By Sunday Chilufya Chanda
INTRODUCTION
Lack of electricity was among the challenges that the Chief Chikanta’s Chiefdom in Dundumwezi presented to President Edgar Lungu when he visited the area in July 2017. President Lungu’s Government responded by taking over K9 million-worth of Dundumwezi Grid Extension by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). Further Government began constructing a 237 kilometre road to connect Kalomo, Dundumwezi, Itezhi-Itezhi and Namwala in Southern Province at a cost of K220 million.
The UPND leader knows too well that the electrification of rural parts of Zambia such as Dundumwezi and providing them with a good road significantly improves the livelihoods of rural populations and provides them with opportunities to realize their economic well-being. Mr. Hichilema knows too well that rural electrification of areas such as Dundumwezi will trigger a positive multiplier effect that cuts across various socio-economic sectors including Agriculture. The question is why he is fighting development that goes to benefit the masses of our people.
IT IS STRANGE THAT HICHILEMA IS TRIVIALISING AN ACT OF SABOTAGE
It is strange that Mr. Hichilema seeks to trivialize the cutting down of electricity poles in Dundumwezi which must be seen a tragic act of economic sabotage – that’s taxpayers money. His edgy kneejerk reaction raises more questions than answers as to the occurrence being an act of political sabotage.
This is particularly so, because as is widely known, UPND and its acrimonious leader have become so desperate that they will use any means to get into State House, even if it means destroying infrastructure and retarding development in their so called strongholds. The good people of Southern Province, including their Royal Highnesses must denounce Hichilema’s backward politics aimed at frustrating development in UPND strongholds.
HICHILEMA’S RECORD OF BLOCKING DEVELOPMENT
It is not a coincidence that this act of sabotage comes just a few days after one of their senior officials recently admitted on a radio programme that they indiscriminately reject anything progressive that the PF Government puts forward, because all they want is for Hakainde Hichilema to occupy State House.
It is Hichilema’s UPND policy to bar his party officials such as MP’s and councillors from engaging with government officers, to foster development in their respective areas. Zambians must reject such retarded politics!
There is no doubt that Dundumwezi saboteurs belong to the same party whose leader ejected the former Kafue and Kaoma Council Chairpersons from their party just for participating in development programs for their areas officiated by President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
Mr. Hichilema’s UPND finds it disturbing that President Lungu is spearheading the PF Government development agenda that seeks to leave no one behind.
Zambians know that Dundumwezi is one of the few areas that gave His Excellency Dr Lungu and the Patriotic Front the least number of votes and overwhelmingly voted for UPND and its presidential candidate in the last election.
However, unlike certain politicians, President Lungu and the PF development agenda is blind to regional and partisan interests. President Lungu is thus determined to take meaningful development to Dundumwezi and all parts of the Country.
IF HICHILEMA AND UPND MEAN WELL THEY SHOULD ASSIST POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
If Mr Hichilema means well, and he is not uncomfortable with President Lungu and the PF’s embracing our brothers and sisters in Dundumwezi and the rest of Southern Province, we are wondering as to why is he reluctant to call on UPND in the area to assist with police investigations.
If Mr Hichilema is truly serious about calling on perpetrators of such economic sabotage in his “stronghold” being brought to book, and if he is still popular with the grassroots in Dundumwezi, we do not understand why is he grudging about going beyond his token knee-jerk reaction. We wonder why is he dragging his feet to direct UPND in the area to assist the police with investigations. That is what mature Opposition political parties do -rising beyond partisan interest to safeguard those of the public!
The erection of the electricity poles and the supply of electricity to Dundumwezi Constituency and surrounding areas of Southern Province is the first step to the socio-economic empowerment of Zambians in that area.
UPND DUNDUMWENZI MP’s LIES CONTRADICT HIS BOSS
Hichilema in his Statement categorically acknowledged in very clear language that the sabotage was in Southern Province. Therefore Edgar Singombe the Dundumwezi MP should not lie that there is no electricity in Dundumwezi when he knows about REA’s projects in the area.
Why isn’t he remorseful about an act of sabotage affecting his own constituency? Why does Singombe feel compelled to deceive an entire nation?
“KATANGA KALULA KAKALUZYA MATANGA NYINA.”
(A bitter pumpkin made other pumpkins bitter: An entire region cannot be stereotyped on the basis of one bitter person)
Hakainde’s selfishness and destructive nature is against Tonga values – UPND under Hichilema does not represent the aspirations of all Southerners: he should just allow UPND officials to assist with investigations_
We reiterate our call to our traditional fathers and mothers in Southern Province and all our brothers and sisters in the region to condemn these acts of sabotage designed to retard development in Southern Province,
CONCLUSION
There are so many areas of rural Zambia waiting for the kind of development being sabotaged by UPND in Dundumwezi. We have no doubt that Mr. Hichilema’s politics of lies and bitterness have convinced his supporters in Dundumwezi that electrification of the area amounts to corruption which they should reject.
We have information that according to UPND in Dundumwezi and other areas, they will continue to sabotage PF’s led development agenda in the region because their leader tells them that its corruption.
Mr. Hichilema must take responsibility and repent from his retarded politics. In case Mr. Hichilema has forgotten, this is taxpayer’s money and Zambians are called upon to condemn Mr. Hichilema for playing politics with a very serious matter of economic sabotage.
It is immoral for any politician to trivialize such when the Country has major competing needs.
So you want us to roll on the floor and praise you for doing what you are supposed to do? As tax payers that is the bare minimum I expect. That is not money you have worked for. That is public money. We don’t owe you a single thank you . You evil dogs.
You just exposed your wickedness and weakness at the same time. How can HH be so powerful to stifle your decision and action? Are you that weak and controllable? Who do you want to believe your yapping? Just deal with serious issues facing our country: hunger, lack of jobs, tribalism, hatred, corruption, huge mountain of debt to mention hit a few. Sober up Chanda and tell us your brother thievery. You seem to know more about HH and less about ECL who you spend more time with. How possible is that?
Dear Sunday Monday, Let me enlighten you young buck of how an administration’s success is measured. 1. Rise in GDP 2. Drop in unemployment rates 3. drop in inflation 4. Improvement in key sectors such as health, education, transportation etc. Your administration has overseen a sharp decline in all key measures of economic performance starting from the time Sata took over. The livelihoods of people has decreased under your watch. All those tuma things you have mentioned Sunday is just the bare minimum, like an indisciplined worker who goes to the office to browse facebook and when he/she sees the boss fast fast you start pretending like you are working
Bola ni 90, PF is running out of ideas because you guys have messed up the Economy and the people of the Zambia are pissed! Your time is up, next please. Between Elias Chipimo and HH, let me choose one, its a hard choice mwe because both of them will make good presidents. Sunday my advise muntu wandi, tone it down ifyakulanda pali potential future president, your friends have immunity, you are just starting out. Babylon is burning mwaiche, burn baby burn!!!
That Thing Chanda and his brother launched RED card campaign not knowing Red was UPND colors. Kekekeke, now idyots running behind Ba Edgar sniffing like hyenas.
Leave Ba Edgar alone!!
Empty tins make the loudest noise. Thats sunday chanda. An empty tin.
The president has no right whatsoever to deny any place in Zambia development, he was elected to be president of Zambia not president of only were people vote for him. These ideas of we will bring development once you vote for us and development being denied because because a particular place likes an opposition party should not be entertained, it is what brings about civil wars, secession, etc.
Why can’t ECL take it as a challenge to develop the same area that denies him the most and prove to everybody that he’s a president for all Zambians and every part of Zambia? Why can’t we learn from the past and the region?
Heeeesh Ba Edgar has strong heart, please that Sunday Chanda before he hang himself.
The guy has suffered, imagine he started these crap even before Shi Frank Bwalya left his ABC party. Frank is ambassador and marrying at will!!
WHAT HAVE ZAMBIANS DONE TO DESERVE THESE CHEAP AND THUGGERY POLITICS LUNGU IS BUSY PROMOTING. LUNGU WILL BRING WAR.
All politics is damaging but its hypocrisy to accuse HH of bad politics damaging Zambia while leaving out Edgar Lungu whose bad governance does even more damage.
Bla bla bla…
ALTHOUGH THE ACTIONS OF HH ARE NOT SURPRISING, GIVEN HIS MIND SET, THEY ARE NEVERTHELESS SHOCKING
HE IS SHAMELESS
HH IS A DIE HARD TRIBALIST.
AND HOW CAN PEOPLE FROM OTHER TRIBES EVEN CONTEMPLATE VOTING FOR SUCH A PERSON
“Only a Tonga President can bring development” seems to be a syndrome that troubles UPND supporters. This is the only reason they can destroy national infrastructure purely because it wasn’t delivered by a “Tonga President”. This hate crime will hurt HH’s chances of winning a national election.
PF is back in it’s game of sabotage and blaming HH and the opposition!! Remember the burning of markets and who spoke first to blame the opposition?? Lungu and PF are behind this to gain sympathy from the people. This is his strategy to distruct from the messy up with KCM, NDF, corruption, poor leadership, mismanaging the economy and heat from the Yellow Card. Keep the pressure on. Just go do your job. You can’t blame vandalism on a party or tribe without proof. Let the cops investigate and arrest the culprits. No politics on criminality. You say are a lawyer, then you should know better. But with this it shows you are not fit to be a leader in anything. I Pity the Zambian citizens and can see what they saw in ECL. Please change from yellow card and flash him a red card!!
Young Man sit down, you are too obsessed with HH. shouldn’t you be writing about PF action plans and achievements?
What’s in the future with your political party?
Fortunately for you, your bosses don’t know what is yours or their own job description.
Let’s see if you can type or say anything without a mention of HH and we will call that maturity.
Big Head seems to think he’s being paid to be attacking HH.
And that is why he spends all day on Lusaka Times masquerading as “Kudos” and some other aliases.
Bola ni 90, PF is running out of ideas because you guys have messed up the Economy and the people of the Zambia are pissed! Your time is up, next please. Between Elias Chipimo and HH, let me choose one, its a hard choice mwe because both of them will make good presidents. Sunday my advise muntu wandi, tone it down ifyakulanda pali potential future president, your friends have immunity, you are just starting out. Babylon is burning mwaiche, burn baby burn!!!
Why is this LT blocking comments? Is it a ka partisan (PF) tabloid? Let people contribute freely to the national discourse ninshi akapatulula kanshi?
1 ànd a half years to the next election. Awe sure. Let the yapers do theit thing. We patiently await the results.
ANOTHER WAY THE PF IS TRYING TO SABOTAGE THE UPND. THIS STORY IS FULL OF LIES . ITS TIME UPND STARTS WITH DEFAMATION LAW SUITS AGAINST THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SABOTAGE THE PARTY !
These ba up and down party are confused fellows.How do u support a leader who does not want Mps and Councillors to work with govt to bring development ? Is this not mental retardation ? No sane Zambian will vote for these savages in 2021.U think one province alone can make u go to state house…..u will be shocked as usual.
I have an issue with HH a large issue, but this Sunday Chanda thing also.
SUNDAY YOU HAVE JUST EXPOSED YOURSELF ! HAVE YOU BEEN TO DUNDUMWEZI. HAVE YOU DRIVEN TO DUNDUMWEZI BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE YOU WOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE NO ELECTRICITY LINES GOING THERE. WHAT A FOOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is much easier to cure AIDS and Ebola than to cure UPND.
Hit up if you think only Tonga president can bring development
A non Tonga president is the one people of Mangango voted for, has he delivered development? Ask the residents of Mangango and they will tell you that up to now non of the campaign promises have been honored. After all, PF is broke and can only mobilize money for by-election campaigns, is that part of development?
The first comment by N.e.ez is full of bitterness and the reason this political party will continue losing elections.Even the pipo of Dundumwenzi should think twice in 2021.U can not be voting for a party which is against development.
Joseph, where is the so called development? If a deranged boy cuts a single pole then it means the entire province has rejected your imaginary development?
Bitter Hakiende H is simply an interesting person. When he seeks to speak its as if he lives in utopia maybe he does. This character was extremely silent when his spectators attacked innocent citizens in Dundumwezi who rejected his tenth bid at going to plot one. We all know how he really feels about these our brothers whose only sin against this under 5 is they rejected his bitterness and see him for who he really is
Sunday Chanda lacks common sense. He says the same things without realising the monotony it causes on the masses.
People with common sense would know when to adjust and change type of message, how to present it and get even better results without sickening the audiences.
He belongs to the zoo not politics.
Zambia currently has no REPUBLICAN President! We only have a PF Party President failing to fit the shoes of a Republican President! A Republican President is a president for all Zambians regardless of their creed, ethnic extraction or political affiliation! A truly Republican President knows they are under Oath of office to uphold tenets of Democracy and ensure no one suffers discrimination on account of how they vote! Everyone has the democratic right to choose whosoever they wish! Denying a region development because of party affiliation is myopic and undemocratic! Only the Legally Ignorant Bakalume do that!
SUNDAY CHANDA,POINT OF CORRECTION PLEASE GET TO TORN DOWN.YOU,AE NOT A DESTINY MAKER BUT IT IS GOD. AND YOUR BROTHER STOLE FROM ZAMPOST. EVIDENCE IS THERE
BOSS,U WILL REAP WHAT U SOW. ANBD YOUR ENDING WILL BE SO SAD
It is sad that the Dundumwezi retrogration of cutting down the Rea polls, in this day and age has received no condemnation from the Upnd party. Please let the people of Dundumwezi receive the development they deserve. Don’t punish the innocent people of that constituency for nothing. Recently we heard hat HH secretly funded the construction of a two roomed tiny clinic in petauke, in President Lungu’s village, that was a good job. Nobody went on rampage to destroy that small clinic, which has become a white elephant bcoz of the newly constructed hospital and two other government clinics. The people of petauke appreciated that effort. But in Dundumwezi its the opposite, why. HH has enslaved the people in his party so much and this must stop. He must campaign seriously, and not just praise…
The politics being displayed by the Upnd and their diehard president HH can surely send one into the ICU at UTH. The Upnd has failed to replace both vacant positions of the two vice presidents, why. This is a clear testimony of a party in dissilusion, time is running out. Honestly Mr kambwili should not even think of taking up one those positions. Look at canicius Banda, GBM and many more who were booted out. Of course not forgetting the young man under five Sean Tembo and the endless list of so called alliance members. These were all frustrated by HH. That’s why the late king cobra told HH off during their alliance, ati ka under five. Honestly HH is so full of himself to have asked sata to fill in as his number two at the time. Yaaah what an insult, to demean King cobra. So the man…
Edgar is our president, let’s give him the respect he deserves.
No one human being is perfect.
Neither ECL nor HH will perfect our country.
The only thing that will move us forward is loving and respecting each other.
Any person who goes into state house has got positive and negative things that other people will talk about.
In short no president will perform miracles by turning Zambia into paradise.
Tribalism in our country is worse than Corruption.
If not addressed tribalism will manifest and divide our country.
There is nothing wrong with having a president coming from any of the 72 tribes.
Remember a complete reflection of a person is what you see out of the person at present.
Well said but Edgar does not see your humanity, if he did, he and his minions would not steal with impunity leaving the Economy gasping for dear life. And come back and ask helpless citizens for evidence of theft, heartless! A great leader makes a great difference, never underestimate that fact. The presidency in Zambia is not an entitlement that we should give it to Edgar for another five years even he has failed to steer the country to prosperity. Kuya bebele, that is why we have a representative democracy where we choose the best party and leaders who can deliver the best results for the country. So spare your sympathy and use your vote to usher in a better party and leader who will deliver. It’s not about Edgar or PF, it’s about country. One Zambia!
I fail to understand this the president has been saying the FIC report was a witch haunt, he can’t fire Chitotela or give him falsed leave because his cases are still in court & because he believes in the law that states innocent until proven guilty.The president recently stated that his detractors have been telling lies about him & his government about them being corrupt & that if anyone had any evIdence of corruption they should go to the relevant authorities unlike spreading information they can’t defend but look at this now let the president & Sunday Chanda take up thier own prescription the president has all government resources at his disposal so why did he decide to accuse HH & UPND before the conclusion of the case in the courts of law if anyone has been having doubts about the…
Continued here…..
having doubts about the kind of person ECL is this is a clear example he says on thing & does another have been telling people dividing Zambia on tribal lines is has been a political strategy for PF for some time now they know it will be difficult to win 2021 and they know the only way they can win 2021 is if the largest tribal populations (Bemba, Chewas ) where duped into believing it’s either they vote PF or HH who they want to brand as being tribal will make the lives of Bembas & Chewas difficult but let us be realistic it takes a certain level of intellect to see through this plan Zambians are inter married so what ever division the PF are trying to bring will affect all of us .
Ba up n down its time you make a substitute hakinde Alema Is tired
I find this debate useless. UPND insult and oppose anything said by anyone from PF. What are the facts for benefit of some of us who dont know where Dundumwezi is?
Are there ZESCO poles Yes/No
Were poles cut if YES
President Lungu’s Government responded by taking over K9 million-worth of Dundumwezi Grid Extension by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). Further Government began constructing a 237 kilometre road to connect Kalomo, Dundumwezi, Itezhi-Itezhi and Namwala in Southern Province at a cost of K220 million
IS THIS A LIE? YES?NO
UPND is a tribal Party YES/NO