By Isaac Zulu
President Hakainde Hichilema’s statement that a clique of thieves have been running the country since independence is not only embarrassing but shameful to the UPND government, says Bowman Lusambo.
In an interview with Daily Revelation, Lusambo, who is Kabushi member of parliament (PF), pointed out that the statement that the Head of State recently made upon arrival from Glasgow, Scotland has dented the UPND government’s imagine and Zambia’s reputation locally and abroad.
Lusambo said the statement the President made will continue taunting President Hichilema and the UPND for the rest of time they will be in government.
He advised President Hichilema to be cautious when responding to questions from members of the press, especially when he is arriving in the country.
“Questions that are posed by journalists at the airport, especially upon the President’s arrival are difficult questions and you need to be attentive, frank and diplomatic … His response was out of proportion. The President failed to answer the question,” explained Lusambo. “The things that the President was talking about were not adding up. He started talking about things that he has been harbouring in his heart… things that he has been keeping to himself. And it’s like that presented an opportunity for him to speak out.”
Lusambo continued.
“So that statement by President Hakainde Hichilema is embarrassing and shameful to the UPND government and the President himself. It has dented the image of the UPND and the reputation of Zambia to the outside world, especially that it was coming from the Head of State. In whatever context you take it, that statement was wrong, misplaced and was made at a wrong time,” he said.
Lusambo also advised President Hakainde Hichilema to seek advice from individuals that have been in the political arena for a long time.
“The problem we currently have is at State House. President Hichilema has no political advisor at State House. He has no legal advisor at State House. The Office of the Republican President is an institution, and President Hichilema should know that he is not opposition, he is in government and he should know that he is not running privatisation. He is running the nation,” said Lusambo. “Therefore, he should not be making decisions and running the country alone… taking the ‘I know it all approach’ to governance issues.”
The Kabushi Parliamentarian charged that President Hichilema has been making a lot of mistakes since he assumed office.
“Firstly, he appointed ministers without ministries. And they came to Parliament, which was wrong. Anyway, we understand he is coming from nowhere close to the political world. He has never held any political position before becoming Head of State and so, he does not understand how government operates. When he doesn’t know what to do, let him consult the deputy President Madam Mutale Nalumango, who was in a clique of thieves government, he should consult (Felix) Mutati who served in a government of clique of thieves or Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also served in a government of a clique of thieves. I am saying this because the current President thinks that he is a saint and he is surrounded by people who served in governments with a clique of thieves. There’s no saint in this world.”
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