Nakacinda Accused of Racial Hatred

Patriotic Front Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda has been accused of expressing racial hatred towards Tonga people and will face trial in October.

On Monday, Lusaka Magistrate Idah Phiri said Nakacida had a case to answer for expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for persons because of race, tribe, place of origin or colour contrary to Section 70 of the Penal Code.

The prosecution alleges that in April 2022, the PF faction leader said, “‘Mulizi comwachita noma Zambian ncibyabi maningi, mwaliya senda bulya ubututu bwabutonga bulyabwine bwapela pa last kufuma ku Bweengwa nokwisa butuntumuna nokwisa fukumuna mu State House.”

In English this translates as, “‘you know what you did you Zambians is very bad, you went to pick the worst and complete ignorant of a Tonga from Bweengwa and then went to dump in State House”.

Lawyers for Nakacinda reject the claims and say they will call ten witnesses to his defence.

The opposition leader has been released on bail and will appear before the court again on October 20 2025.

The incident is a dark reminder of the tribalism and ethnic tension that was rife under the Patriotic Front. In 2021, President Hichilema campaigned with the promise to stamp out tribal hatred and return to the ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ credo of founding President Kenneth Kaunda.

Following the success of the UPND in the Mfuwe byelection last month, the UPND now has MPs in each of Zambia’s ten provinces. President Hichilema’s cabinet likewise has representatives from every corner of the country.