Kambwili, Chongu endorse Mundubile, Makebi

By NATION REPORTER

…say change of government on August 13 would be easy with opposition unity under one presidential candidate, believe that the past five years of the UPND have been economically traumatising

BRIAN Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu yesterday received a major endorsement after Citizens First (CF) Roan parliamentary candidate Chishimba Kambwili and former FC National Youth Chairperson Maxwell Chongu joined their marathon campaign trail in Mporokoso and calling for opposition unity to defeat the ruling UPND in the August 13 general election.

Speaking during the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Progress (NRPUP) mass rally in Mporokoso, Mr. Kambwili said the country’s priority was to remove the UPND from power, arguing that the opposition could only achieve that objective by rallying behind a single presidential candidate.

“The goal this year is to remove the UPND, and that can only be done through unity under one leader, Brian Mundubile,” Mr. Kambwili said.

He said many Zambians had not experienced improved living standards during the UPND’s five years in office and that it was not surprising that many were demanding for change.

“Here where we are, no one can tell me that in the past five years of UPND we have lived well in our homes. There is no one who can say that UPND developed this country better than previous governments,” he said.

Mr. Kambwili accused the ruling party of failing to fulfil key campaign promises, alleging that it had misled citizens over reducing the prices of mealie meal, fertiliser and fuel, as well as the construction of universities.

“They criticised former President Edgar Lungu for building an airport, yet today they are promising airports across the country. What the UPND knows are nothing but lies, and we as a people cannot continue living on lies,” Mr Kambwili said.

He urged voters to vote the Brian Mundubile–Makebi Zulu ticket, saying it offered a credible alternative capable of delivering development.

Mr. Kambwili argued that despite criticism directed at the former PF government over its 10 years in office, it had delivered visible infrastructure, including roads and hospitals.

Using a family analogy, Mr. Kambwili said: “When you marry a woman with children, you don’t become jealous of those children. Have your own children with their mother. PF worked; you shouldn’t be jealous of their developments. Tell us what you have done here in Mporokoso. Our friends in the UPND have failed.”

He maintained that because the UPND had failed to meet public expectations, Zambians should vote it out of office in the forthcoming elections.

Mr. Kambwili also recalled warning voters ahead of the 2021 elections that they would face hardship if they elected the UPND, expressing hope that they would not repeat what he described as the same mistake.

Meanwhile, Maxwell Chongu said he had resigned as Citizens First National Youth Chairperson and withdrawn his candidature for the Kafue parliamentary seat after concluding that the opposition needed to unite behind Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu.

Mr. Chongu disclosed that while travelling across the country in his former role, many citizens repeatedly urged Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba to join forces with Mr. Mundubile, but those appeals were not heeded.

He also apologised to Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu for any remarks he may have made while defending Mr. Kalaba, explaining that defending the party president had been part of his official responsibilities as National Youth Chairperson.