I do not subscribe to politics of acrimony, says Dr Chilufya
By Oliver Chisenga(The Mast)
THE notion that an opposition member of parliament cannot engage with the President in the line of duty is incorrect, says Mansa Central PF law maker Chitalu Chilufya.
On October 22, Dr Chilufya appeared at President Hakainde Hichilema’s public rally in Monze along with his PF counterparts Robert Chabinga for Mafinga and Simon Mwale for Nchelenge respectively.
This di not go well with most citizens who felt that he had effectively joined the UPND.
But Dr Chilufya who is also former health minister urged Zambians to “to reset our politics and recalibrate our collective agenda” to service delivery and poverty eradication.
He said he had not joined the UPND, but just chose to work with government.
“I do not subscribe to politics of acrimony… Ordinarily, I do not respond to malice, but I’m compelled to issue an official statement to set the record straight and put closure to the matter at hand. For the avoidance of any doubt, those spreading falsehoods must get this right: I have not defected from PF to UPND,” he said in a statement. “This is anchored on my belief that a credible opposition is crucially fundamental to any functional democracy. I am the bonafide elected Member of Parliament for Mansa Central, under the Patriotic Front party ticket. I intend to serve out my current term in this regard to the best of my ability and consciously cognisant of my absolute loyalty to people of Mansa for the privilege they gave me to serve them.”
Dr Chilufya further explained why he chose to work with government.
“Further, I am privileged to be the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Parastatal Bodies. I swore oath of allegiance to the Republican President, and the Constitution of Zambia to serve the people of Zambia, in general, and Mansa Central in particular. I will continue to work with government to serve,” Dr Chilufya said. “It is in this regard that I accepted an invitation to accompany the Republican President, in the stated portfolios, to commemorate the Jubilee Celebrations for one of the country’s most thriving local Zambian companies, the Nakambala Sugar Estate, at which many activities were launched, inter alia, the expanded outgrower scheme for sugarcane, to enhance local participation in the growth of the Zambian economy.”
Dr Chilufya said people misconstrued the context of the visit and created the perception in various social and mainstream media that he had defected to the ruling party.
“Let’s create a critical mass of leaders and engender a robust, resilient and sustainable path to prosperity for our people by translating our natural resources into wealth. Let’s embrace meritocracy; we have sufficient human capital to drive the agenda if only we agree to work as a team; let’s not frown upon intelligence and hard work,” said Dr Chilufya.
“We are one people. We are not enemies but friends. We must not be enemies; divergent views we may have but those should never create permanent walls between us; these walls must come down. We need to start talking to each other. We will provide checks and balances at any given opportunity.”