THIS ELECTION IS IN THE HANDS OF UPND: PF HAS LOST IT
The Candidates’ Comment
There is every reason to believe that the August election is very much in the hands of the opposition. This belief is not premised on personal feelings but truth. There is no secret that the years of the Patriotic Front (PF) have been a roller coaster to majority Zambians.
Of course, we have seen infrastructure development. Roads, Schools, Health posts and all sorts of developed splashed all over this country, in areas that did not know such. However true this is, at what cost has all these things been put in place? The cost of all these things which PF has done is unreasonable and unbearable for majority Zambians.
While the country is seeing new malls, new roads and all, the people who stand to benefit are struggling to withdraw benefits from the so-called development which PF sings about. The monies that have been pumped into these projects are just too gigantic. Of course, most of that money has found itself in the pockets of very few crooks within the ruling party through over pricing. This is why, while majority people are struggling everyday to make ends meet, there is a fraction of people including their sycophants who want to believe that whatever development the PF has put in place reflects the living standards of the people.
Far from it. The bread that used to cost K5 not long ago is now costing K20. If you are going to drink tea with bread for 30 days in a month, you will have to spend K600 on bread only. While this is so, there are workers in our country who get paid K900 per month. Clearly, such people cannot afford to drink tea. You cannot go into a shopping market with a K2,000 and come out with things that will sustain your family for one month. While this is so, there are workers in our country who get paid that same K2000.
In all senses one looks at it, there is real suffering in our country. Ironically, PF doesn’t want to take responsibility.
Our belief embedded in truth is that, in this election, PF is not facing a challenge from the opposition per say but from the people who are struggling to make ends meet. Consequently, the opposition is there to reap the benefits. We know that Zambians in the past have chosen leaders using songs, bustele. But we must put things into context as we try to compare where we are coming from and today. In 2011, people danced to Donchi Kubeba at the time a $1 dollar was hovering around K5. In 2016 people were able to dance to Dununa Reverse when a $1 was hovering around K9. Will people dance to ‘Edgar aleteka nafuti sorry’ now that a $1 dollar is costing K23? We do not think so.
These few basics tell more of how this election is very much in the hands of the opposition. In every 10 people you talk to throughout the country, at least 7 will admit that life is unbearable under the PF regime. Is this a party that will win the election?
Of course, the PF and its members are in denial. They are suffering from arrogance of incumbency and to a large extent, they underate the sufferings that people go through. It is understandable because most of them are rich through the same monies they acquired through overpricing of tenders. They can afford a very expensive life which most Zambians can’t afford as such, when you tell them that people are struggling, they see no sense in you.
However, while this election is very much in the hands of the opposition, how much more prepared is the opposition to grab this opportunity? How much more are they prepared to ensure that this opportunity does not slide back to the PF through their various schemes?
We urge the opposition to not celebrate a goal they have not scored yet. Let them not begin sharing positions for an election victory they have not seen. If they think PF is going to give up power easily, then they are foolish. Many elements in PF know that a loss of power in this election is a gateway to prison. Many of them are thieves, bandits, crooks who know that prison awaits them if they lose this election. Will such people willingly and easily let it go?