By Isaac Zulu
The days of “ukuselela ukwakaba” are long gone and firmly politically interred with the humiliating defeat of the corruption prone Paya Farmer, says former Luapula Province permanent secretary Major Ben Phiri.
In a statement to Daily Revelation, Maj Phiri stated that some individuals that were behind the early exist of former Republican president Rupiah Banda’s down fall and did the same to immediate past president Edgar Lungu want to stealthily craw their way into the “clean UPND administration” under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.
“I am shocked with what has of late appeared in some sections of the media reportedly quoting Dora Siliya as saying inter alia, that she would want to work with the ruling UPND. In all sincerely, there is absolutely zero credibility with such manoeuvres which are a clear manifestation that her main interest is personal gain and not service delivery. The Chipangali man [Vincent Mwale], the one from Kwacha [Joe Malanji] together with the graft prone Mansa one, all hurriedly sneaked into the PF after their ignominious defeat in the 2011 polls. Not too long ago; as recent as July this year, the same Dora was busy shouting at every occasion to all who cared to listen that Hakainde Hichilema would never become President,” recalled Major Phiri. “Supposing President Hichilema had not made it in the 12th August polls, would she have uttered the same words suggesting that she was going to support the UPND? The answer is an emphatic no!”
Major Phiri stated that the UPND is not short of upright men and women who have consistently been adherents to the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema while in opposition.
“These are the people who hastened Rupiah Banda’s exit from power and they did the same with Edgar Lungu and now they want to stealthily craw their way into the clean administration of President HH. We will not allow that to happen because as it is, we are not short of upright men and women who have consistently been adherents to the leadership of President HH while in opposition and now in the driving seat,” stated Major Phiri. “The days of “ukuselela kwakaba” are long gone and firmly politically interred with the humiliating defeat of the corruption prone Paya Farmer [Patriotic Front].”
He reminded some senior Patriotic Front members that the ruling UPND is not a party for illicit activities that characterised the PF regime, adding that President Hichilema’s government is anchored on the critical bedrock of rule of law, respect for human rights and zero tolerance to corruption.
“President Hichilema has repeatedly said, his government will be anchored on the critical bedrock of the rule of law, respect for fundamental human rights and zero tolerance for corruption. I would like Dora and all those from the defeated “Paya Farmer” party to be aware that the UPND is NOT a party for illicit activities that characterized their defeated PF in the last seven years. President Hichilema has repeatedly said, his government will be anchored on the critical bedrock of the rule of law, respect for fundamental human rights and zero tolerance for corruption. How can the likes of Dora Siliya, the man from Chipangali and the rest of the Paya Farmer remnants possibly fit in the rectitude imbued President Hichilema’s government? They did the same with Edgar Lungu and now they want to stealthily craw their way into the clean administration of President HH?,” Major Phiri wondered.
He expressed shock that the likes of former information and broadcasting minister Dora Siliya can now overtly state that they would want to work with the UPND government.
