By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
WE will not let you scot-free, senior chief Mukuni warns the UPND government.
Mukuni disclosed that traditional leaders were encouraged by ‘whispers’ from police and army officers not to relent in speaking against the PF injustices.
Speaking when infrastructure minister Charles Milupi paid a courtesy call on him and chief Hamusonde of Bweengwa, west of Monze, on Tuesday at the Oriental Swan Hotel, Mukuni said if the UPND government starts making mistakes he with other traditional leaders would speak out.
“If you start making mistakes we will highlight those mistakes. We will not let you scot-free, no. You will hear from our concerns,” he said.
Mukuni added that he has no doubt that Milupi would not let the nation down as he aspires to ensure the nation’s infrastructure is equally shared.
“We have faith in you, we believe in you. You are well placed to deliver to the Zambian people,” he told Milupi. “In our fight we were actually encouraged by the interactions we had with the men and women in the armed forces and the police who each time we met, they would whisper to us to ‘please don’t relent, speak up’. With that we said we are safe if the army and police are telling us not to relent but keep up. That is what we were doing.”
In response, Milupi said the two traditional leaders suffered greatly under the PF as Hamusonde’s son was incarcerated for treason together with Hakainde Hichilema after the Mongu traffic incident.
He also recalled that Mukuni’s wife, Veronica, was detained for allegedly abducting the Hatembo’s.
“You suffered all sorts of innuendos and insults for doing nothing apart from speaking the truth. That is what chiefs should do not to be swayed by money. We would like to appreciate you,” Milupi said. “Now that we are in power we know that you will hold us to account on what we promised the people is truly delivered to make every woman and child feel part of Zambia. We want to revive the One Zambia One Nation motto. It is not a mere political rhetoric.”
He said President Hakainde Hichilema wants to rebuild the nation.
Milupi said despite the depleted coffers, the government still has to carry out infrastructure development.
“The PF distribution of wealth was lopsided. The RDA (Road Development Agency) CEO (George Manyele) can tabulate them. They are vast areas that were left out,” he said.
Milupi said in the last 10 years there was no tangible investment in Zambia.
He said by the time the UPND would leave office Zambians would have seen what they would have achieved against what they inherited.
Milupi also said high debt was choking the nation.
“We have not assumed power to do what our friends were doing. We are not here to enrich ourselves, but to serve Zambians,” said Milupi.
