopted) PF
constitution should be held once every five years. Zulu
noted that the party had not held a single party conference
since its inception almost nine years ago. Zulu opined that
Sata fears that such an event will culminate in amendments to
the PF constitution and his loss of power. According to
Zulu, Sata "prefers remaining the dictator he is." Over the
course of several meetings, Zulu also accused Sata of
maintaining a tight control of party funds in order to
consolidate his power within PF as well as misappropriating
party donations for his own enrichment. Zulu speculated that
Sata's undemocratic leadership of the PF party foreshadows
the high-handed, autocratic era that he would introduce to
Zambian government, if elected.


4. (C) During the course of Zulu's televised press
conference, several well-dressed PF members entered the
conference room and begin hitting Zulu. They then forcibly
removed him from the premises and, according to Zulu,
transported him to PF headquarters where they tied him to a
chair and continued to beat him. During the course of this
abduction, Zulu said, several PF parliamentarians entered the
room and joined the assault. Zulu told emboff that the
assailants, including parliamentarians Jean Kapata and Mumbi
Phiri and senior party members Paul Moonga and Geoffrey
Chumbwe, also threatened to both "cut off his legs" and take
his life. Zulu narrated that when Sata entered the room, the
PF leader pretended to rescue Zulu from the violence. Before
releasing Zulu, however, Sata berated Zulu for weakening the
party, showing ingratitude to part leaders, and putting his
(Zulu's) life in danger through his irresponsibile behavior.


5. (C) Comment: Despite Sata's criticisms of the ruling
Movement for Multiparty Democracy's (MMD) heavy-handed
treatment of perceived opponents, he himself is not known as
"King Cobra" for nothing. MMD MP and former finance minister
Magande served as Sata's deputy ministry at finance when Sata
was still in the MMD and described to emboff Sata's
management style as autocratic, mercurial, and self-centered.
Demonstrations of PF violence against its own members and
its lack of internal party democracy are poor bases on which
to build any potential government in 2011. Given the recent
alliance between PF and UPND and the tendency for Zambians to
blame their country's economic woes on President Banda, a
PF-UPND government is, for the moment, a distinct
possibility. Zulu filed a police report following his
abduction, and a police investigation is ongoing. In the
meantime, the public at large (and even the independent
media) appear unperturbed by PF tactics, and in fact seem to
consider Zulu a trouble-maker who is seeking to damage Sata
and sabotage the prospects for political change. It will be
unfortunate if the yen for political transition comes at the
cost of political and governance reform. End comment.

LUSAKA 00000507 002 OF 002


BOOTH