OPPONENTS IN MPULUNGU ARE AMATUERS AND WE WILL MEET ON THE GROUND – FREEDOM SIKAZWE
DESPITE his opponents saying he stands no chance of scooping the Mpulungu seat, former Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe says he will retain his seat based on the development he has taken to the area.
In an interview, Mr Sikazwe described his rivals of practising a style of politics meant to tarnish the image of his career.
They’re over-ambitious and arrogant,” he said. “They have resurfaced now from nowhere and want to pretend like they have been on the ground. Those are amateurs and we shall meet on the ground.” Mr Sikazwe said.He said Mpulungu is privileged to have benefited from the on-going infrastructure development under the Patriotic Front (PF) government.“I was even telling President Edgar Lungu that for me, it is not about standing to win but to work for the people and improve their welfare,” he said. “If I withdrew from the race, I don’t think there could be anyone who would have the heart for the people like me.”Mr Sikazwe said voters in
Front (PF) government.“I was even telling President Edgar Lungu that for me, it is not about standing to win but to work for the people and improve their welfare,” he said. “If I withdrew from the race, I don’t think there could be anyone who would have the heart for the people like me.”
Mr Sikazwe said voters in Mpulungu should retain him so that he can continue from where he left off.But United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate Leonard Mbao’s campaign chairperson, Justone Hamujah, is also confident of winning the seat.“Come August 12, the people of Mpulungu will decide who should represent them in Parliament,” he said. “It will be premature to start exchanging words with Mr Sikazwe when people on the ground have already told us who they want.”Democratic Party (SP) candidate Gilbert Bwali described the other contenders as non-factors who do not even have proper manifestos.
“For Mr Sikazwe I assure you that the man is finished because in 2016 he almost lost to an independent candidate [Mbao],” he said. “He has a handful of people deceiving him that he is popular but he is not.”Mr Bwali said the battle in the area is only between the UPND and his party as PF has already lost even before the elections.
Socialist Party candidate Mary Kalondo’s desire is to ensure that Mpulungu is transformed together with the rest of the country.“We want to revamp the Mpulungu Harbour, which is in a deplorable state, and create more employment with decent salaries,” Ms Kalondo said.
Ms Kalondo said there is a lot of dormant land in Mpulungu which can be used for other activities such as a sugar plantation so as to create employment for the youths and women.