The opposition UPND in Kaoma district of Western Province says it is concerned with the empowerment programmes being undertaken in Mangango Constituency ahead of the August 19 parliamentary by-election.
But Western Province minister Richwell Siamunene says government will not be deterred from executing its functions in any part of the province and the country as a whole.
UPND assistant campaign manager for the Mangango by-election, Kenny Ndumba, says the distribution of empowerment inputs such as shovels and picks to the youths in Chilombo area in Shikombwe Ward in Mangango constituency is tantamount to corruption.
Mr Ndumba said whilst the UPND appreciates poverty alleviation packages through empowerment programmes, it was dismayed that such donations in Mangango constituency were happening when ahead of the by-election.
But Western Province minister Richwell Siamunene says government will not be deterred from executing its functions in any part of the province and the country as a whole.
Mr. Siamunene said government will not be derailed from its duties of governing in the area just because there is a by-election as doing so would be detrimental to its national development aspirations.
He said the UPND’s assertions are unfounded as the empowerment programmes in Mangango constituency are part of government’s broader poverty mitigation strategies being undertaken in Western Province and other parts of the country.
He said the by-elections in Mangango constituency should not halt the implementation of the on-going government programmes as such undertakings are meant to cushion the poverty burden amongst the masses regardless of their political affiliation.
Siamunene your own constituency in Sinazongwe area hasn’t got any empowerment programmes going on brought by your defection to PF govt which should shame you and the people you masquerade to represent. Resign cause a by election and Sinazongwe people will be considered for empowerment. PF style of governance.
We zambians need to wake up to the PF tricks, each time there is a by election then they come in to do projects or work on roads that have been blocked with logs for months; so I do not blame the PF for pulling out the tricks they use to woo votes, it is us the people that are dull and do not question ourselves as to the things they do.
UPND should preach don’t kubeba to it’s members , there is no patent on these tactics . I know these oilers tan strategies don’t sit well with people that have a conscious but it’s necessary . Take the money and gifts but don’t vote for them.