By Mubanga Mubanga
The 4th Republic Alliance presidential candidate Kapembwa Simbao says he and his alliance partners are people of integrity.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Simbao said the 4th Republic alliance was made up of people with integrity.
“I and the team are people with integrity and are clean. Clean to the extent that, I am sure you will not find that our chairman, SC Sakwiba Sikota, has he ever been found wanting in his law practice or his business dealings? That my running mate Yusuf Dodia is of bad character and constantly cheating and manipulating his business partners,” said Simbao. “That president Chishala Kateka in her long service as an economist and chartered accountant, was ever found cooking the books or manipulating numbers against her clients? That Dr Brian Mushimba as an engineer in the many international portfolios he held was less than or that, he was ever found wanting?”
And the alliance chairman Sakwiba Sikota said what made the alliance unique was the desire by the members to support each other.
“We also had several retreats, where we opened up to each other, and candidly discussed ourselves. We got to understand each other. This has made us not a set of individuals, but a cohesive team,” said Sikota. “That cohesion and confidence in each other is what makes us the team unique from other alliances. There is a deep desire in each one of us to support each other, rather than competing against each other.”
Meanwhile, alliance vice president Yusuf Dodia said the country was not benefiting from its rich endorsement in natural resources.
He said this was due capital flight and illicit financial flows.
”Zambia is a rich country, it has vast resources, which includes minerals, precious stones and timber. Huge tracks of arable land, about 40 percent of the sub region has got water resources. Zambia is surrounded by deep neighbors which have become major trading partners,” said Dodia. “Giving Zambia …market for the export of food products, services, education and health services. Currently, Zambia is not benefiting from this due to capital flight, illicit financial flows and the brain drain on a daily basis.”
