By Daily Revelation Correspondents
Citizens First (CF) leader Harry Kalaba has urged Zambians to treat all his opponents who have refused to tell them how much they are worth as suspects who are taking them for granted.
And Kalaba said choosing not to vote was not different from choosing to remain on the current path marked by persistent loadshedding that “stretched from 24-48 hours”, delayed payments to farmers, getting fertilizer in medas and tribalism.
Featuring on Prime TV yesterday, Kalaba said the fight against coruption under his administration would be non-negotiable as that was the life he had always lived. He said that was why his critics accused him of wanting to work alone.
“Nshibomba neka ine (I don’t work alone). It’s because I am very clear about this fight and what Zambia can benefit,” Kalaba said. “Making me as a leader, even minister fye umwine will be fearing.”
He said ministers would be fearing to develop long fingers because people must learn to live within their means.
He said he would make sure that discipline against corruption was enforced.
“I have declared my assets. I am the only presidential candidate that has disclosed what I declared with the Electoral Commission of Zambia. I told the ECZ I have got a loan with Indo-Zambia Bank which I am servicing of about K200,000. And I am worth so so so,” Kalaba said. “So the Zambian public know that ‘oh Kalaba has a loan with Indo-Zambia Bank worth K200,000 which he services every month.’ But also his assets are more than his liabilities.”
He said he disclosed even if he were not required to publicly declare his assets, he did so because he was ready to account for what he had before entering office and what he would be worth during his time in office and out of office.
He said others had refused to mention.
“Just for the fact that they have refused to tell you what they declared with ECZ, know that their intentions are suspect. In a serious country, those should be suspects,” Kalaba said. “And citizens should not be taken for granted. They need to know what is the leader worth. How about this where did Kalaba get it from as he didn’t have it?”
He said he was serious about the fight against corruption because public money must be respected.
Kalaba said when he was appointed as deputy minister in the Vice-President’s office by late president Michael Sata, he was entitled to a settling in allowance and furniture allowance. He said he was given a cheque of K300,000 to buy furniture but he refused to get it as the house he lived in was already furnished.
He said the fact everybody had gotten did not mean he should also get.
He said he asked that the money must be taken to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Kalaba said he was also given a government house as a minister but he refused to move in there deciding instead to remain in the house he built when he was working in the civil service.
He said he was not coming into government to take away
On education, Kalaba said out of all the things the UPND had brought to Zambians, free education was something he would embrace and continue, but not in the manner UPND was doing it.
He said it was free education but parents were asked to buy gadgets for their children to learn ICT.
He said they would bring in quality free education.
In the health sector, Kalaba said politicians talked about health but when they got sick they were the first ones to fly to India.
He said Indians invested in research.
He said CF would invest in the health sector to make Zambia a health tourism country.
He said the salaries those in chain stores get where peanuts and nobody spoke for them.
He said for civil service there would be a debt swap as he knew the frustrations they were going through as a former civil servant himself
He said he would remove the Emoluments Commission as it had taken away the rights of workers unions.
And in his remarks marking the end of the campaign period, Kalaba said people would tomorrow be called upon to vote as the five year mandate of UPND has ended.
He said the future of Zambia lay in the ballot.
He said choosing not to vote was not different from choosing to remain on the current path marked by persistent loadshedding that stretched from 24-48 hours, delayed payments to farmers and struggle to access inputs such as getting fertilizer through medas.
He said Zambians must remember what they have endured over the past five years, including the rising cost of living.
He said tomorrow was about looking into the future defined by citizens and for citizens.
“Use your vote to say no to violence, say not to corruption, say no to tribalism nepotism and regionalism. Says yes to unity,” Kalaba said, adding that Zambians must say yes to dignity and for a Zambia that works for all its citizens.
He said he was prepared to restore integrity to governance and reposition Zambia as a bread basket of the region.
