It won’t benefit us to kill Mundubile, Makebi – Govt

The Ministry of Home Affairs has strongly rebuffed sensational claims made by opposition New Reformation Party of United Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, regarding alleged state-backed threats to their lives. Speaking in an interview addressing heightened political tensions, Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Dickson Matembo questioned the logic behind such accusations, asking what tangible benefit the government could possibly derive from harming opposition figures. The controversy erupted following a virtual campaign rally held by the NRPUP, during which Mundubile claimed that his camp bypassed scheduled campaign stops in the Southern Province to avoid orchestrated violence. Adding to the rhetoric, Makebi Zulu alleged that the ruling administration harbored intentions to provoke a crisis, declare a national disaster, and disrupt the electoral timeline. Mundubile further went as far as claiming that the region had been heavily weaponized with police deployments and snipers targeting their movement. In a swift rebuttal, Permanent Secretary Matembo challenged the opposition leaders to table concrete evidence substantiating their claims before the public. He dared them to convene a press conference and identify any specific state actors or police officers purportedly tasked with assassinating them. Matembo emphasized that the current administration under President Hakainde Hichilema prides itself on upholding democratic tenets, pointing out that opposition figures have operated freely without systematic state obstruction over the past five years. Echoing the government's stance, Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Moono Namalongo categorically refuted assertions that the province's security apparatus had been compromised or weaponized for political intimidation. Namalongo maintained that law enforcement personnel remain professionally committed to maintaining public order and ensuring a secure env