Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has advised Zambians not to lose hope as they endure harsh economic times under the Patriotic Front government.
Addressing a mammoth rally in Lusaka’s Mandevu Compound Hichilema led the gathering in staging a minute of silence to lament the free falling kwacha.
The UPND successfully held a peaceful rally with the hoards of police officers who had been deployed anticipating violent scenes disappointedly looking as attendees went about their business peacefully.
Hichilema said the PF had lied to the Zambia public about creating more jobs and also giving the citizenry more money in the pockets.
“Do not lose hope, PF has killed our kwacha, PF has killed our economy but I want you to keep your hope because help is on the way through UPND,” he said as he led the supporters through a minute of silence.
He said that the only violence the UPND will practice will be in bettering the economy.
“We do not want violence; we want to manage our country better. The only fight we will wage is for the economy and nothing else so that we can create jobs for our youth, so that we can pay retirees,” he said.
Hichilema said that the UPND will run the country better that the PF and would not make false promises.
“There is no doubt that the PF has failed to run our country, they have failed to run our economy. They only know how to lie that you will have money in your pockets; do you have money in your pockets? That you will have jobs do you have jobs?” he said.
Our job as UPND, our responsibility as UPND is to correct the mistakes that PF are making this is the responsibility of the UPND to run the country better, not to waste money in by-elections each by-election like Katuba cost us US$2 million dollars but today that is about K1.2 billion.”
He added: “The PF are bringing us 20 by-elections that is too much money we are wasting, US$2 million by 20 by-elections that is already US$40 million which is too much money. It is money we should send to hospitals to buy medicines, there is no money for ARVs but money for by-elections is there. “
Hichilema also said his government will have a lean cabinet in an attempt to save resources.
“We do not want to waste money on a big cabinet or large cabinet we need a smaller cabinet, that is what UPND is going to do,” he said.
He said that President Michael Sata should not fear that he will be arrested after leaving power but will be taken care of.
Hichilema said that the PF had failed to give Zambians a constitution and advised Zambians to be ready for elections at any time.
“UPND is an opportunity for this country, for development, for clean water for love, for proper management for improved life expectancy, which is what UPND stands,” he said.
We should have NRCs for voting whether 2016 or next year we should be ready for UPND. A vote for UPND is a vote for development. I want you to go door to door. Not that someone has no job and they are busy screaming pa bwato pa bwato .”
Among other notable attendees were Zambia Democratic Congress Party President Langton Sichone, political activist Dante Saunders, UPND Vice President in charge of administration Canisius Banda and national chairperson Mutale Nalumango.
The post Hichilema Attacks PF over Economy at Mass Rally appeared first on Zambia Reports.