By PASSY HAACHIZO –

. HICHILEMA

LEADING opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has been challenged to refute a telephone conversation in which he is alleged to have censured a traditional leader in Southern Province for welcoming Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama and speaking to him in ci-Bemba.
The sources alleged that the leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Mr Hichilema had a telephone conversation with Chieftainess Choongo of the Tonga people of Southern Province where he admonished her for welcoming Mr Chama.
The highly-placed sources described Mr Hichilema’s admonishing of the traditional ruler as shameful calling his actions tribal just because Mr Chama and the royal highness conversed in ci-Bemba for a long time.
“In a telephone conversation with the chief, the opposition leader said it was shameful for chiefs in Southern Province to allow Mr Chama to tour the province and worse still to talk to him in ci-Bemba,“  the message received reads in part.
The sources also accused Mr Hichilema of having labelled the chiefs who entertained Mr Chama as a let down.
“The sources said Mr Hichilema told the chiefs that it was shameful for them to be entertaining Mr Chama and talk with him in ci-Bemba  while his  friends in North-Western Province were warming up to support him.
But UPND secretary general, Stephen Katuka refuted the allegations and described them as misplaced.
Mr Katuka said there was no need to refute something that did not happen as it was common for mud to be thrown at every formidable party.
“I don’t think it is right to throw mud on an innocent man, in fact Mr Hichilema is a linguist who takes time to learn all the seven languages and uses them at every public fora,” Mr Katuka said.
He said it was not new for the UPND president to be accused of anything and advised other politicians to find ways of bringing peace instead of using propaganda to win popularity.