Opposition leaders who resist to work with me are only punishing Zambians – HH
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has called on the opposition serving in different roles to work with the ruling party through the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), if they are to deliver development to the people who voted for them.
Officiating at the launch of the PDU Forum yesterday, President Hichilema stated that opposition leaders such as MPs and councilors that resist to work with government are not punishing the President but the people who voted for them.
He noted that as the President of the nation, he was mandated to work with whoever the people in different constituencies and wards chose to serve them regardless of their political affiliation.
The Head of State said the opposition and the ruling party should operate as one assuring that government was open to work with whoever comes on board.
He mentioned that one of the reasons the PDU was formed was to encourage opposition leaders to partner with government and operate as one in order to deliver development to the country.
“The PDU was meant to be the positive fight. Opposition, ruling party we are one. Zambians went and voted for who they wanted, my job is to work with whoever the Zambians voted for in our constitutional democracy.”
“I’m aware that some of my colleagues in certain opposition constituencies are resisting to work with me. My message is that you are not punishing HH. You are punishing the voters that put you in office. If the kids in your constituency are sitting on the floor because you have refused to buy desks, are you a clever member of parliament? Maybe you think you are clever but not for long, time will catch up with you. Are you a clever councilor? No, in this PDU, we are one, our mission is one to deliver for the people,” noted President Hichilema.
The President further stated that he was available to listen to whoever wanted to offer solutions to the current problems facing the nation rather than negatively criticising without offering solutions.
“I have friends in the private sector who simply wrote off this tool. They said ah HH, wasting time, they write me nasty messages. I’m telling the truth, on my WhatsApp, I used to respond to some of them, but I stoped, I said responding to this guy, no he’s too negative, I said to him, say what your solutions are,” shared President Hichilema.
“I listen to a lot of opposition talk. Let us work together, let us not be negative. I read too much negativity but if we were doing things better, why didn’t this economy go down, why did we go into an energy crisis?”
President Hichilema noted that the PDU was formed to address the inadequacies that are inherent in government systems to deliver for the people.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, October 10, 2024
Mandanda
Iyoo bwafilwa ukutekwa ichalo! Have never heard of a democratic country where a president works with the opposition. Then what are the opposition opposing? Then how are they going to effect their opposition? Hichilema has failed, he doesn’t know what to do know! He wants opposition to go close to him so that he bribes them to support his bid to amend the constitution for his personal benefit! And thinks Zambians can’t think more than him! To borrow his words in 2021, before general elections, “when PF give you money (Upnd members) , just get it and chew it but don’t support them . . . “! So please opposition MPs , when Upnd gives you money , just get it and chew it, but do what is right to protect the constitution and the people of Zambia!