3 YEARS OF UPND IN OFFICE, A DANGEROUS PATH TO GOVERNANCE – KALABA
Exactly three years ago today on August 12, 2021, 2.8 million Zambians voted for change of Government based on the charming and flowery promises by the UPND party then in opposition.
Three years down the line, it’s important to look back and examine whether the UPND is living up to its campaign promises.
In the area of fighting graft, two years to another potential change of Government, it has become very clear and the signs are overwhelmingly indicating that the UPND’s promise to fight and end corruption was a mere hoax.
The administration has exhibited more appetite for corruption than it has shown the will to fight the scourge.
Today, the UPND Government under President Hakainde Hichilema is awash with corruption scandals such as those witnessed at the Ministry of Health, ZAMMSA, ACC, State Chambers and the Ministry of Defense, to mention but a few. State institutions such as NAPSA and ZCCM -IH have become a subject of abuse as they have been forced into questionable deals and transactions without the oversight and approval of Parliament.
As a result, these institutions have facilitated questionable deals such as the Ndola duo carriage way, the return of VEDANTA at KCM, and now the Zambeef farm saga, among other dubious deals.
Furthermore, ACC recently confirmed that they were investigating a number of Ministers for graft, confirming concerns about how endemic and deeply rooted the scourge of corruption has become under the UPND administration. Unfortunately, all corruption suspects are still serving in their portfolios, thereby posing a risk to undermining efforts by the investigative wings.
Gravely, the recent Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) report gave startling revelations involving more than K13 billion externalisation of financial resources through suspicious transactions within a year. This is a major threat to our national resources and the UPND administration is showing no concern whatsoever.
When we review the promise to promote the rule of law, there is nothing much to talk about as the Church, LAZ, CSOs and other stakeholders have raised concern about the fast shrinking of the democratic space. The nation has continued to witness the arrest of opposition leaders with impunity. This is against Mr. Hichilema’s promise to ensure no suspect is kept in Police custody beyond 24 hrs after being arrested for bailable offenses.
Ironically, those in government who are suspected to have committed criminal activities seem to be enjoying special protection. For example, we have some of Mr. Hichilema’s right hand men who were named in the alleged abduction of the now fugitive Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Jay Banda, who have never been questioned by Police.
On the issue of tribalism, President Hichilema decried tribalism during the PF regime and promised an inclusive Government. Sadly, the last three years of the UPND administration has witnessed an alarming increase to tribal purging and regional appointments in Government, Boards and foreign service and there is no end in sight to the ugly reality of tribal discrimination.
Under the UPND administration, the economic woes have moved from bad to worse due to a clear lack of vision to turn around the economy. Empowerment efforts they promised in many sectors including mining, seem to be more in favour of foreigners at the expense of locals. Mr. Hichilema has embarked on a dangerous path to donate our land to foreign Governments including Dubai, Kenya and Rwanda. At this rate, there might not be any land left for our future generations.
Improving the living conditions of Zambians by lowering the cost of goods and services remains a distant far cry. The promise they made to reduce the cost of mealie meal to K50, fuel K12/liter, fertilizer at K250 and ending loadshedding, have all become but a mockery to the Zambian voters.
Perhaps the only thing to their credit after three years in power, is the implementation of free education, increasing the CDF quantum to more than K 30 million per constituency and the re-introduction of meal allowances in high institutions of learning.
Based on the foregoing, it’s very evident that entrusting the UPND Government with national affairs was a risk choice and results are there for everyone to see. The nation is more divided than ever before, poverty levels are on the increase and there is no end in insight to the high cost of living after three years of the UPND in power.
Harry Kalaba
President
Citizens First Party
Three years today when the new dawn UPND government came into power have actually given us great hope for today and tomorrow, the future is very bright. There is indeed light at the end of the turnel because we are already moving in the light. No more of the Dack days of PF dununa reverse and chaos.
Great success and break through but first laying down the foundation, to know exactly where we are coming from and what was there, how was it done and generally the economic and governance systems performance.
1. There was total break down of the rule of law in PF under the leadership of Edgar Chagwa Lungu. PF cadres could carelessly move on the highways and major cities roads with vehicles painted in PF and number plates only bearing ECL and no one not even the POLICE will dare to rule over them once that is done that particular officer loses his or her job. PF cadres used to move with guns clad in military attires and can shoot if so wish at anyone and nothing can happen to them. PF cadres can enter into a government office, threaten any Officer even reaching to the extent of burning both the Officer and building nothing could happen to them. PF cadres can burn Zambian legal tender ( money ) and post videos on social media while playing and stepping carelessly on money but nothing ! Nothing happened to them. Burning and playing on millions and millions of kwachas is a serious issue, but the government of Lungu was happy with it no one outside that can dare to say any word ninshi ayenda. PF cadres and leaders harrassed opposition party members in their attires and chase them from markets because of belonging to UPND. this was very tough but thank God that, that is no more today. We are free now
2. PF cadres under the instructions of their party leadership including their president encouraged their members to collect revenues from all markets and bus station in all Districts and pocketed this money which was supposed to be collected by the Local councils and help in service delivery and paying off their workers but this was not embraced by PF regime. DAY LIGHT CORRUPTION, STEALING. But today this is not the case, things have completely changed councils are now collecting levies and are able to pay their workers.
3. Civil servants used to go for some days in order or for them to get paid their monthly salaries but today civil servants are being paid on time an excellent job well done by the New Dawn government.
4. Regionalism, tribalism was being spearheading at a very fast and alarmingly rate by PF top leadership that started spreading across their areas and minds of young people like fire. Our great thanks always be to the Lord Jesus Christ for the intervention by changing the leadership of governance in Zambia because we were almost going into civil war because many tribes who were being marginalized while PF was stealing and grabbing wealth and land from these peoples regions started boiling inside themselves nowonder even Jackson Kungo was ruthlessly killed because that was at the edge of the dead end and start of bad things to come from angry sections of society. This is slowly being eraded.
5. Employment was just being spared for PF members, development also was in PF so called strong holds an ugly slogan of fools but thank God for the change today we are seeing development taking place and spreading to all parts of the country. We thank God for guiding us to bring UPND and PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema in power.
6. There was employment freeze but today we are seing a good number of our youths being employed in government and private sector in big numbers. We thank God
7. Free education which the UPND GOVERNMENT promised to Zambians’ we are seing many children going back to school because of this good policy and prudence utilisation of resources helping in realizable of this good program. We thank God.
8. Fighting corruption, the New Dawn government is fighting corruption using the same laws that are prevailing in our country and alot of progress has been made. Alot of resources and properties have been grabbed from thieves that included the PF thieves, plunderers and robberies. Being, thieves, they are fighting back using the same stollen monies, others are pretending to be sick but running away from health facilities ( sick or very ill people for that matter) while many have lost properties and money and this is the money the new dawn is using to build schools, clinics and paying for meal allowances and bursaries for university students. Absolutely very wonderful and powerful. A good and caring government in the office we have today that we always thank God for HIS child President Hakainde Hichilema.
9. The mountain debt that PF borrowed to enrich themselves and to develop selected provinces of their choice and failed to pay back hence defaulting in 2020 putting the country into junk brackets and a laughing stock but UPND have managed to negotiate the Debt restructuring deal and we are headed for a boom as a country by the grace and mercy of the Lord. This is absolutely wonderful that every well meaning Zambian should stand up and say thank you Lord for this PRESIDENT. President Hakainde Hichilema and UPND party and it’s alliance partners for the job well done.
10. In general we are now assured of tomorrow in the Lord Jesus Christ name because of the leadership that the Lord has given us.
Otherwise Mr. Kalaba you have nothing to offer, you yourself you know when you even left PF because of corruption ( intergrit is very important) nothing even that UKWA bag things can offer.
Yes we know that the cost of living is high but this is just temperal because of the repairs that are being made to the economy, this vehicle that HH is driving with his team is going to be new again very soon and every one will need to climb in it. Wait and see.
Great write up Mr/Ms Ma, Kalaba is a political failure who should be ashamed of talking about the progressive and successful UPND within three years of being in office.