By Isaac Zulu
Shiwang’andu member of parliament Stephen Kampyongo says it’s difficult for Zambians to believe President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment towards the fight against corruption when he has failed to disclose the alleged crimes allegedly committed by former president Lungu as claimed during his press conference at State House.
Addressing the media today, President Hakainde Hichilema indicated that he and former president Edgar Lungu talk but what is said to the public is different, saying “there were crimes that were committed before and conversations took place on how to treat those issues within the law.”
But Kampyongo said President Hichilema failed to disclose the conversations he has been having with former president Edgar Lungu regarding the crimes that were allegedly committed and which he has been discussing with president Lungu about saying the Head of State should have been magnanimous enough to tell the nation which crimes he was referring to during the press conference.
He said it was difficult for the Zambian people to believe that Hichilema is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the governance of the nation “because the man has assured the nation that he is committed to fighting corruption and ensure that there’s transparency and accountability in the governance system.”
He said that it would have been ideal for the Head of State to publicly disclose the crimes he was talking about in the interest of transparency.
And Kampyongo said President Hichilema should stop the tendency of curtailing the media from asking him questions during public gatherings.
Kampyongo, who is Opposition Whip in Parliament, said that President Hichilema and State House should not limit the number of journalists that should be accorded an opportunity to ask the Head of State pertinent questions on national matters.
He explained that a press conference presents an opportunity for media houses and journalists to interact with the Head of State and ask him probing questions on cardinal issues affecting the nation.
“A press conference presents an opportunity for the media fraternity to ask questions to the President and any political leader or those in the public service. I therefore find it unacceptable for State House staff and President Hakainde Hichilema to curtail journalists from asking the Head of State as many questions as possible during the Thursday press conference. Journalists should be allowed to pose probing questions to the President on pertinent issues affecting the nation,” Kampyongo explained.
The Shiwang’andu member of parliament also challenged journalists to be proactive and take those elected to political positions by asking them probing questions.
“Colleagues in the media, you should feel inferior. You need to seize opportunities and platforms such as the press conference or press briefing and interact with the Head of State. The media is the mirror of society and are the ones that are lambasted by members of the community for failing to get political leaders to account,” said Kampyongo.
