Bitter politicians insult others - Sata

Bitter politicians insult others - Sata
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Mon 02 July 2012, 13:25 CAT

BITTER politicians like Hakainde Hichilema have resorted to insulting others, says President Michael Sata. And President Sata said such politicians must be ignored because they don't know the problems Zambians face.

Opening the 48th Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola on Saturday, President Sata said the opposition should not just insult government leaders but join hands in helping alleviate the sufferings of the citizens.

"Hakainde has never been a councillor or a branch chairman. He has risen from nowhere to become a leader of a political party. Nevers Mumba has never been a councillor. I was a branch chairman in Chimwemwe (Kitwe), I was a councillor and I rose through the ranks," President Sata said. "If you hear them insult, don't answer them. All politicians whether in government or outside government must work towards creating a better Zambia for our children and not insults."

Recently, Hichilema labeled President Sata as a hyena without a plan.

President Sata urged his cabinet ministers and other senior government officials to stop boring people with long speeches and work towards turning the economy of the country around so that people could see the benefit of a change of government.

President Sata said despite Zambia being endowed with rich mineral resources, people had not seen tangible development over the past years.

"Maybe my colleagues the honorable ministers, you are not as proud as I'm proud of Zambia. South Africa, Zimbabwe they send us refined products, Coca Cola, Sprite and other drinks. But we send raw copper and we are jumping like grasshoppers that we produce copper. You are digging emeralds from poor Lamba land when the chief, the owner of the land has no water in the house and the emeralds are sold in India. These things must be worked on," he said.

"If God gave Copper or emeralds to China, there is no way a China man can come and sell emeralds here. 48 years of independence, you mean you can't find a plot where to sell copper? Let's change things and make Zambia a better place."

President Sata said majority of the people were vulnerable and statistics that Zambia was a middle income country with a stable inflation do not make sense because the kwacha as a currency had remained the weakest in the world.

President Sata said he was not happy that First Quantum Minerals (FQM), the company that sponsored his luncheon at the trade fair had pulled out of the Bwana Mukubwa mine in Ndola.

He said management of FQM must explain why they had abandoned the mine.

And President Sata challenged Zesco managing director to intensify the rural electrification project as a way of improving the lives of the people in rural areas.