By Angela Moonga
We shall respect Hakainde Hichilema as a former president, says NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile.
And in his closing remarks before tomorrow’s general elections, Mundubile said government must never belong to a few powerful people, but the general populace.
Featuring on Hot FM’s Breakfast show with Chromez and Pzee, Mundubile said they have had a good campaign with his running-mate Makebi Zulu.
He said being denied a permit to fly around the country was a blessing in disguise as they got to interact with a lot of Zambians and appreciated the various specific challenges many localities were facing
Mundubile said President Hichilema would still remain an elder brother to him, saying the Head of State used to be fond of him and would interact on several occasions while still serving as a minister in the PF administration, and while President Hichilema was an opposition leader.
“He will still remain my brother. We don’t lose our culture because of politics. He remains our brother,” he said, adding that the President was just a political competitor to him and there was no bitterness whatsoever in his heart towards the head of state.
Mundubile said President Hichilema would be respected as a former president and would get his presidential entitlements as he did his own part for the nation.
“May be that is as far as he could go. We will pick it up from there and push it to another level, expecting that when our time comes we will gracefully leave and a new president will respect Mundubile and Makebi as former president and vice-president as it where,” he said.
He said they did not only want to change government but how government worked
Mundubile said they reprimanded one man in their campaign team in Chililabombwe, who ‘repeated’ the same insults President Hichilema uttered against Mazabuka-Central aspirant Garry Nkombo’s mother.
He said he hoped President Hichilema would one day apologise to Nkombo’s mother.
He said in the first 100 days they would focus on reconciliation, then oppressive laws around public procurement and cyber laws, and the cost of living.
He said they would start a comprehensive constitutional making process that may take two to three years.
And in his closing remarks, Mundubile said tomorrow’s choice would be a choice between despair and dignity, and between fear and freedom.
He said it would not be politics as usual but a genuine national reset.
He said power was in the hands of Zambians.
He wondered how a country blessed with copper, gold, fertile land, water, wildlife and hard working people had found itself in such a situation where so many families struggle to put food on the table.
Mundubile said young people had qualifications but can’t find jobs, while mother’s struggled with the cost of mealie-meal, transport and school expenses.
He said farmers produced food but struggled to find machinery and inputs and gain profitable markets.
Mundubile wondered how the country had reached a point where citizens feared to speak and assemble or disagree with those in power.
“This is not the Zambia we want,” he said.
He said while ordinary citizens struggled, institutions that should protect citizens had become instruments of political intimidation.
“Government must never belong to a few powerful people. Government belongs to the people,” he said.
Mundubile said the cost of living was high and electricity expensive, and food expensive.
He wondered what happened to the Zambia that used its copper resource to build schools, roads and communities.
“To our young people, imisepela, you do not want political slogans, you want jobs,” Mundubile said.
He said the NRPUP would put youths at the centre of economic transformation, by supporting youth entrepreneurship and expanding technical vocation education.
He said financing opportunities would be found for women and youths.
Mundubile said his administration would treat farmers as economic producers and no one would receive fertilizer in medas.
“Never again,” he said.
He said the FRA would be strengthened
Mundubile said things would be processed where they were produced.
“Zambia’s minerals must benefit Zambians. To our miners the small scale miners at jerabos, my dear brothers and sisters, my sons, we see you. Zambian mineral wealth must create Zambian wealth,” Mundubile said.
He said his administration would formalise artisanal mining and provide access to equipment, training, markets and finance. We will strengthen mineral content,” he said
Mundubile said large investors are welcome but they must partner with Zambians, as no Zambian should live in poverty on top of the rich soil.
He said he would restore freedom as a prosperous Zambia must be a free Zambia.
Mundubile promised to professionalise the police and embark on merit based approach in the police.
“We are offering hope. H for hardwork. A government that delivers,” said Mundubile.
