THE Patriotic Front (PF) has described as careless United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema’s call on Zambians to commemorate the golden jubilee as opposed to celebrating the occasion.
During a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Hichilema said Zambians cannot genuinely celebrate the golden jubilee amidst high levels of poverty, hence the need to only memorialise the day.
The UPND leader, however, said commemoration of 50 years of independence should be a non-partisan affair and praised freedom fighters for the country’s political freedom.
According to news monitored on ZNBC, Mr Hichilema also paid tribute to President Sata for doing his best in the past three years, and praised former presidents for leading the country.
Mr Hichilema also used the occasion to call on Government to immediately release the draft constitution.
But PF director for media and publicity Brian Hapunda has asked Zambians to celebrate the golden jubilee.
Mr Hapunda said it must be borne in mind that the freedom Mr Hichilema and all Zambians are enjoying is a product of the gallant freedom fighters’ efforts in liberating the country from the yoke of colonialism, hence must be celebrated.
He described Mr Hichilema’s remarks on the golden jubilee as irresponsible.
And PF Lusaka district information and publicity secretary Matafwali Mwenya says Government will not act on instructions and deadlines regarding the release of the final draft constitution by the opposition party leaders, reports KELLY NJOMBO.
Reacting to calls by Mr Hichilema that Government should release the draft constitution before Friday this week, Mr Mwenya said Government is committed to releasing the draft constitution within the jubilee season.
He said in a statement yesterday that Mr Hichilema will not be allowed to start giving the democratically elected government deadlines.
“President Sata will never betray the people of Zambia in any way. He remains committed to delivering the constitution. On this score PF government has already shown goodwill to release the constitution within this jubilee season. We therefore find Mr Hichilema’s demands strange and highly malicious meant to pre-empt Government’s goodwill on this process,” Mr Mwenya said.
He said the PF government owes Zambians delivery of the final draft constitution.
Mr Mwenya, however said Government does not owe this duty to Mr Hichilema as a person or UPND or civil society organisations.
Matafwali, just like his name, he is simply a Brick-Head!! Nothing more to say!!
This government of liars, by liars and for liars is very arrogant. Anyway time will come soon so we can take you out of government.
I like HH but he is out of his depth for this position.
He would make a good VP nothing more.
I am being nice, because I know HH reads LT all the time I was informed by his nephew who is here.
OOOps i am giving too much information.
Thanks
HH is absolutely right in suggestiong that there is nothing to celebrate during tomorrow’s jubilee. Zambians are not free and little, in terms of freedoms, has changed in the last 50 years. People are quick to depict slavery when we speak of freedoms. But we were not an enslaved nation. Our fathers and grandfathers went to school and enjoyed relative freedoms within the rules of the colonialists who ruled with an iron fist and the sword (Brutality and breading fear), kept all the wealth while giving little to the majority people. Now what has changed? We have been passed on from the colonialist iron fist to our own iron fist. Speak against Govt and Sata and you are enemy of the state, wealth, opposition leaders are forever facing the police etc. So comemorating befits the occasion
Has Hapunda been cleared on the charge of obtaining money on false pretences?
For a country in Africa one can only do the best…many things are so wrong and impossible to handle without been called names.
PF cadres just go and have fun. Enjoy the drinks and cakes which will be shared while the rest of the country will be watching on TV.
“Koswe” above u have cracked my ribs. at least u have made my jubilee day. nothing to celebrate but commemorate the day
Surprisingly both responses are from party cadres not GRZ officials.So there responses are not Government position and they should stop using the word Government.Let the technocrats work of course at there on pace and let the Government spokes person respond not carders seeking for jobs
By the way,party and its government ended in 1990
Which freedom should Mr Hichilema enjoy when he is not very free in Zambia. Wasn’t Luapula Province declared a no go area for him? Was he not chased and physically escorted from Eastern Province by the Police? Was he not arrested for going to Chisokone market in Kitwe to buy vegetables? Was he not told that he needs a police permit or “chitopa” before he visits public places?
HH is right. There is no freedom of anything under pf. Nurses lost jobs for gathering to push grz for bettet conditions. Too much emotional pain under pf.
we are celebrating our political independence,don’t mix it with other things… political independence
HH must also stop celebrating his birthday until UPND wins national elections in 2031
Lusaka Times (LT), Zambians believe you are a news media outlet without any political lineage, like any media suggest to claim. However, Zambians have now come to a conclusion you are part of the ruling government as the Post news paper.
HH’s message of commemoration has been removed which appeared earlier on and does not even appear in your archives pages. You are adequately serving your master- PF Sata government.
To LT,
Am sorry for missing HH’s commemoration message which actually is still appearing on your site. Will look more carefully next time.
How can we celebrate Golden jubilee here in kankoyo town ship Mufulira where council have grab property. (fridge,stove,television sets…..). from residents for not paying land rates of only K200= only shame on PF 90days
Pf dunderheads reacting to upright UPND leader are pf chatterboxes.
HH is perfectly right.How do we celebrate when Zambai has gone 5 years backwards economically? Elo we don’t even know the real condition of our president and then PF keep talking about CELEBRATING! PF,what a banch of fools.
THE SYMBOL OF UPND MAKES THE MEMBERS LOOK LIKE LUNATICS, THEY ARE, WHEN THEY DISPLAY IT.
We are celebrating independence. We thank God we are free. We might not yet be there but we appreciate and thank God that we are governing ourselves. PF has only been in power for 3 years and it is quite unfair to heap all the blame on them. Why is HH so negative about everything. No government the world over has ever delivered on the campaing promises 100%, not even in America. UPND will be the worst government ever.