By Esther Chisola
Opposition Zambia Must Prosper leader Kelvin Bwalya Fube has thanked God for giving President Hakainde Hichilema an opportunity to rule the country so that Zambians can judge for themselves why he was rejected five times.
And Fube said the treason charge President Hichilema obtained a nolle for was a legitimate case, adding that he never saw the importance of a head of state’s security.
In an interview with Daily Revelation over the weekend, Fube said his party was coming up with measures to ensure what he termed as the “bad leadership” of President Hichimema was not allowed to go beyond 2026.
“I think Zambians have seen the kind of leadership that President Hakainde Hichilema is able to offer,” Fube said. “First of all, I thank God. I really, really thank God that he gave Hakainde Hichilema this opportunity. This is a man who the Zambians rejected five times. Five presidential bids, Zambians said No! No! No!”
Fube also said the 2021 UPND victory was aimed at educating President Hichilema on the importance of the head of state’s security.
“He went on the ballot for the sixth time, he was coming out of Mukobeko as a prisoner. A nolle was entered [for] him for a very legitimate case, I must add,” Fube said. “Because now that he is in power, he has seen why it is important for the road to be cleared when a President is travelling. What he did was wrong. And he knows it now because he has been educated. That time, he was just politicking. Now he knows, because if he doesn’t know, why does he stop us so that his motorcade passes? He has now realised the importance of security of the Head of State.”
Fube said Zambia did not have any prospect for success with President Hichilema in office.
“We have no future. Unfortunately for him, all he wanted was the legacy that he was President of Zambia once. And I’m very glad the Zambians gave him that chance. I don’t have any iota thinking that Hakainde Hichilema has any plans or any economic vision,” he said.
Fube said the UPND was not going anywhere beyond 2026.
“These people are sinking. They can see red lights flashing. They can hear the thunder coming under Zambia Must Prosper. I know how to run elections; I know how to win elections,” Fube bragged. “And the first thing we have to do is streamline the ECZ. How we are going to do that, I may not discuss it. Once we streamline the ECZ and rules become clear and fair, there is no way UPND can win. We have gone round this country, we know what the feelings of the people are and we are coming up with strategies to ensure that we protect the vote. And we shall protect it.”
Fube said the economic hardships under the UPND would make it difficult for them to retain power in 2026.
“We are coming up with measures. There is no way, with this kind of economy, with this kind of bad leadership, Hakainde Hichilema can be allowed to go beyond 2026; that I can promise you,” said Fube. “There is no way. That’s how confident we are. And with the alliances that we are going to build very soon, you will see the gravitation of the wind. Wind of change has begun blowing. Hakainde Hichilema knows, that is why he is grasping strolls in running water. That is why he is bringing all these finished politicians together.”
