By Agness Changala
Lands minister Elijah Muchima says he doesn’t regret saying those who were segregated under the Patriotic Front (PF) regime should be given priority when it comes to allocation of land.
And Muchima says what he said only made news because of the mention of the UPND and wondered why people get agitated whenever they hear it.
In a statement, TIZ executive director Maurice Nyamba stated that the organization was concerned with [pp-logged-users] the statement attributed to Muchima as reported by News Diggers, where he pledged preferential treatment for poor members of the UPND during land allocation citing their alleged marginalization under the previous regime.
Nyambe emphasized that historical marginalization under the previous administration cannot serve as a justifiable foundation for land allocation decisions.
“This divisive precedent of allocating land based on partisan affiliations represents a concerning deviation from sound land administration principles. Government commitment should therefore, be directed towards facilitating land acquisition without discrimination, fostering an environment conducive to dignified livelihoods and social economic development for all citizens,” Nyambe stated.
He urged the minister to adhere to rigorously established procedures for land allocation that ensure equitable access for all citizens.
Nyambe also stated that as a ruling party, the UPND should resist the normalization of divisive practices and uphold the principles of impartiality and equal opportunity in the allocation of this vital resource.
“We wish to remind the UPND administration that what was wrong under the previous regime is still wrong now, and there is no justification for continuing whatever anomalies were taking place, since two wrongs do not make a right,” Nyambe stated. “We therefore, call on Hon Muchima to retract the statement publicly and commit to supporting a land allocation system that will not promote divisive tendencies along partisan lines.”
But Speaking to Daily Revelation, Muchima said some people who were segregated were Zambians who qualified but were not considered for anything at all.
“If you have three children, one you give food in the morning, these two were not there, then you cook food in the evening, how do you share the food in the evening? You give more to those who were not there. What is the problem there? I am saying for 10 years, let me repeat to you, for 10 years, some people were segregated. They are Zambians, they qualify, they were not being considered in any way at all,” Muchima said.
He said with him at the helm of the ministry, he will prioritize those who were not given an opportunity during the PF regime.
“I am saying with me, under this government, we shall prioritise, priority, you give food to those who didn’t eat first. It’s the same principle, how do you condemn that?” he asked. “We are not like the PF who were recruiting purely only you must be PF.”
Muchima said during the PF, people were kicked out of employment and were not allowed to even campaign just by hearing their names.
“Whatever you do if you are UPND, you will be kicked out of employment. Just a name some of us were not even allowed to campaign. When you were recruiting for this and that, you were not even advertising anywhere. I need to be transparent. If they are transparent, we are saying priority will be given to those who were segregated on political lines,” he said. “And if I say those who were segregated on political lines, the poor women and the poor people, how can a person condemn me to help poor people? How do you condemn a person who helps the poor people? Women did not stand any chance to get any plot, to do anything in the PF time. I haven’t said women for UPND, I have said…the poor people must also have room. Poor people, I am measuring them against the rich people.”
He said he was just being transparent as a minister and has no regrets.
“Zambians! I am just being transparent. I don’t have any regrets at all. We need to look at people who were segregated. You go to Forest 27 and Forest 62 in Kawena you will find the same names of people who were getting the plots. How do you measure that when we say no this also we need to consider those who were left, ati no we are being concerned. Iwe wadya Kuseni muzako sanadyeko (you have eaten in the morning and your friend has not eaten). No! We should eat equal.”
And Muchima wondered why people get agitated when they hear the word UPND.
“The problem with some people is that when the name of UPND is mentioned, they get agitated. Just the name UPND, they don’t like it. You could not wear a red T-shirt during the PF that’s a fact, and then you go even to get a plot during PF, can they give it to you. And now you are saying no, we should give them equal treatment. How? They are Zambians, they qualify but they will be scrutinized. One of the scoring marks is those who were segregated,” he said.
He said if TIZ is condemning him, he is also doing the same while accusing them of being the supporters of PF.
“If they are condemning me I condemn them. They are people who were supporting the PF, why can’t they come out on the brutal life we went through by the PF, why didn’t they come out? Why are they coming out now?” he asked.
Muchima said what he said has made a story because of the mention of UPND.
“You know what I said made a story because I used the word UPND. If I didn’t use the word UPND, it would not have been a story. Why are people getting agitated with the word UPND? We were being victimized, we were being shot at, we were being incarcerated, everything was happening, we didn’t hear people condemn,” said Muchima.[/pp-logged-users]
