THERE’S NOTHING TO ENJOY
…UPND shouldn’t get excited and go to sleep, warns Musenge
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
MWENYA Musenge has warned the UPND not to “sleep or get excited that we have won” so it is time to enjoy.
He says there is nothing to enjoy at all.
Musenge also warns that the Copperbelt Province is a very dicey province that needs the attention of the ruling party if it has to have an easy sailing in 2026.
He told The Mast that roads in Kitwe, Ndola and other mining towns need to be worked on before 2026 elections.
“We want our colleagues to succeed. So they should not go to sleep. They should not rest and the members should not get excited that we have won, it’s time now to enjoy,” the former NDC president said. “There is nothing to enjoy at all. It is important that they get down to work and one of the first important issue is for them to embrace every Zambian. It is my prayer that in future the President Hakainde Hichilema will consider what our founding father Dr Kenneth Kaunda used to do where he would circulate ministers to go and work in other provinces especially provincial ministers such as a Southern Province minister goes to work in Northern and one from Western goes to work in Eastern so that we try to reunite ourselves beyond ethnic barriers.”
On roads, Musenge, a former Copperbelt minister, appealed to Minister of Infrastructure and Urban Development Charles Milupi to work on various road networks in the area.
“Copperbelt is a very dicey area and as we speak
there are areas where people voted in the manner that they did and there are issues that I want them (UPND) to work on before the end of this term. The Ndola-Mufurila road needs to be worked on. The Luanshya-Masangano road; the Chingola-Chililabombwe-Kasumbalesa road; the Ndola-Luanshya road; the Mufulira-Mukambo Pedicle road up to Luchinga in Luapula Province – that is Puta-Chiengi road must be worked on. These roads if not delivered this term, the UPND will have difficulties,” he warned. “The people will not accept because where we have reached as a nation, people would like to see development. These roads if they can be worked on then Copperbelt in 2026 will be a walkover by the UPND.”
Musenge said in Kitwe residents were filling up potholes on Chibuluma road with construction waste blocks.
He said roads in Lusaka cannot be compared to those in Ndola and other mining towns.
Musenge described the situation as embarrassing.
And Musenge reminded Vice-President Mutale Nalumango that before she served as deputy speaker of the National Assembly as well as a cabinet minister she represented the people of Mukupa-Katandula and Kaputa.
He said those people have since independence been marginalised in terms of development.
Musenge said during the campaigns, Vice-President Nalumango promised the people of the area development.
“We want to bring these things out now and not wait until time runs out. We want when it is time for elections the UPND will just be pointing at these things,” he said. “I also want to beg the Vice-President, Nalumango on behalf of chief Mukupa Katandula, he needs help. He needs a decent accommodation. Currently he is living in squalor,” he lamented. “He was neglected despite the support he gave to the previous administration (PF). Let her (Nalumango) see how she can improve his welfare. These are things that need to be done so that people can build confidence and faith in the UPND-Alliance government.”
Musenge urged the UPND administration not to relent on its fight to arrest the corrupt and recover the money they store.
He singled out road contractors who were paid but did not do the job.
Musenge said the UPND should not listen to those that say they are being vindictive stressing that “what was stolen was people’s money.”
“There are a lot of people that sacrificed too much and are just suffering and yet a few people siphoned the money,” he said.
Musenge described President Hichilema as a 24-7 working man.
“He is always on the road. He is always running. He wants to see to it that issues are dealt with. The same working culture needs to be seen in his ministers, his executive,” said Musenge.