Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu has drawn criticism for making contradictory and evasive remarks regarding the government’s role in the recent violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.
In a statement that appeared to deflect responsibility, Kunkuyu urged the public to stop blaming the government for the chaos and instead to blame unnamed individuals and political parties allegedly sponsoring the protests. Ironically, while denying government involvement, he failed to name any specific parties he claims are behind the unrest, raising concerns about credibility and transparency.
Kunkuyu also distanced the state from the violent attacks that occurred during last Thursday’s demonstrations, where some protestors were assaulted by individuals wielding panga knives.
“The government did not send people with panga knives,” he said a comment many see as an attempt to absolve the administration of responsibility without offering any accountability or investigation into who was responsible. Said Kunkuyu
In yet another controversial statement, the minister downplayed the responsibility of law enforcement during the demonstrations, claiming the police are “too busy” to manage protest crowds effectively. This raises further concerns over the government’s commitment to public safety and the right to peaceful assembly.
Political analyst Thomas Chirwa says Kunkuyu’s remarks are seen as a clear attempt to divert attention from the government’s failures while failing to offer any constructive solutions or concrete evidence to support his accusations.
