UKA RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’S EMERGENCY DECLARATION
01st March, 2024
We, at the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) followed with great interest President Hakainde Hichilema’s press briefing of 29th February, 2024, where he declared a national disaster due to the apparent ‘prolonged drought’ facing the nation.
While the declaration is welcome, we feel it has come ´too little too late´ and should have been declared as far back as October 2023 – which coincidentally when the cholera issue should have also been declared. All the science pointed to the fact that Zambia would inevitably find itself in this unfortunate drought predicament sooner rather than later.
We shudder to think of the consequences the adverse effects of the drought will have on the majority of poor households in Zambia that are already facing only a meal a day because of the scarce and very expensive (a 25kg bag now costs about K360 from around K100 under the previous administration) mealie meal.
This, in spite of the fact that Mr. Hichilema promised to bring down the prices of our staple maize meal to K50 but alas, this was just one of the dozens of false promises he made to win an election.
What baffles and hurts us the most, as UKA, is the fact that President Hichilema, for no particular reason aside from greed, embarked on a mission to sell more than 1.5 MILLION METRIC TONNES OF MAIZE, our staple food in the reserves to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Now, when our people need it the most, faced with the very reason why food reserves were made –a possible famine, the reserves are not available and our people are faced with a looming hunger situation.
Up to now, we cannot understand or comprehend why a responsible government would sell its emergency maize stock to a neighbouring country even amidst warnings that a drought and food shortages were looming.
We can only ask a simple question, “Mr President what where you thinking Sir?
MR HICHILEMA SOLUTIONS TO HEAL THIS ILL?
In his usual brash and ´know it all´ posture Mr Hichilema has promised to combat future droughts or calamities:
a. Through the donor begging bowl as an immediate action also finding solutions.
b. Through generating energy which has been affected by the drought.
c. Through solar energy, provide cheaper finance provide insurance for farmers and to grow winter maize.
As UKA we do not believe that those solutions are immediately impactful and are an adequate response to the declared national disaster. Going around the world like butterflies begging for food, is not a solution Mr President.
We are in an emergency situation and that requires a well thought through localised response that is immediately practical and identifiable. In an emergency situation there is need to give very detailed step by step guidelines that, all involved can immediately implement and thus avert the situation.
WHAT SOLUTIONS IS UKA OFFERING IN THIS CRISIS MOMENT
What are the immediate measures we must put in place to mitigate the effects of the looming hunger situation caused by the lack of foresight and resultant ineptitude actions of the New Dawn Government?
In the Immediate Term
- Determine how much land is available under irrigation for Commercial and Medium sized farmers. It is this land, that we need to utilise to save the nation from starvation.
- We advise that Government engages Commercial and Medium sized farmers, for a discussion. These are currently preparing their fields in readiness to grow and irrigate their wheat.
- Engage the commercial farmers and persuade them to plant maize instead.
- Offer the farmers who have irrigatable land, the following:
i. Free electricity when they agree to plant maize on behalf of the nation.
ii. Free maize seeds.
iii. Free fertiliser.
iv) Agree on a pre-planting program.The opportunity cost of not planting wheat, must be borne by Government. The farmers need to be compensated for them not planting wheat. - On livestock, all the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) must be redeployed to drilling commercial boreholes.
- These must be used for supply of water to livestock and for those people around those boreholes, to grow some food. These can include maize, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, butternuts, potatoes etc.
- While you announced that senior government officials will no Longer fly business class and travel entourages be reduced, UKA recommends that you cut on your very costly foreign trips in order to channel funds into the Agriculture Sector.
In the Medium Term
- Come to terms with the fact that Southern, Central and other such Provinces can no longer be relied upon to be the grain basket of the nation, owing to the fact that the rain-belt has shifted further North. There is therefore need to look North whether you like the people of the Northern Block or not!
- Shift resources and skills to the Northern Block and harvest maize twice a year while you plant crops that are less water dependant in the other Provinces.
- Improve farming Blocks like the Luena Farming Block in Chief Munkata’s area which has about 100,000 hectares of arable land and adequate water.
In conclusion, while, you Mr President CANCELLED the road construction contracts as well as electrification works to the Luena farming block simply because this was a project initiated by your predecessor such projects actually do offer solutions to the challenges being faced by the nation. Let us localise the solutions to these challenges facing us. We have the answers in-country.
God bless Zambia
Issued by:
Jackson Silavwe
National Council Member
UKA
Saboi Imboela
National Council Member
UKA
Opposition political leaders at work. Checks and balances taking place from these useless leaders.
HH and UPND government are miles ahead. What this group of disgruntled political jokers is proposing has already been resolved methodically. Just time wasters!
Nothing new being suggested here. The New Dawn has already put in place the measures being suggested here.
We shall overcome.
The UKA vibes, did you really listen to the national address or as usual yours was to castigate the good put in the strategy for the draught, cos you seam to be behind.
Review the Presidential video address again and see that you have just waffled with no new ideas.
Fellow readers ignore these disgruntled UKA grouping. Viva Zambia, Viva citizens, Viva New Dawn admin, Viva HH and team. This is just a phase, we’ll go past it.
Saboi Imboela should be concentrating on paying her legal bills. She’s in real trouble.
It is very unfortunate for some people who are calling themselves national leaders think. I am wondering what they intend to achieve based on how they approach issues of national importance.
Surely, though i am not an expert in this field,
1. We are talking of the national dasaster because of the fields and crops in about 84 districts that our citizens who cultivated haIt is very unfortunate for some people who are calling themselves national leaders think. I am wondering what they intend to achieve based on how they approach issues of national importance.
Surely, though i am not an expert in this field,
1. We are talking of the national dasaster because of the fields and crops in about 84 districts that our citizens who cultivated has been affected by the drought. We had some rains in i think november and decem er 2023 but starting January it has not been raining in most affected areas. Farmers who cultivated and havr their fields and crops which were good before January 2024 was not mostly affected by chorera that this uka group is anticipating to say the diclaration was supppsed to be made or announced in october 2023. By the way, did the uka people declared a disaster during corona virus when it started because they were there the likes of lungu and his friends
so that we know how they did it.
2. According to meteorological department we weee being told rains will come by 18th or 19th of January 2024 or is it February but this did not come as expected and we all looked to the creator for it to happen but God do things according to His own will and as responsible people who are called by His name – Christians we say thank yau Lord in everything be it good or bad. Only you uka can go contrary becuse of your behaviour and atiltude.
Otherwise, like your lungu and from the look of things you will not appreciate what the President of this Republic is doing you will always live in denial.
There great measures that the government has put in place and it will bear fruit. Be it meal mill you, your eating using the money you stole but you are not sharing it with the poor in society just being vocal like a bee in a tin.
You borrowed carelesly, you pocket alot of the money through corruption and inflating tender prices, you gassed Zambians, your police under kapyongo killed innocent Citizens and without shame you pretend to be saintssaints like a snake that bites innocent people. To hell you will go because you are not different from wizards.
You borrowed indalama shabeni, you failed to pay the kaloba by defaulting, you left huge local debts when you were just getting fuel from OMC without paying, you messed up the mines KCM, MOPAN and without shame you are speaking the loudest.
You Evil people who don”t repent will perish.
s been affected by the drought. We had some rains in i think november and decem er 2023 but starting January it has not been raining in most affected areas. Farmers whIt is very unfortunate for some people who are calling themselves national leaders think. I am wondering what they intend to achieve based on how they approach issues of national importance.
Surely, though i am not an expert in this field,
1. We are talking of the national dasaster because of the fields and crops in about 84 districts that our citizens who cultivated has been affected by the drought. We had some rains in i think november and decem er 2023 but starting January it has not been raining in most affected areas. Farmers who cultivated and havr their fields and crops which were good before January 2024 was not mostly affected by chorera that this uka group is anticipating to say the diclaration was supppsed to be made or announced in october 2023. By the way, did the uka people declared a disaster during corona virus when it started because they were there the likes of lungu and his friends
so that we know how they did it.
2. According to meteorological department we weee being told rains will come by 18th or 19th of January 2024 or is it February but this did not come as expected and we all looked to the creator for it to happen but God do things according to His own will and as responsible people who are called by His name – Christians we say thank yau Lord in everything be it good or bad. Only you uka can go contrary becuse of your behaviour and atiltude.
Otherwise, like your lungu and from the look of things you will not appreciate what the President of this Republic is doing you will always live in denial.
There great measures that the government has put in place and it will bear fruit. Be it meal mill you, your eating using the money you stole but you are not sharing it with the poor in society just being vocal like a bee in a tin.
You borrowed carelesly, you pocket alot of the money through corruption and inflating tender prices, you gassed Zambians, your police under kapyongo killed innocent Citizens and without shame you pretend to be saintssaints like a snake that bites innocent people. To hell you will go because you are not different from wizards.
You borrowed indalama shabeni, you failed to pay the kaloba by defaulting, you left huge local debts when you were just getting fuel from OMC without paying, you messed up the mines KCM, MOPAN and without shame you are speaking the loudest.
You Evil people who don”t repent will perish.
o cultivated and havr their fields and crops which were good before January 2024 was not mostly affected by chorera that this uka group is anticipating to say the diclaration was supppsed to be made or announced in october 2023. By the way, did the uka people declared a disaster during corona virIt is very unfortunate for some people who are calling themselves national leaders think. I am wondering what they intend to achieve based on how they approach issues of national importance.
Surely, though i am not an expert in this field,
1. We are talking of the national dasaster because of the fields and crops in about 84 districts that our citizens who cultivated has been affected by the drought. We had some rains in i think november and decem er 2023 but starting January it has not been raining in most affected areas. Farmers who cultivated and havr their fields and crops which were good before January 2024 was not mostly affected by chorera that this uka group is anticipating to say the diclaration was supppsed to be made or announced in october 2023. By the way, did the uka people declared a disaster during corona virus when it started because they were there the likes of lungu and his friends
so that we know how they did it.
2. According to meteorological department we weee being told rains will come by 18th or 19th of January 2024 or is it February but this did not come as expected and we all looked to the creator for it to happen but God do things according to His own will and as responsible people who are called by His name – Christians we say thank yau Lord in everything be it good or bad. Only you uka can go contrary becuse of your behaviour and atiltude.
Otherwise, like your lungu and from the look of things you will not appreciate what the President of this Republic is doing you will always live in denial.
There great measures that the government has put in place and it will bear fruit. Be it meal mill you, your eating using the money you stole but you are not sharing it with the poor in society just being vocal like a bee in a tin.
You borrowed carelesly, you pocket alot of the money through corruption and inflating tender prices, you gassed Zambians, your police under kapyongo killed innocent Citizens and without shame you pretend to be saintssaints like a snake that bites innocent people. To hell you will go because you are not different from wizards.
You borrowed indalama shabeni, you failed to pay the kaloba by defaulting, you left huge local debts when you were just getting fuel from OMC without paying, you messed up the mines KCM, MOPAN and without shame you are speaking the loudest.
You Evil people who don”t repent will perish.
us when it started because they were there the likes of lungu and his friends
sIt is very unfortunate for some people It is very unfortunate for some people who are calling themselves national leaders think. I am wondering what they intend to achieve baIt is very unfortunate for some people who are calling themselves national leaders think. I am wondering what they intend to achieve based on how they approach issues of national importance.
Surely, though i am not an expert in this field,
1. We are talking of the national dasaster because of the fields and crops in about 84 districts that our citizens who cultivated has been affected by the drought. We had some rains in i think november and decem er 2023 but starting January it has not been raining in most affected areas. Farmers who cultivated and havr their fields and crops which were good before January 2024 was not mostly affected by chorera that this uka group is anticipating to say the diclaration was supppsed to be made or announced in october 2023. By the way, did the uka people declared a disaster during corona virus when it started because they were there the likes of lungu and his friends
so that we know how they did it.
2. According to meteorological department we weee being told rains will come by 18th or 19th of January 2024 or is it February but this did not come as expected and we all looked to the creator for it to happen but God do things according to His own will and as responsible people who are called by His name – Christians we say thank yau Lord in everything be it good or bad. Only you uka can go contrary becuse of your behaviour and atiltude.
Otherwise, like your lungu and from the look of things you will not appreciate what the President of this Republic is doing you will always live in denial.
There great measures that the government has put in place and it will bear fruit. Be it meal mill you, your eating using the money you stole but you are not sharing it with the poor in society just being vocal like a bee in a tin.
You borrowed carelesly, you pocket alot of the money through corruption and inflating tender prices, you gassed Zambians, your police under kapyongo killed innocent Citizens and without shame you pretend to be saintssaints like a snake that bites innocent people. To hell you will go because you are not different from wizards.
You borrowed indalama shabeni, you failed to pay the kaloba by defaulting, you left huge local debts when you were just getting fuel from OMC without paying, you messed up the mines KCM, MOPAN and without shame you are speaking the loudest.
You Evil people who don”t repent will perish.
sed on how they approach issues of national importance.
Surely, though i am not an expert in this field,
1. We are talking of the national dasaster because of the fields and crops in about 84 districts that our citizens who cultivated has been affected by the drought. We had some rains in i think november and decem er 2023 but starting January it has not been raining in most affected areas. Farmers who cultivated and havr their fields and crops which were good before January 2024 was not mostly affected by chorera that this uka group is anticipating to say the diclaration was supppsed to be made or announced in october 2023. By the way, did the uka people declared a disaster during corona virus when it started because they were there the likes of lungu and his friends
so that we know how they did it.
2. According to meteorological department we weee being told rains will come by 18th or 19th of January 2024 or is it February but this did not come as expected and we all looked to the creator for it to happen but God do things according to His own will and as responsible people who are called by His name – Christians we say thank yau Lord in everything be it good or bad. Only you uka can go contrary becuse of your behaviour and atiltude.
Otherwise, like your lungu and from the look of things you will not appreciate what the President of this Republic is doing you will always live in denial.
There great measures that the government has put in place and it will bear fruit. Be it meal mill you, your eating using the money you stole but you are not sharing it with the poor in society just being vocal like a bee in a tin.
You borrowed carelesly, you pocket alot of the money through corruption and inflating tender prices, you gassed Zambians, your police under kapyongo killed innocent Citizens and without shame you pretend to be saintssaints like a snake that bites innocent people. To hell you will go because you are not different from wizards.
You borrowed indalama shabeni, you failed to pay the kaloba by defaulting, you left huge local debts when you were just getting fuel from OMC without paying, you messed up the mines KCM, MOPAN and without shame you are speaking the loudest.
You Evil people who don”t repent will perish.
who are calling themselves national leaders think. I am wondering what they intend to achieve based on how they approach issues of national importance.
Surely, though i am not an expert in this field,
1. We are talking of the national dasaster because of the fields and crops in about 84 districts that our citizens who cultivated has been affected by the drought. We had some rains in i think november and decem er 2023 but starting January it has not been raining in most affected areas. Farmers who cultivated and havr their fields and crops which were good before January 2024 was not mostly affected by chorera that this uka group is anticipating to say the diclaration was supppsed to be made or announced in october 2023. By the way, did the uka people declared a disaster during corona virus when it started because they were there the likes of lungu and his friends
so that we know how they did it.
2. According to meteorological department we weee being told rains will come by 18th or 19th of January 2024 or is it February but this did not come as expected and we all looked to the creator for it to happen but God do things according to His own will and as responsible people who are called by His name – Christians we say thank yau Lord in everything be it good or bad. Only you uka can go contrary becuse of your behaviour and atiltude.
Otherwise, like your lungu and from the look of things you will not appreciate what the President of this Republic is doing you will always live in denial.
There great measures that the government has put in place and it will bear fruit. Be it meal mill you, your eating using the money you stole but you are not sharing it with the poor in society just being vocal like a bee in a tin.
You borrowed carelesly, you pocket alot of the money through corruption and inflating tender prices, you gassed Zambians, your police under kapyongo killed innocent Citizens and without shame you pretend to be saintssaints like a snake that bites innocent people. To hell you will go because you are not different from wizards.
You borrowed indalama shabeni, you failed to pay the kaloba by defaulting, you left huge local debts when you were just getting fuel from OMC without paying, you messed up the mines KCM, MOPAN and without shame you are speaking the loudest.
You Evil people who don”t repent will perish.
o that we know how they did it.
2. According to meteorological department we weee being told rains will come by 18th or 19th of January 2024 or is it February but this did not come as expected and we all looked to the creator for it to happen but God do things according to His own will and as responsible people who are called by His name – Christians we say thank yau Lord in everything be it good or bad. Only you uka can go contrary becuse of your behaviour and atiltude.
Otherwise, like your lungu and from the look of things you will not appreciate what the President of this Republic is doing you will always live in denial.
There great measures that the government has put in place and it will bear fruit. Be it meal mill you, your eating using the money you stole but you are not sharing it with the poor in society just being vocal like a bee in a tin.
You borrowed carelesly, you pocket alot of the money through corruption and inflating tender prices, you gassed Zambians, your police under kapyongo killed innocent Citizens and without shame you pretend to be saintssaints like a snake that bites innocent people. To hell you will go because you are not different from wizards.
You borrowed indalama shabeni, you failed to pay the kaloba by defaulting, you left huge local debts when you were just getting fuel from OMC without paying, you messed up the mines KCM, MOPAN and without shame you are speaking the loudest.
You Evil people who don”t repent will perish.
Mr Silavwe, the president requested commercial farmers and thise with centre pivots to start maize irrigation now. So what solutions are you offering? Secondly all the suggestions you ve made, the president outlined them. The problem with you Silavwe is that you think you are more intelligent than anyone else! If this us your attitude, no Zambian will vote for you and Lungu is just using you like …… Emulate Fred Membe
UKA is a walking disaster, more than the drought we face.
Just look at the composition of this group.
It’s the coming together of THE MOST CORRUPT THUGS AND LADIES OF THE STREET.
A group of baboon’s
There is nothing new they are saying here. Personally, am awake, I will never vote or support these UKA power hungry leaders. They want to use us for their own life survival.
UKA is Lungu’s PF faction. So don’t expect any sensible utterances to come from that group of disgruntled, bitter and warped thinking tribalists.