By Isaac Zulu
The UPND came into power by false pretenses, Emmanuel Mwamba has charged.
Speaking when he featured on Radio Phoenix Friday edition of “Let the People Talk” programme, Mwamba, who is immediate past Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, said that while in opposition the UPND leadership promised to reduce the price of fuel and electricity tariffs, but now that they have formed government; the UPND administration is failing to honour the pledges it made during campaigns prior to the August 12 general election.
Mwamba charged that it is hypocrisy and immoral for politicians to lie to the people of Zambia just because they want to ascend to power.
He said there is need to change this narrative and ensure that morality takes centre stage in the governance of the country.
“The UPND lied to the people of Zambia that they will reduce the price of fertilizer, fuel and electricity tariffs. But today they have increased the pump price of fuel and the price of fertilizer has not been reduced. They promised to ensure that the Kwacha will appreciate the same day that President Hakainde Hichilema will be sworn in as Republican President. But that is not what is happening. Simply put, the UPND came into power by false pretenses. They lied to the Zambian people in order to ascend to power,” said Mwamba. “That in itself is hypocrisy and immoral. That is the issue with me. And we need to begin changing this so that morality takes centre stage in our governance system.”
He urged President Hakainde Hichilema to apologise to the Zambian people for lying to them.
“There’s no harm in the President to apologise to the Zambian people. Let him say sorry for lying to them,” said Amb Mwamba.
He also reminded President Hakainde Hichilema that he promised to depoliticise the civil service, saying what the Head of State is currently doing is the complete opposite.
“President Hakainde Hichilema is on record of having condemned the appointment of political party cadres to the civil service. And his argument has been that giving positions in the civil service to political party officials would compromise the civil service,” explained Ambassador Mwamba. “But what we are seeing today is the complete opposite. The President has appointed Patrick Mucheleka as permanent secretary at Cabinet Office for special duties, Josephs Akafumba as PS home affairs and Thabo Kawana has been appointed as director – spokesperson at the ministry of information and media. That position never existed when I was permanent secretary at that ministry. That is a breach. You need to seek Treasury authority before creating a position in a government ministry. The appointment of Thabo Kawana is a serious anomaly. And I hope someone can challenge that in Court. If the President wanted to reward these political party officials, he should have given them ministrial positions.”
Amb Mwamba further said that he is ready to take up the position of party president of the PF.
He disclosed that his name has been floated by some of the PF members, adding that he is ready to “even serve in any position. I am available to serve my country in any capacity. Having worked in the civil service for 20 years, I think I have what it takes.”
