By Mubanga Mubanga
Former president Edgar Lungu has likened President Hakainde Hichilema’s governance to ‘a chimbwi no plan’, saying he is traveling aimlessly because he has failed to govern the country.
Speaking during a rally organised by Citizens First party yesterday in Kwacha, Kitwe, Lungu asked President Hichilema to reduce the price of a mealie meal to at least K100 if he has failed to reduced to K50 as he promised the people.
“He is Chimbwi no plan (Bemba proverbs for someone who does not know what to do), that is the reason is traveling aimlessly, he goes to this country, it goes to that country, it is because he has no plan. In the three years that he has been President, he keeps pointing at me, ‘No! It is Lungu who did this, no! It is Lungu who did that’,” Lungu said.
He said if president Hichilema was consulting him on national matters, things could not have been as bad as they were because he has experience.
“Even if things become difficult, an experienced man is an experienced man, l know what I am talking about. Nangu uyu wine mambala ( Even this crooked person) if he was consulting me on some things he could not have made the mistakes he is making, we wouldn’t be where we are. I could have been telling him, young man don’t do this, don’t export all the maize or mealie meal that are in the reserve of FRA (Food Reserve Agency), please don’t,” Lungu said.
He said he was told to stop talking too much because they were going to arrest him, but he told them that he did not fear being arrested because he was not a coward.
“Let me reveal something, l was told when you go to Kwacha don’t talk too much because you will be arrested. But let me say this l don’t entertain threats, threats make me angry. I am appealing to all UKA members who are scared to move away from us. I want to make it clear they are arresting us. Danny Pule was arrested. Even though tomorrow l can be arrested, I cannot be surprised because we are in a battle, it is only for the strong,” Lungu said.
And Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba said because of the suffering the majority Zambians were going through, marriages had been affected, adding that only President Hichilema and his household who were enjoying.
“lf there are people suffering, it is miners, they are saying mealie meals are expensive, let me ask you, who came here with a full stomach? We are crying of hunger. In this country the youths woke up early to go and vote for the UPND, but if there are people suffering it is the women and the youths. Our women have really suffered, in our homes love is dying because of the hard economy. Mr Hakainde Hichilema alone is the only one with a home where they are smiling. The homes we are coming from there is suffering,” Kalaba said
UKA alliance chairperson, Sakwiba Sikota said fuel and electricity were expensive because the government refused the offer from Russia for cheap fuel and electricity”
“This government, if it had listened to people who know the industry, the price of fuel will not be as expensive as it is now. Russia produces oil, Russia came and offered to Zambia they can give us cheaper oil but because this government doesn’t like you did not accept the offer,” said Sikota.
