By Patson Chilemba
Paul Moonga says he will produce three more children on account of the free education promise by President Hakainde Hichilema, and encouraged Zambians to likewise populate the country by stopping family planning.
And Moonga said he tells the people he is close with in UPND not to repeat some of the same mistakes PF committed, saying they are talking about forming branches in markets and bus stations.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Moonga said the young people voted for the UPND on account of promises to provide free education, among other promises, wondering how the classroom space in the country will even accommodate all the demand.
He said even if he had issues with the promise, he will comply so that his own children could also benefit.
“You can’t expect what happened in UNIP time to be done this time. Ubala bana ati ba boma bakupelekele ku sikulu (You are bearing children and expecting that the government will educate them for you)…so we will comply. Why should I pay when the government can pay for me,” Moonga said. “So go and make children, there is free education. No more family planning. Bally will fix it. Because of free education I can now produce another three children, bakapunzileko mahala (so that they too should enjoy free education). Kuli free education iwe. We can improve on the population of Zambia? There is free education.”
Moonga further dismissed assertions of rampant corruption under the PF rule, saying people are just talking about corruption but no one has been arrested thus far.
“It has been used as a weapon of mass destruction. Corruption, corruption, day in day out. Who is corruption? How many have been arrested?” Moonga asked. “It is a weapon people were using to get into office. Our colleagues promised mountains and mountains and mountains. No debt swap, civil servants are now crying foul. ‘We will increase salaries by K1500’ it’s not happening. Mealie meal (price reduction) is not happening.”
On arguments from the President’s sympathisers that he has only been in office for just over a month, Moonga argued that that still did not discount the promises made to Zambians.
“He said the same day ‘I am sworn in the Dollar will drop, Bally will fix it’. What is wrong to say K1500 will be increased (on civil servants salaries)? What’s wrong to sell the jet immediately? Do you have to settle down? Sell it. Now they are saying ah efyo chaba ichalo kanshi ifi. Baleibepafye (Now they have seen the reality of governing. They were just cheating themselves),” Moonga said. “Every time you want to go you hire a plane. It can’t be, a country like Zambia not having a jet. It’s about the office of the President, it’s not about HH.”
He said it did not help matters to condemn everything about the PF, saying they built 750 health posts across the country in 10 years, build six universities, roads and modernised airports.
“10 years of grader nochoka pa museo,” he said.
Asked if he considered working with the UPND or any other party other than the PF in future going by the norm of most politicians in this country, Moonga simply said the PF was a very big party, and rather than asking him if he would work with the others, the question should be asked to those outside PF, saying they have 63 members of parliament and were controlling the capital Lusaka at mayoral level.
But on arguments that the numbers were obtained during the previous election when PF was in power, in the same manner MMD did in 2011, Moonga said PF was the most attractive party in the country.
“Very attractive. Ichita monga ni uchi,” he said.
Moonga said he was praying for the UPND to succeed, and that those in PF will be there to “guide them because we senior.”
“I hear one young man saying he is going to form branches in markets and bus stations. So who is who? Mwaliteta is saying we are going to form branches in bus stops and markets. To do what? Ka pange ma branches mu komboni. Ba panga ma branches ba Mwaliteta (Go and establish them in the compounds),” he said.
On the PF presidency, Moonga said it will help to have someone with a sound mental capacity and able to withstand pressure.
“And must have a bit of resources. Sungauke chabe one morning ati nifuno nkala president. Uli nazingati (You can’t just wake up one morning and say you want to be president. How much money do you have)? Money is a factor,” said Moonga.
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