By Isaac Zulu
Petauke Independent member of parliament Emmanuel Banda popularly known as JJ says he would seize the opportunity to work with President Hakainde Hichilema if he is invited to serve in his government.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Banda said he has taken oath to pay allegiance to the Presidency and in the event the Head of State gives him an opportunity to be in a better position to help ‘perfect’ things in government, he would seize the opportunity.
“Even when Manchester United is not doing well, they buy new players so that they can perform better. In my case, I have taken oath to pay allegiance to the President. So I can accept to serve in government if given an opportunity by the President. As members of parliament, we provide checks and balances to the ruling party so that they can improve on their performance. And if I am given the opportunity to
serve in a government position, I would accept because that puts me in a better position to help government perfect things,” Banda said.
He said there were a lot of things right now which were not well which he would be of service to address, saying the Constitutional rights such as freedom of speech and assembly are being trampled upon by the Zambia Police and it is wrong for anyone to say that the UPND administration is
committed to upholding the rule of law and guarantee citizens’ Constitutional rights.
“President Hakainde Hichilema is on record of repeatedly saying that the UPND government is committed to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens’ Constitutional rights. But what is obtaining on the ground is the complete opposite. Just a few days ago, we saw the Socialist Party rally that was supposed to take place in Kitwe cancelled. We have also noticed that Socialist Party member Gabriel Banda has been detained in Police cells for five days without being taken to court. Is that respect for human rights and the upholding of the rule of law? No! We have also witnessed the arrest and detention of other opposition political party leaders on flimsy charges,” Banda said. “People’s rights are being violated with impunity, which is a clear indication that under the UPND government the democratic space is shrinking. And therefore, it is wrong for anyone to say that the UPND administration is committed to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens’ Constitutional rights.”
The Petauke Central lawmaker said that President Hichilema having been a victim of human rights violation during the Patriot Front government, should take keen interest in what is obtaining on the ground as opposed to turning a blind eye to the reality on the ground.
“In the 2021 campaigns President Hakainde Hichilema was denied the opportunity to campaign freely on the Copperbelt during the Patriot Front government. He was a victim of human rights violation himself. And because of that the Zambian people gave the UPND a sympathy vote,” said Banda. “Now that he is in State House, we expect him to open his eyes and ears for him to get what is obtaining on the ground. President Hakainde Hichilema should make changes to the people he has appointed. The people he has appointed are letting him down. He should make reshuffles now, otherwise next year will be too late. In 2026 the same people who gave him a sympathy vote will give a sympathy vote to the opposition political parties.
