By Kombe Mataka
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says the PF has gone and it is not returning.
He also says he will soon lodge a complaint with acting Secretary to Cabinet Patrick Kangwa on why he was being made to work on Saturday.
President Hichilema is an Adventist.
Addressing the quasi-government institutions and statutory bodies meeting at Mulungushi International Conference Centre themed ‘Working towards a common purpose’, yesterday, President Hichilema said all appointees of various government bodies must respect the fact that the UPND was elected on the platform of change.
He said the UPND was elected by Zambians on the platform of change and that all public officers, including those that were appointed by the PF regime must respect that.
He observed that there was resistance to change by some appointees to turn from bad ways of doing things.
“You who work for these institutions you are part of this government. How are you part of this government? Because this government was elected on its vision, that is what people want. And many of you appointees were appointed by the government. Which government? This government. Even [if you were appointed by] the previous government if you stay in that position, you are appointed by this government because if we did not want to keep you, we would have removed you. Simple,” he said. “Some of you are saying ‘me I was appointed by the PF’. Baliya akale. Baliya. Takuli ifya kweba ati alebwelelapo. Akekale pesa? Natwikala akale. (They’re gone already. They’re gone. There’s nothing like he will return. Where is he going to sit? We are already in the seat). Just do your work.”
President Hichilema said the failure of the government was failure of all Zambians.
“I am listening many of you are saying, ‘Taishiba government uyu ali mu private sector, awe tatukwanishe. (This one does not know government. He is from the private sector. He will not manage to control us). Who is tamukwanishe? Mulelanda nani? (Who is not going to manage you? Who are you talking about?) You are fixing your own children. Tamukwanishe nani? ndani? (Who is not going to manage you? Who?) You are suffering, your children are suffering. Muganiza muvuta (you think you are troubling) HH, no. Me I can go away and milk my goats. I am okay. I am a villager myself. I don’t need too much. I don’t need what most of you need. I am content with milking goats but we are here to serve the people,” he said.
President Hichilema said public officers were resisting change from bad ways.
“We have gotten used to bad ways of doing things. We are resisting change. We want to continue doing that. If what we were doing was correct, how come the economy collapsed from seven per cent growth to five, to four, to three, to two, to one, to zero, to minus. By September, the economy was minus. Do you need evidence to tell you that? This way of working failed? Do you need evidence? You want more evidence? I can give you,” President Hichilema said. “We moved from a country without a debt burden in the last seven years to a country which is highly indebted. Again in the last seven years. You want more evidence? We failed to pay our suppliers in the last seven years because of the way we worked. Why do you want to continue to work in the same way? How does that help the people of Zambia? You want more evidence? Children were not in school, parents couldn’t afford. Now with the free education, the children are in school. Why should it take six months to buy desks? The money is there. CDF (Constituency Development Fund) money is there. On one hand the minister of technology is going round inspecting trade schools. Our own trade schools that are making desks, and they are showcasing on Television very nice desks but you go to the classroom kids are sitting on the floor. Mbuti kayi (what is that)?”
President Hichilema observed that there was a disjoint in the manner work was being conducted.
“Where is the disjoint? It is you sited here. It is us here. I am not exonerated. I am part of you,” he said. “After this meeting we want PS (permanent secretary) education, to meet the PS technology. To meet the PS SME (small and medium enterprises). Whoever is in charge of trade schools and move the desks in the classrooms. There will be a transaction there. The money is there. Are you conscious that you can unlock this problem? Does it matter to [Copperbelt minister Elisha] Matambo to keep banging and shouting on the Copperbelt? I am watching him. Stop banging, Matambo on the television. Go and bang in offices of the people to ensure the desks are in the classrooms. Go and make noise there,” he said.
President Hichilema said it did not need him to continue preaching on the same things for those in charge to act.
“Why should I become a preacher alone? I have decided when I retire for the second time, I will be a preacher man but I am not yet one. Save my breath, do your part. I do my part. A human body and nature is always in partnership. Two eyes partnership, left-right, two arms partnership. Two legs a partnership. Husband and wife is a partnership. That is how God designed life. No partner should be struggling alone and others are taking it businesses as usual,” the said. “They contact the UN system, ‘when is the next meeting in Kuala Lumpur?’ ‘I want to go to Kuala Lumpur’. Uyenda kucita chani ku Kuala Lumpur (What are you going to do in Kuala Lumpur). Ma desks siyalimo mu class muyenda kuti (Where are you going, there are no desks in class)? What are you going to do there? Some workshops you can attend in a virtual manner. Technology allows us to do that. There is too much travelling, consumer, expenditure. Too much travelling. We have to travel yes but only when it is necessary but let us get the desks in classrooms. Let us complete that classroom block that was left 10 years by MMD. Minister of Finance is aware. PS education where are you? So many classrooms were left uncompleted 10 years ago by the MMD and in the last seven years nothing was done to them. Let us complete those classrooms. The money has been released. Let us climb on the backs of contractors.”
President Hichilema asked boards to supervise their managements and permanent secretaries to supervise their directors.
“When we fail it is this government that would have failed,” he said. “Otherwise you will sign, if you were the President you don’t read the document you sign for a death sentence when you the President has pronounced that there will be no more death sentence. But you have signed because you have not read the document. That is what I hear has been going on in this country. If the President looks happy that day you take the document for him to sign and if he is not alert, he signs. They do that to you as PSs.”
Meanwhile, President Hichilema said he would soon complain to Kangwa for making him to work on the Saturday.
“We Christians know that when Jesus was challenged by those that wanted to fix him, to find a fault in him as his disciples were passing through the field on the Sabbath and they were hungry, started ploughing the field to get something to quench their hunger, so and then Jesus’ detractors said ‘but master, what’s up with your disciples they are working on the Sabbath? They are harvesting on the Sabbath. Jesus being who is he is said the day was made for man not man for the day. I think you can pick what I am saying there. So it is not important that we are meeting today, this Monday,” said President Hichilema. “What is important is how we are using this Monday. The content of today’s meeting is what is most important and I hope we will be able to pick the value of this meeting and agree that this day was important once we are through. It is not the day as Jesus said and I agree with him. Who can disagree with Jesus anyway! Is there someone courageous enough here to disagree with Jesus? The day was made for man and not man for the day but yet I am Christian eh…follower of Christ and sooner I will lodge a complaint to Secretary to Cabinet why you make me work on a Sabbath Day. I will raise a complaint very soon but yet I’m saying if work has to be done it shall be done on any day because if I did not go to Church on a Sabbath, I will pray.”