By Prince Chibawah in Mansa
Sun 22 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT
CHISHIMBA Kambwili says it is impossible for any reasonable government to develop the country within the first 90 days of administration.
And Kambwili says losing the Mansa Central seat would be a tragedy for the entire PF because this time even President Michael Sata will weep.
During a live phone-in programme on Radio Yangeni in Mansa on Thursday, Kambwili, who is youth and sports minister, said only a dull person could believe that the ruling PF could fulfil all its promises within a period of 90 days.
"Surely, can you successfully complete constructing a university or hospital in 90 days? Let's try to be reasonable enough," said Kambwili.
He clarified that the issue of developing the country within the first 90 days of administration was a proverb and that it should not be taken for direct interpretation as was the present scenario.
"Unless if one is dull; can (he or she) reasonably think that this country can be developed within the first 90 days or two years of administration. That was just a political slogan. It was part of our party campaign strategies," Kambwili said.
Kambwili, however, said the government had made tremendous developmental achievements in its two years in power.
"There are so many developments taking place countrywide. We have just facilitated a contract which will see 650 health centres constructed in all the ten provinces of Zambia. And to be precise, Luapula Province will have a share of about 50."
He said the increased salary scale for public service workers was unprecedented development that the government had scored.
"Imagine the lowest paid civil servant will now be getting K3,000. Now which government has ever made such an increment?" Kambwili asked.
Kambwili added that the government had also recruited 5,900 new teachers countrywide.
"My PF government is not only concentrating on a single sector. We are constructing new infrastructure, rehabilitating old structures, we're also creating job opportunities and so on. Even the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, I challenged him, when he was busy fabricating on UNZA Radio that he could create jobs for all the youths in the country within 90 days. I asked him how? But he failed to respond," Kambwili added.
He said it was unfortunate that the opposition was succeeding in what he termed misinforming the general public on the government's developmental will.
"Yes, I can admit that some of our deputy ministers and MPs are reluctant when it comes to explaining the government polices to their respected people and I want to challenge them for that," Kambwili added.
He expressed optimism that the government could sustainably develop the country in ten years time.
"By 2016, most of the developments will be tangibly recorded but the issue of fulfilling all the developmental promises, we need about 10 years," he said.
And addressing the PF leadership at Mansa Lodge on Thursday, Kambwili said the Mansa Central seat was a must-win for the party.
"I can assure you that losing this by-election will be a tragedy for the entire PF. Believe you me, we will weep," said Kambwili, who is also PF national youth chairman.
Kambwili added that the PF was anchored on Luapula, Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces and that allowing the opposition to scoop the forthcoming Mansa Central by-election was unthinkable.
Kambwili, who noted Luapula Province as being a cardinal factor for the PF's strength, urged the local party leadership to remain united and foster teamwork.
"The PF's progress lies in this area (Mansa) because the entire Luapula Province gave us 99.9 per cent of the total votes. So my colleagues, let us work hard because should we fail to retain the Mansa Central seat, I am sure this time even President Sata will weep," he added.
He said the PF national leadership would be more careful when adopting a candidate for the seat.
He said candidature adoption had always being a difficult stage resulting in the ruling party losing certain seats in some areas.
"We have lost some seats because of the very stage. Somehow it appears like a source of confusion. Even here in Mansa, when that time comes, you will experience a similar thing. Some people will be frustrated because their preferred candidates will not be considered," he said.
Kambwili said the adoption of a candidate would be based on recommendations effected by local leadership.
"The national leadership will try by all means to lower its hand when it comes to adopting the candidate for Mansa Central; instead we'll make resolutions based on what you will recommend for," he added.
Kambwili further appealed to the people of Mansa Central Constituency to render the PF a second chance in order to continue with its developmental agenda for the area.
Meanwhile, Kambwili has with immediate effect suspended the selection process of applicants for youth development funds in Luapula Province due to alleged corrupt practices.
Kambwili, who was in Mansa for official duties, said he had been receiving information suggesting corrupt activities by some of those responsible for the implementation of YDF in the province.
He added that in order to enhance transparency, his ministry had engaged independent experts from Lusaka Province to evaluate the applications, including the rejected ones.
"If the reports I am receiving are factual, then I do believe some applicants were not genuinely rejected. So we shall facilitate for a reselection to ensure that the funds are accessed by only the eligible applicants," said Kambwili.
Labels: CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, MANSA DISTRICT, PF
posted by MrK @ 4:07 PM
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