By Thandiwe Ketiš Ngoma

It is both unfortunate and deeply concerning that the UPND government, through its legal apparatus, appears intent on jailing Patriotic Front Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda for simply expressing an opinion about President Hakainde Hichilema. It was an opinion that, by any fair reading, was neither tribal nor hateful.

At the center of this controversy lies a single Bemba word: “Ubututu.” In his remarks, Nakacinda said that President Hakainde Hichilema exhibited ubututu, meaning “ignorance,” in the context of governance. That expression, made during a long and wide-ranging political interview, has now been twisted by political actors into an alleged act of tribalism.

This distortion is as absurd as it is dangerous for Zambia’s democracy.

A Matter of Context and Common Sense

During his testimony on 13 November 2025 before the Magistrate Court, Raphael Nakacinda laid out, calmly and convincingly, the full context of his statement. He reminded the court that both he and President Hichilema come from Bweengwa in Monze District and that they even share family ties. How, then, could a Tonga man calling another Tonga man “ignorant” possibly be interpreted as tribal?

Nakacinda’s point was simple: he was criticizing an individual, not a tribe. “Your Honor,” he said, “it would amount to hating myself because I am from Bweengwa and I am Tonga too.”

To any reasonable observer, that is common sense. Yet instead of engaging in mature political debate, elements within the ruling party have chosen to criminalize criticism by using the courts as a tool of political retribution.

Freedom of Speech Is Not a Crime

In any functioning democracy, political discourse, especially criticism of those in power, is not only protected but necessary. Leaders, particularly presidents, are expected to face scrutiny from opposition voices. That is how governments remain accountable to the people.

To accuse a political opponent of tribalism simply because he used a common word to describe poor governance is not only disingenuous but also corrosive to the principle of free expression. If ubututu, a word that means “ignorance,” can be criminalized, then what word will be safe tomorrow?

The Irony of Weaponizing Tribe

Perhaps the most striking irony in this case is that the accusation of tribalism comes from those who claim to be champions of unity. As Nakacinda rightly observed, it is those who see tribalism in every shadow who are, in fact, perpetuating it.

To suggest that mentioning “Bweengwa” or “Tonga” in a statement automatically implies hatred is a distortion of both language and logic. Zambia’s founding ethos, “One Zambia, One Nation,” was never meant to silence identity but to celebrate diversity in unity.

A Dangerous Precedent

If political speech continues to be prosecuted on such flimsy grounds, Zambia risks setting a dangerous precedent where opposition leaders cannot speak freely without fear of arrest. Today it is Nakacinda; tomorrow it could be anyone who dares to question power.

The courts should not be turned into battlegrounds for political revenge. Their duty is to uphold justice, not to enforce the sensitivities of the ruling elite.

The attempt to jail Raphael Nakacinda over the word ubututu is not just unfortunate; it is an embarrassment to our democracy. Disagreement is not hate. Criticism is not tribalism. And calling out ignorance in leadership is not a crime.

Instead of persecuting opponents, the government would do well to reflect on the message rather than punish the messenger. Zambia deserves leadership that can withstand scrutiny, not one that hides behind court summons and emotional politics.