Vice President Mutale Nalumango has rejected claims that the Freemasons have been formally registered or approved to operate in Zambia, insisting that no such government authorization exists, attributing the allegations to political manoeuvring.
Ms. Nalumango said that she was not aware of any registration or official approval for Freemasonry activities in the country, and there has been no communication from any government office endorsing such activities.
She said this in the National Assembly today during the vice presidents Question time, when she responded to Nakonde Member of Parliament, Lukas Simumba, who asked how a purported “Masonic conference” held recently in Livingstone served the interests of Zambians.
Ms. Nalumango went on to dismiss criticism from certain political and civil society groups accusing government of secretly promoting controversial organizations.
“Those attacking government over this matter are doing so for political gain,” said Ms. Nalumango.
She therefore urged lawmakers and the public to focus on substantive policy debates rather than what she described as baseless rumours designed to undermine the government’s credibility.
By Margaret Mwanza
