Maravi

Hunger is the only war we have in Zambia - Sata

Hunger is the only war we have in Zambia - Sata
By Moses Kuwema in Nakonde
Sun 27 Nov. 2011, 12:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata says the biggest war that Zambia faces is hunger and unemployment. Addressing a rally to drum up support for the PF parliamentary candidate Abel Sichula at Nakonde high school grounds on Friday, President Sata said once the country sorts out the problem of unemployment, the hunger problem would equally be sorted out.

"…I have come here to show you because these people were spreading false stories that Sata will bring war, that Sata will take you people of Nakonde to Tanganyika. Now what I want to tell you is that the only war we have in Zambia is hunger and unemployment. If we sort out the problem of unemployment, then we would have sorted out the problems of hunger as well," President Sata said.

He said the PF government had never brought war in the country since attaining power contrary to speculation prior to the September 20 elections.

"I came to show you that since we took over government as PF, we have never brought any war, we have never forced you to Tanganyika, it is better we get the soil from there and bring it here. Today I have come here because people that have nothing to tell you have been spreading lies about me. They have been coming up with all sorts of stories such as Sata is sick, Sata is dead now if people say you are dead then you are lucky. I came here to show you that I am fit contrary to the stories you have been hearing, since I came here I have not sat down," said President Sata who addressed the rally for about an hour.

And President Sata urged the people of Nakonde to vote for Sichula in tomorrow's 28 by-election.

"You people here don't have water, you had Silavwe who used to speak for you but they were not listening to him. You people have got no schools, 20 years on, the road going to Mbala has not been completed and 20 years later the road going to Chitipa is not there. There is no fertiliser and most of it that comes here is sold. If you are used to suffering, it's your fault because if you don't want Abel Sichula, we can't force you," President Sata said.

He urged Sichula to ensure that most villages in the area had boreholes once he was elected as member of parliament.

President Sata also urged Sichula to work in consultation with former area member of parliament Claver Silavwe.

And former deputy minister of works and supply in the MMD regime Lameck Mangani said he was happy that most of the people who were against his move to join the PF had been proved wrong because Sata was now president.

"When I joined the PF, a lot of people were saying I think there is something wrong with Mangani, how can he join Sata? They will not go anywhere, I am happy that this time all the people who were against my move have been proved wrong because the president is Sata," said Mangani.

Meanwhile, information minister Given Lubinda said President Sata had done a lot for the country in the less 70 days he has been in office.

Lubinda said President Sata had made sure that the people were able to access medical health care for free at hospitals.

"When we came here people were telling you that the PF will not do anything but now not even 70 days has elapsed and you have seen how the president is working. He has made sure that all the children go to school because of free education. And within the short period of time he has abolished medical fee. All the children will be going to the hospital for free and all those who were saying Sata can never govern have been shamed," said Lubinda.

Earlier, when President Sata paid a courtesy call on chieftainess Nawaitwika of the Namwanga people, the chief asked the President to build a high school in the area.

Chieftainess Nawaitwika also bemoaned the delayed completion of the Nakonde district hospital.

Labels: HUNGER, MICHAEL SATA, POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT

posted by MrK @ 7:37 PM