“I CAN’T BE BOUGHT OR SOLD” – IRIS
….As she claims that HH offered her appointment to withdraw from Mwandi race
Independent parliamentary candidate for Mwandi, Iris Kaingu, has alleged that President Hakainde Hichilema personally asked her to withdraw her candidature in exchange for a future government appointment, saying she rejected the offer because of her commitment to the people of Mwandi
Addressing the nation in a video statement, Kaingu said the President had called her two months earlier and later referred to their conversation publicly. She said her position had not changed.
“My answer has not changed. My answer is still no,” Kaingu said
She further alleged that she was promised a government appointment and a role on the ruling party’s national mobilisation team if she withdrew from the race.
“You gave me a guarantee that should I withdraw my candidature… you would include me in the people that will be appointed because I’m a youth and because I’m a woman. You guaranteed that I should join the national mobilisation team,” she said.
Kaingu said she turned down what she described as a “very, very tempting offer,” insisting that leadership is about serving people rather than pursuing personal gain.
“I seek this office because of servitude. I want to be the leader that my people expect me to be, not one person that can be bought or sold,” she said.
Explaining her decision, Kaingu cited the living conditions in Mwandi, saying she could not abandon residents who continue to face serious challenges.
“For as long as the people of Mwandi consume this calibre of water, Mr. President, I say no to your offer,” she said.
She also highlighted poor access to education and healthcare.
“For as long as the children are walking more than 20 kilometres to school, Mr. President, I say no. The women in Mwandi are giving birth in oxcarts on their way to the hospital,” she added.
Kaingu argued that Mwandi deserves dedicated representation and criticised what she described as politics centred on personalities instead of development.
“The people of Mwandi need a representative, somebody to fight for them, somebody to speak on their behalf,” she said.
She further called on leaders to focus on fulfilling campaign promises rather than making new ones.
“We expected you to come to Western Province, talk about the promises that you had made in 2021 that you have failed to fulfil, not come to us and make fresh promises,” she said.
Kaingu also questioned the country’s economic progress, saying official economic indicators had not translated into improved living conditions.
“It doesn’t make economic sense to have a single-digit inflation rate but the cost of living is still very high. We have to move away from an economy of spreadsheets. It’s not translated,” she said.
©️ Kumwesu | July 31, 2026