‘We are not thieves - Mundubile

…as Makebi Zulu says Zambians across the country are looking up to the two ‘boys’ President Hichilema is referring to take over the governance of the country because the head of State has failed to honour any of his promises

By NATION REPORTER

BRIAN Mundubile has rebuffed President Hakainde Hichilema accusations that he and his running mate, Makebi Zulu stole and looted public resources during their time they served in government as provincial ministers, stating that their development record is there for all to see.

Mr Mundubile said accusations levelled against him and Mr Zulu by President Hichilema during the UPND campaign launch on Sunday were malicious and unfounded as the two had tangible projects to show for the resources entrusted to them while serving in government.

“President Hakainde Hichilema referred to us as boys, thieves but we will continue respecting him as our elder brother and as President of the Republic of Zambia,” Mr Mundubile said.

Speaking yesterday at Yusuf Radio in Mpika the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate cited the construction of the Luangwa-Petauke-Chipata Road and Kalindawalo Hospital in Eastern Province during Mr Zulu’s tenure as provincial minister as examples of development undertaken under their stewardship.

He said Northern Province also witnessed major infrastructure development while he served as provincial minister, including the construction of hospitals in Chilubi District, a secondary school on Chilubi Island and Kanyanta Girls Secondary School in Kasama.

“We shall leave it to Zambians to judge who the thieves are because we have something to show for the money that was allocated to our provinces,” Mr Mundubile said.

He said during the Patriotic Front (PF) administration, farmers were paid on time and infrastructure projects were implemented across the country.

“So, I wonder what President Hichilema was talking about. He called us thieves but we can demonstrate to Zambians what we did with those public resources,” the former Northern Province Minister said.

Mr Mundubile said while the UPND government was celebrating foreign reserves and international recognition, the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance was focused on the welfare of ordinary citizens.

“We will not sit back and wait for international accolades when our farmers have no farming inputs and there is hunger in the country. Contractors have not been paid for years and that has affected the entire economy,” he said.

The former Mporokoso lawmaker said paying local contractors would have injected money into communities and boosted business activity among market traders and small-scale traders.

Mr Mundubile further pledged to revive development banking institutions to support women, farmers and small businesses should his alliance form government after the August 13, election.

He said specialised financial institutions would be established to provide affordable financing to women entrepreneurs and agricultural producers.

And Mr Zulu has dismissed President Hichilema’s reference to him and Mr Mundubile as “boys”, saying the alliance would continue respecting the office of the President.

“We will never disrespect our President because that is the office we aspire to occupy. President Brian Mundubile is going to be President of Zambia and if His Excellency (Mr Hichilema) refers to us as boys, then perhaps we can respectfully refer to him as ‘Shikulu’,” Mr Zulu said.

Mr Zulu said both he and Mr Mundubile possessed practical government experience having served as provincial ministers in Eastern and Northern provinces respectively.

“We understand government because we have served in it. President Hichilema came from the corporate world into government and perhaps it has taken time for him to appreciate how government operates,” he said.

Mr Zulu questioned government’s emphasis on foreign reserves while local contractors remained unpaid and poverty levels remained high.

“A responsible government ensures that contractors are paid, hospitals have medicines and farmers have seed and fertiliser. That is what we mean when we say it is time to reset Zambia,” he said.

Mr Zulu urged voters to vote for Mr Mundubile in the August 13, general election.

“Mr President, you still have a lot to learn from these boys. Vote for the Lamp and you will see the difference,” he said.

ENDS