By Patson Chilemba
Chief Government spokesperson Chushi Kasanda says President Hakainde Hichilema does not disregard the national day of prayer, saying in the past UPND stayed away out of fear of being hacked, as “ba PF sibajailika. You might think you have gone to pray with them meanwhile pangas are waiting for you.”
And State House media director Clayson Hamasaka said President Hichilema did not attend prayers at the Showgrounds, as people were praying in many different areas other than the Lusaka arena.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Kasanda argued in favor of the President for having stayed away from the main celebration event for the national prayers, Lusaka Showgrounds, for two years running, saying President Hichilema has the mandate to delegate anybody at any given time and delegated Vice-President Mutale Nalumango for the National day of prayer, in the same manner he delegated her recently for the Saudi Arabia function.
“So what is so alarming about this function as opposed to other functions that he has delegated the Vice-President or the ministers?” Kasanda asked, adding that one thing the PF needed to realize was that the first family is a prayerful family and there was no way the President could disregard that day because that day has been declared as a National day of prayer.
Kasanda argued that if the President disregarded the day, there was no way he could have allowed it to carry on.
She highlighted the fact that officials and party members from the PF and other members of the opposition attended the prayers, saying that was because the UPND administration had restored sanity.
“There is this insinuation that the UPND just used to shun the day of prayer. We never shunned it. The only reason was we were living in fear. We couldn’t go there because we were scared. We were scared you would be hacked there, you will be beaten, your vehicle will be broken into. They will shutter your vehicle,” Kasanda said. “So we lived in fear but with us you have seen that there is sanity we have brought. We were able to embrace our colleagues because we believe that is a day that is so special, a day that we all need to reconcile.”
Kasanda said non of those from the opposition would say that they felt unsafe being at the national prayer, and neither did anyone leave that place harmed.
“In the past people would be hacked there for coming for fasting and prayer and reconciliation. But that is not the case anymore,” Kasanda. “One would be hacked at a day of prayer. Oh yes! Oh yes! Because ba PF sibajailika ka? Ba PF sibajailika. Any time they can change. They are like chameleons, at any time they change. They change colors three times, you you think you have gone to pray with them meanwhile the pangas are waiting for you. Uhmmm! Sibajailika bantu baja.”
She further dismissed as very untrue any insinuations that the President could not attend because he was unwell, arguing that she is part of cabinet and would have known if the President were not well.
“And there has never been a point where he has told any of us that he is unwell so I don’t know how the public would know that he is unwell when us his close associates are not aware of that. He is 100 percent well, if not 101 percent well,” Kasanda said. “I can tell you that today you will see my President on TV and see that he is well… why should we hide? You see one thing people need to realize about this government is that we are a reliable government. We are a government that lives by the truth. We are a government that has zero tolerance to corruption. That already in itself tells you that this is a government that has nothing to hide.”
And Hamasaka said the Showgrounds was not the only place where prayers were being held, saying the President was in Namwaala with his family.
On insinuations that the head of state may not be well, Hamasaka responded: “So you also follow those fake pages?”
He said President Hichilema was very well and just today alone he has some public functions.
Hamasaka said President Hichilema was human also and could also take a day off.
He said the President was not there at the Showgrounds just like Home Affairs minister Jack Mwiimbu, but the fact that the Vice-President was there showed the importance attached to the day.
