Friday, March 29, 2024

UPND ready to work with government to fight COVID-19

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The United Party for National Development is ready to work with President Edgar Lungu in order to fight and conquer the coronavirus.

UPND President Mr Hakainde Hichilema says there is need for politicians to put their political differences aside in order to combat COVID-19.

Addressing journalists at the Party Secretariat on Friday, Mr Hichilema stated that this period was not the time to indulge in political battles but to concentrate on ways and means of ending the pandemic that has gripped the world .

”I have no issues with Mr Lungu and his government on the coronavirus, we can work together. We should put our competition aside so that we can fight this disease together! Am inviting my friend now, we can be together on the table and fight the coronavirus. Can we agree that we work together for once?!” Mr Hichilema said.

He said that concerted efforts from the church, the family and the general citizenry were needed in order to combat the virus.

“Coronavirus is not a joke. The whole world is gripped in fear because of the disease. It is actually a disease that justifies defining this country and continent as being at war with the virus. I want to say that all of us as a country must work together to fight this war. Churches, we must work together, we must cooporate,” he said.

Mr Hichilema said that it was imperative for Zambian citizens to adhere to both local and international guidelines on combating the outbreak, adding that there was need to close the borders with other countries.

“We must shut out travellers from other countries. This is not Xenophobia. We have relatives who are in Europe. This is the time to ask them to stay where they are. And, if we can do that to our relatives to make them safer where they are, why should we keep our borders open carelessly. No leader should term our calls as Xenophobic,” he said.

He said there was need to declare the coronavirus as a national emergency so that assistance from well wishers could be invoked.

“Our country must officially declare this virus as an emergency so that we can invoke assistance that will help us fight this war. I must mention that as a nation and as a country, we must do nothing that takes away anything from our fight against the coronavirus,” he said.

He has since called on Zambians to ensure that they adhere to strict hygiene rules that the Ministry of Health and other health care professionals have outlined.

“We should ensure that we adhere to the safety rules and hygienic standards that has been set by the Ministry of Health and other health care professionals. Let’s ensure we sanitize; that we wash our hands and faces regularly,” he said.

Mr. Hichilema also reminded members of the public that if presented with symptoms such as a fever, a cough and difficulty in breathing, they should immediately contact the following emergency numbers: 909(toll free), 0953898941, 0964638726, and 0974493553

16 COMMENTS

  1. Can everyone just stay where they are just for a month, and stop all these non essential movements, and if only the world could be put on no unnecessary movements for 2 to 3 weeks, if possible work from home,its time world leaders put their feet down

  2. It had to take me asking you to do this before you issued statement. Very sad ba HH. Let us not politicise everything. We re willing to work with you only if you genuinely believe in helping our people.

    I have just read the article or rather fake news posted by Zambia watchdog alleging that I beat up some pf provincial official at Chicago’s last night and that I threatened to shoot him. That is funny when I was at home with my family at the same time. Anyway I am sure I have many imaginary clones. I was not drinking last night. If anything I am drinking today in kafue. So if you seem me approach me and I will get you a free drink.
    Kz
    Director of higher intelligence in OP

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  3. Please HH be patriotic and work with the government to build and develop Zambia not just COVID 19 just because it has the entire universe attention…..its about time you team up with the current government and help solve the problems that Zambians are facing

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  4. Am in New York city and i have never seen this city like this…its so sureal….its like a bad dream coming to reality…..the Mighty Empire State has just been turned into a ghost town….

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  5. Folks this is not the time for politicking with a dire health emergency.I’m neither pro UPND nor pro PF, but its time for all parties to come together to fight this common enemy.

  6. We may not see eye to eye but when the worse comes to the worst, Zambia comes first! Together, we can keep this funny virus away from our people and overcome this crisis.

  7. “He said there was need to declare the coronavirus as a national emergency so that assistance from well wishers could be invoked.”

    Not nice. Before we attract well wishers. We must ensure that we ourselves fight this COVID -19 tooth and nail.

    Double h with his declations is usually worrying. National emergency this, national disaster that. Nigga, what?

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  8. We must all work together. It starts by ECL existing his quarantine and talking directly to the people like a real leader.

  9. You are equally politicising just like the person you are accussing. Please stop the rot.
    Learn from South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa managed to bring together all opposition polical parties, worked with them to get their suggestions to help curb the COVID situation. Held a press conference where all the opposition parties supported the Govt, including the notorious Julius Malema.
    All in All, Cyril Ramaphosa `s govt came out stronger with a mandate supported by all parties. In Zambia, instead of ECL coming out, he is hinding ati “working from behind”…BUULSHIIIT ! This virus doesnt deserve to ma secrets. Useless political advisors.

  10. Come on man the whole globe is on stand still with this global pandemic who is going to rush to assist Zambia when every country is doing their part to safeguard their own people. Every is doing their part to fight this virus on their home turf we should do our part without thinking about outside assistance. Nehemiah when rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem tasked his people to build the wall near where they stay so as to repel the enemies and st same time meet their goal of building the wall, now that’s how leaders rally their people to respond to threats and continue with their objectives.

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  11. We don’t need help from anyone, all we need is unity. Let the PF leader invite all opposition political parties and put things right in order to team-work. Not ati National Disaster we call for emergency brabrabra. Iwe everyone is affected so lets do what we can do within our means. Imwe ba Kaizer naimwe a sebweni mukazikula. We are talking about serious issues imwe mukamba moba na Chicagos sure? Elo mukamba as if you’ve powers than the president, kwati nikaja ka Seer 1 mwekenzokambila. ANyway, days are numbered. Lets free Zambia from COVID-19 and one people. Ba HH everyone(All countries) are affected so Jesus Christ for all, each one for himself(each country).

  12. BRAVO,WAY TO GO BANDALA BA HH. NOT WHAT THIS HEADLESS KZ HAS WRITTEN. REFLECT ON YOUR ACTIONS WHICH IS FOLLOWING YOU AND SOON IT WILL CATCH UP.

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