Harry Kalaba
Happy Independence Day
Country Men and Women, Ladies and gentlemen,
Today October 24, 2021 marks Zambia’s 57 years of Independence. Like the many Independence Days in the past, this is a day when Zambians from all walks of life come together to celebrate the country’s attainment of its political freedom from the colonial master.
This year’s Independence Day is particularly special in the sense that it is the first independence celebration following the change of government from PF to UPND. The change in government followed the hardships that people suffered under the PF and were collectively allured by the UPND’s promise for better jobs, increased salaries for civil servants, recruitment for the unemployed youth, reduced cost of agriculture input, lower fuel prices, lower exchange rates, addressing corruption, putting an end to political violence and cadrerism among other reasons.
This celebration should therefore save as a reminder to the new government that the needs of the people are yet to be addressed. While we celebrate this important day on the country’s calendar, we should not forget the hardships that many Zambians are going through. 57 years of independence and yet the bulk of the people are still wallowing in abject poverty and can barely afford one meal a day. The price of essential commodities still remains prohibitively high for most Zambians. The country still remains polarized and defined by tribal inclination and patronage.
While we are alive to the fact that the story of Zambia’s independence was written with the blood of those who sacrificed their all through Cha Cha Cha, by the donations of livestock to fund the liberation struggle by those who saw it fit to change the status quo and by the tenacity of those who stood for the truth without betraying the trust and confidence of the masses that were calling for black majority rule. This independence should therefore should not be taken for granted and any well-meaning leader must do their utmost best to ensure that the nation remains united.
I remain resolved in m y mind and heart that, that which unites us as a nation is greater than that which seeks to divide us. We should therefore make a commitment to look at the good in each other and ensure that we work towards creating harmony for the good of the nation. The DP is committed to foster unity and prevail over every divisive individual and parties that are keen on dividing the nation. We remain committed to our One Zambia One Nation motto and beyond that, we are calling upon each citizen to set aside their personal differences on this day and seek to create peace for the good of the nation.
On this 57th Anniversary, we would to remind the leadership of the need to guarantee People’s rights and freedom of movement. We also are looking to see the Public Order Act revised in line with the commitments that the Republican President made during his inaugural opening of the National Assembly.
I want to reassure the Zambian people that the DP will continue to play its role of providing checks and balances to the government of the day and our engagement will be measured and accretive. For those who feel embattled and left out, be assured that you have an ally in the DP and together we will raise the standard of this nation. Happy 57th Anniversary Zambia!!!
God Bless You and God Bless Zambia
Let’s Believe Again!!!
Harry Kalaba
DP President