HICHILEMA/US ENVOY MEETING: MISSED OPPORTUNITY LOST IN OVERDRIVE SELF-PRAISE
Yesterday, Mr Hakainde Hichilema met with the United States Ambassador to Zambia, Mr. Michael Gonzales, at State House.
As expected, Mr Hichilema reverted to his usual “broken record” technique, boasting about his imagined achievements under the UPND administration.
From debt restructuring, the rule of law, job creation, and economic growth to a supposedly stronger Kwacha, Mr Hichilema sang the usual chorus and painted an overly glossy picture of Zambia today. He even declared that, for the first time, Zambia will gain more from its copper exports whilst expressing confidence in winning a second term. His facial expressions and hand gestures underscored the self-congratulatory tone of the meeting. It was self-praise in overdrive.
To an uninformed observer, Mr Hichilema’s account might suggest Zambia is a thriving paradise. But, the harsh realities on the ground tell a totally different story. Interestingly, Mr. Hichilema completely sidestepped two pressing issues previously raised by the US mission in Zambia namely, the rising cases of corruption and embezzlement in this administration, and the government’s repressive cybersecurity laws, which have muzzled freedom of expression and speech.
And going by Ambassador Gonzales’ remarks, it is no longer a secret that the US is telling Mr Hichilema that he has failed to deliver. The people who once supported and enabled his rise to office are now the ones expressing disappointment. We have been saying the same thing, but he has been dismissing it, as sheer malice, hatred, bitterness, and jealousy. If even the US, a key ally of Mr Hichilema, can voice concern, should we still be accused of bitterness, hatred, and jealousy for pointing out the same failures? Is the US ambassador also bitter, hateful, and jealous of him?
The truth cannot be hidden for too long, and the truth is that Mr Hichilema has fallen short in nearly all areas of political leadership and governance. Yet, instead of reflecting and correcting his mistakes, he continues to praise himself. He should be ashamed of self-praise. The problem with Mr Hichilema is that he is motormouthed. He is not even ashamed to keep quiet when he is being criticized for failure to perform. He goes on praising himself: kwenyu!kwenyu! kwenyu!
Clearly, there is no alternative but to remove him next year by all necessary democratic and constitutional means possible. Nafilwa. Taficila apa. Twacula pafula. Twasebana pafula. Twasekwa pafula. Umuntu nga afilwa ukubomba, kusela. Hakainde sela abena Zambia babombeko!
As he once said of others: “niba chimbwi no plan”. Perhaps now, those words have returned to him: “chimbwi uwabula plan uwacine niwe! You’re a failure. And this is just the beginning, and the worst is yet to come. Mark our words!”
It is evident that the meeting was a missed opportunity for serious engagement on matters that truly concern both Zambians and those who have been supporting him. Instead, it showcased a little emperor more preoccupied with self-praise than the urgent challenges facing the nation. Based on his performance, it’s hard to have confidence that Mr Hichilema fully grasps the implications of shifting US foreign policy or how Zambia should strategically respond.
Sadly, he appears lost in his own narrative, drifting further from the lived realities of ordinary Zambians.
Alesabaila fye day in day out. Lesa atwafwe!
Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party
Mr Fred just say you are feeling bad about this meeting.You don’t want good things to happen.All what you want to see is bad things so that you gain your political mileage.UPND is ahead bwana Fred
Since Mr. Mmembe does not want to listen to president HH and the UPND’s achievements so far due to his uncontrollable bitterness, I would advise him to read the reports by IMF, WB, Bloomberg, AfDB to mention just a few what these institutions have said about the state of the economy of Zambia currently. Once he does that, the man will surely choke with more bitterness because these institutions have said Zambia is one best best performing economies in the world, not just Africa. It is further projected to lead economic growth for the globe for the coming years as well averaging 6.5% per year. May be he should try to put aside his bitterness, then probably he will see the real picture of what is really happening in the country.
It’s a sheer waste of time responding to this failed politician.
To me, from the reckless PF borrowed heavy debt that they even defaulted because they were unable to pay, the caderism that we experienced under PF because of the break- in the rule of law, the killings and beatings that the country experienced and went through under PF was just too much to just pretend all was well. We have a breather now under UPND government under His Excillency President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA. We know about you and your PF friends about your hate. You hate HH to much but to tell you the truth there’s nothing that you can do. Zambians voted for HH and he is doing extremely well as our Republican President.
His great achievements includes,
1. Increased CDF which is doing wonders in terms of development across the Country. This is not a failure it is a great achievement. If you are mayopic and can’t see properly, better you buy spectacles so that you will be able to see.
2. Free education: many of our children who were unable to go to school because of school fees, project fees and buying uniforms only in the respective schools; today they are back in schools and numbers are absolutely high and can buy uniforms from anywhere no more monopolies, no more school fees, no more project fee. This is absolutely wonderful. It is not a failure but an achievement.
3. The meal allowances which PF under Lungu and her Uncle Nkandu Luo abolished has now been given back to public university students. A wonderful thing indeed to greatly thank the President and UPND government of, because it is helping many children from vulnerable families greatly. This is a very big achievement.
4. 20% NAPSA partial withdraw whicj has enabled many workers to do something in terms of buying plots, farms, build houses and do some businesses. A wonderful program indeed. This is an achievement not a failure.
5. Abolishment of caderism and the notorious PF thugs, the so called then commandaz and america one. There’s piece and a thigh of relieve in the Country now. Great achievement indeed.
6. Grabbing of land and plots for/from citizens by PF cadres as promoted by their then Secretary General Davis Mwila. No more of this nonsence now. The law is now very active and living to deal with such nonsense. Great achievement and job well done.
7. Tribalism and regionalism. HH has and is squarely dealing with it using the law without mercy. Despite the mothers of this evil the PF still practicing it, the law is at work.
8. Job creation. Massive jobs created in the past 3 years and 10 months more than 80,000+++ jobs have been created by thw UPND government on merit. When we add the private sector it is marvelous. Job well done Mr. President.
9. Skills trainings for the youths and empowerment programs. Ni KWENYU. great!. It is not failure, it is scoring and scoring and scoring.
10. Fighting corruption. Gresat job being done aggressively and the corrupt are crying for their own wages of sin.
11. Building plalaces for our Chief. Filechitika.
12. Increased number of scholarships and loans in universities and colleges for our youth. NI KWENYU
13. Fredom of speech and expression. You are able to bwatabwata BECAUSE of fredom of speech and expression. Compare now and during your PF time when even your POST News paper was grabbled away from you.
14. Debt restructuring. Kwenyu
Fingi ukufipenda kuti kawa. So even next year we are voting for HH and the UPND and it’s Alliance Partners.
HH IS DOING EXTREMELY WONDERFUL. Abafitala bakayimwena. NIPANO TULI
Mr. Mmembe needs hearing aids. Clearly he doesnt seem to listen to what we hear and listen to….
Mr. Fred M’membe writes a lot and tries very hard to remain relevant. I am sure in his mind he thinks that he is also a President ruling this nation.
Nothing lost, life goes on