By Jane Chanda
Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba says the government places more priority on foreigners than Zambians following the recent approval to export 120 megawatts of energy to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite the country’s own struggles with load shedding.
And Kalaba saif his party is open to collaborating with Tonse Alliance and Zambians who are against dishonesty, criticising the UPND as the most irresponsible government that has worsened Zambia’s poverty.
Speaking on Hot FM’s Hot Seat programme yesterday, Kalaba argued that the decision to export benefited foreigners more than Zambians, citing the example of a salon owner in Matero who cannot operate during the day due to power outages.
He said the government prioritised praise from outsiders over the needs of its citizens, and that exporting power to neighboring countries while Zambians suffer was wrong.
Kalaba said he believed the government should focus on providing relief to its people, who were struggling with high mealie-meal prices, load shedding, and hunger.
“We’re available to work with Tonse Alliance, and Zambians who have stood up against lies that have been told without shame. The UPND has been the most careless regime and has managed to make Zambia poorer than they found it,” said Kalaba.
He the government must reevaluate its priorities and stop exporting power to countries like Namibia, South Africa, and the DRC.
Kalaba further criticised the government’s economic performance, citing the lack of women in key positions and the failure to leverage Zambia’s minerals.
He charged that the government’s Constituency Development Funds (CDF) had not been effectively utilised, with most constituencies not receiving the full allocation.
Kalaba also pointed out that Zambia had a lot of resources, but what it lacked was leadership and highlighted the country’s emerald and copper resources, which he believed were not being utilised effectively.
Kalaba promised to provide duty-free vehicles and land to civil servants who worked for five years or more and vowed to sit down with mining conglomerates to re-negotiate better deals for Zambia.
Kalaba said no single constituency has received full Constituency Development Funds (CDF) and said the little portion disbursed in constituencies was shared among UPND members.
“That CDF is only on paper. CDF has not answered the challenges and is only being used as a campaign tool,” Kalaba he said.
He also said that when he was Foreign Affairs minister, he had initiated a project to build a uranium plant along the airport road, which would have generated 20,000 megawatts of power.
However, he said the project was abandoned.
“I am coming into Government next year,” remarked Kalaba, highlighting his determination to bring about change.
