Government is manipulating people, says Sikwela

Government is manipulating people, says Sikwela
By Edwin Mbulo and Brina Manenga
Fri 06 May 2011, 04:00 CAT

THERE is gross manipulation of the people by the government on various issues of development, says Rev Howard Sikwela. And Rev Sikwela has advised Zambians not to be swayed by MMD's sudden enerosity through the party?s mass distribution of chitenge materials and campaign T/shirts.

In an interview on Tuesday, Rev Sikwela who is Brethren in Christ Church Copperbelt overseer said health workers were frustrated and needed motivation.

"I for one would like to commend the government for the construction of schools and hospitals, but during the commissioning we are shown linen and other things. When we go there, we find these things gone."

There is gross manipulation of the people by the government," Rev
Sikwela said.

"A bill on emoluments was withdrawn from Parliament just before the 2008 elections but soon after winning the elections President Banda signed the bill. What will stop them from bringing back the bill to sell schools after they win".

He said the clergy should not be attacked when they spoke out because their role was prophetic.

"We won't watch the government abuse people. Our schools need teachers with good text books, they need to be in classes with good teacher/pupil ratio. In hospitals, the health workers need to be motivated, that is why some nurses are harsh to patients," Rev Sikwela said.

On violence Rev Sikwela said there was no political will by the MMD to stop violence as some party members were behaving as though they were above the law.

"We shall now need to be moving with a bunch of party cards just like in the UNIP era where one could not get into a market unless with a party card.

William Banda now says the MMD would move into markets. Where are we heading to" Rev Sikwela said.

Meanwhile, PF Nchanga parliamentarian Wylbur Simuusa says Zambians should not be cheated by the government?s development propaganda.

In an interview, Simuusa said government was asking people to vote for President Rupiah Banda based on last minute development tactics.

"The MMD should know that President Rupiah Banda will not win the Zambian people's votes with his last minute developmental tactics.

It is unreasonable for the government to continue saying it has more developmental projects pending which the people of Zambia will see when the party is voted back in power," said Simuusa.

"The MMD has been in power for 20 years and the poverty levels continue to rise. The MMD has continued to accuse many PF councillors of not bringing development but they are the ones that are supposed to be funding that development as the government in power. Zambians need a new government in power because we have seen the failures of the MMD. We have allowed them to govern us for too long."