GRASSROOTS WILL DEMAND ANSWERS
…UPND policies have turned country into
haven of misery and pain – Mpombo
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
STOP the huge economic bleeding facing people at the grassroots, urges former defence minister George Mpombo.
He said while the UPND promised a land of honey, Zambian lives have been turned into despire and misery coupled with pauperization of the grassroots.
Last week on arrival in Ndola President Hakainde Hichilema said 2023 is the year for the grassroots, for the people at the grassroots.
“Some of the things you may not see now, as the efforts we are making finding a solution to KCM (Konkola Copper Mines), to Mopani (Copper Mines) – I will be talking on radio, so that all the people of the Copperbelt will clearly understand. But we are making progress but you can’t see it now. You will see it shortly from now,” said President Hichilema. “I think that’s important. Some of the things that are causing trouble is suppliers to these mines who have not been paid, contractors who have not been paid. And the
resolution of these two mines will help us restore life in our small businesses on the Copperbelt. 2023 is the year for the grassroots, for the people at the grassroots. It’s a year for icipani (for the party).”
But Mpombo, a former Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament, said the people at the grassroots will demand answers why UPND ministers and MPs have abandoned them.
“The intended grassroots offensive will end as an excercise in political futility if government does not bandage the huge economic haemorrhage facing the grassroots. Presently the grassroots are groaning under an agonising burden of multidimensional poverty,” he said.
Mpombo told The Mast that political blitzkrieg (surprise attack) will severely backfire because the UPND government has dismally failed to deliver on their campaign promises through which Zambians elected them.
“The (UPND) economic policies have turned the country into a haven of despair, misery and pain,” he said.
Mpombo added that the grassroots were promised a land of abundance and prosperity.
“A land perpetually flowing with milk and honey but instead witnessing a serious erosion of their living standards and pauperization of the entire grassroots. A democratic government is supposed to harken to the cries of the people but instead they continue to charter private jets for the President to attend talking shops like the current AU summit in Ethiopia at a huge cost to the struggling and wobbling economy,” Mpombo said.
He said the grassroots would demand answers as why members of parliament and ministers have abandoned constituencies.
“Why fuel prices continue galloping, cost of living on an upswing, why presidential visits have ballooned to incredible levels, why major road construction or repairs have not commenced,” said Mpombo.