Maravi

UPND accuses MMD of demeaning Zambians

UPND accuses MMD of demeaning Zambians
By Mutuna Chanda in Solwezi
Monday October 13, 2008 [04:00]

UPND national management committee official Watson Lumba has said it hurts to see Zambians being reduced to be worth packets of salt. And Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) executive director Bonnie Tembo said it is doubtful that Zambia is going to hold free and fair elections on October 30.

During the Newsmakers Forum in Solwezi organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) in collaboration with the British Department for International Development last Thursday, Lumba said Zambians were worth more than the packets of salt and sugar that the MMD was distributing to them during campaigns.

“What hurts during elections is that the MMD have made you cheap,” Lumba said. “MMD thinks that you are worth a packet of salt or sugar. MMD thinks that you only eat these things when there are elections. Zambians are worth free education from Grade One up to university level.”

He said Zambians should not ask where UPND would get the money to fund its free education and health services programme.

“We know how to get the money and we are saying that when the UPND forms government, we will pay teachers and police K3.5 million each,” he said. “The K9 trillion tax that is being collected by government for this year’s budget is at less than 50 per cent compliance but we will improve the compliance of tax collection to levels of 80 per cent and we will be collecting around K16 trillion.”

Lumba also dismissed talk about UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema being inexperienced to be head of state.

“There are only three people in Zambia, it’s sad that we lost one, who can claim to have the experience of running the country because these are the only ones who have been presidents before.

Only Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Chiluba have been presidents before and these are the only ones in Zambia today who can claim to have experience,” Lumba said. “Those who claim they have experience are the reason we are in such a mess.”

And Tembo said free and fair elections were anchored on corrupt-free campaigns and the freedom to associate with the media, among other things.

“Today, it’s sad that the public media; the taxpayers media is only covering the ruling party. Where do the other political parties go? They go to independent media,” Tembo said. “The campaigns are supposed to be issue based but of the campaigns that we have seen, we have not heard what the parties will do.”
He further questioned where the political parties had sourced the money to mount expensive campaigns.

Tembo cited the mounting of billboards for presidential candidates and the MMD’s hiring of image builders for Vice-President Banda as some expensive ventures embarked on by political parties.

And Patriotic Front (PF) representative Friday Mulemfwe accused the MMD government of being selfish, that they were only interested in enriching themselves without caring about what was happening to Zambians.

“The MMD claim that they have opened mines here in Solwezi but what happens at Kansanshi is slavery,” Mulemfwe said.

“The people benefiting from Kansanshi mine are foreigners and those coming from outside the province North Western. The first beneficiaries of the mines are supposed to be from North-Western Province.

What is happening at Kansanshi is pathetic. The investors have built 42 high-cost houses fully furnished and a golf course but these are only benefitting foreigners.”

He said it was a mockery for government officials to be boasting of Kansanshi Mine.
Mulemfwe cited an example of a school in Solwezi urban centre where pupils were sitting on the floor and had ninety pupils in a classroom.

“Nowadays, it’s terrible if you don’t have money to take your child to school, that child will just rot in the house,” Mulemfwe said. “In my time, we had 19 to 20 pupils in a classroom but today you have 90 pupils in a classroom. can you blame teachers for what is happening?”

He also charged that MMD had politicians who were bent on dividing people.
“We have politicians who are bent on dividing people; some are preaching tribalism and are even threatening to expel those who do not come from the province North Western,” Mulemfwe said.

“These are the same ones who just want to come during elections and buy beer for you. When they win, they disappear to Lusaka.”

He expressed disappointment at traditional leaders who declared support for political party candidates.

However, he further said if PF wins, it would refund traditional leaders what they had paid to service the car loans that the government had given them.

He said the vehicles were not supposed to be given to the traditional leaders on loan, but that they were supposed to be bought for them because they were entitled.
Mulemfwe further said PF would improve the welfare of teachers, soldiers and police officers.

Meanwhile, MMD shunned the PFC discussion despite being invited to send a representative.

Labels: MMD, PFC, POVERTY, UPND

posted by MrK @ 8:15 PM