UPND will deliver, God is with us – Nalumango
By Kombe Mataka
VICE-PRESIDENT Mutale Nalumango says the UPND will deliver on all its promises because God is with it.
During the Vice-President’s Question Time in the House yesterday, Nakonde PF member of parliament Lukas Simumba asked if the UPND would apologise to Zambians for not fulfilling its many campaign promises so that citizens are made aware that the said promises would never be fulfilled.
Simumba cited failure by the government to reduce the price of mealie meal to K50 and fertiliser to K250 and failure to sell the presidential jet (Gulfstream), which was among the many party’s campaign promises.
In response, Vice-President Nalumango said there was no need for the government to apologise because it was going to deliver on all its promises.
“All the promises are going to be fulfilled. We are nine months in office and you have seen some of the promises. We did not promise that everything will be done at once but surely there is stability even in the pricing. There is some stability there. You are talking of presidential jet? Wait. Nobody comes and says ‘now let it go’. Just hear us, that is a fact. Whatever we promised shall come to pass because God is with us. Now we are planning, this is the truth. It doesn’t matter how you feel about it. This is the truth,” she said. “The promises shall be fulfilled. That is truth. And apologise for
what? For free education we should apologise? We should apologise for decentralising? We should apologise for recruiting teachers? We should apologise for going to do Census (of population)? All those things need money and we have managed in months. It will happen.
Zambians should not listen to some friends who want to pretend that they have a way out. Why didn’t they provide the way out just a few months ago? ”
And leader of the opposition in the House Brian Mundubile said President Hakainde Hichilema had made several trips since assuming office which had raised concern among Zambians. Mundubile, who is Mporokoso PF member of parliament, recalled that President Hichilema, while in opposition, condemned his predecessor Edgar Lungu whom he nicknamed kamwendo munjila (a man ever on the move).
Mundubile noted that among the trips that President Hichilema was making
abroad, China was not one of them, a matter which he thought was urgent and an essential trip in the government’s bid to restructure its debt and secure an IMF bailout package.
He said China was Zambia’s biggest creditor.
In response, Vice-President Nalumango said Mundubile had raised too many things.
“Trying to impress who? You know the
President and this government realises the importance of China. This government has not looked down on China. We do appreciate and the President appreciates. Let me tell you that nowadays, you can be in China without flying. President Hakainde has had a talk with the
President of China [Xi Jinping],” she said. “It is among the many priorities. This is the truth and you don’t just stand and say ‘I am visiting here and there’. That is the truth. The President had a chat with the President of China. They had a very sincere talk and the Chinese, I know they, realise who we are and who you are.”
Vice-President Nalumango said the government was cognizant of China’s role in its ongoing discussions for debt restructuring.
“The honourable must know that indeed after the chat, and the interaction at different levels with the President, the Chinese arrived on board to work together with other creditors to find a solution for Zambia. They are not left off board. This is human knowledge. It was in the media. Remember Chinese even pleaded for us
that ‘support Zambia’.
How can the honourable say that…?” she asked. “Do you think they are doing that on their own? There is engagement between Zambia and China, between the President of Zambia and the President of China. So it is among the many priorities because of the status of the economy. The President is working hard.”
On the President’s travels, Vice-President Nalumango said members of parliaments should
see benefits of the trips.
“Zambian foreign policy of 2014 is anchored on economic diplomacy which aims to address the development needs of the country and various regional and global challenges with a view of maximising Zambia’s economic interests. This is achieved through international cooperation using channels such as bilateral and multilateral engagements to leverage the benefits that accrue to the country. I wish to highlight Madam that having been elected into office, under a year ago, the President of the Republic of Zambia Mr Hakainde Hichilema has undertaken various trips which have accrued the following benefits to the country…” she said before the members of parliament said she was taking long to respond to Mundubile’s question.
But in providing guidance, Speaker Nelly Mutti told members of parliament that the question by the Mundubile was equally long and the Vice-President needed to give a detailed response.
On retaking the floor, Vice-President Nalumango said, “Maybe we need yes or no because when people ask…the question started with the trips. The concern of the honourable was about the presidential trips. So I have to explain that otherwise the people there will wonder and believe the statement that the honourable has made.”
“The honourable talked of increase in
fuel prices so all those things are things that you tell the public. You want us to just swallow? I will answer the question as you have asked. I have to explain, have we gotten any benefits? It is not
kamwendo mu njila to go and dance…” said Vice-President Nalumango.