A NEW DAWN HAS COME
Fellow countrymen and women;
The past two weeks have not been easy for our country. We lost our President His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata (MHSRIP) on 28th October 2014. Nonetheless, we should take pride in the way have come together peacefully to mourn the passing of our President.
I am very proud as a Zambian, that during this period we held onto our culture and the peace which we have always enjoyed. Of course there were some unsavory incidences but these were largely isolated. Indeed, we have put our late President to rest with the honour and dignity he deserved.
But it should not be only in difficult times that we come together as a nation, but at all times. It is only by moving forward in unity that real progress may be made.
Once more, our country is at a crossroads. This is not a time to be driven purely by emotion and sentiment. This, for us, must be a time for deep introspection and reflection. How do we move our country forward? How do we enter the next 50 years of our nationhood? As we approach the Presidential by-election we, the UPND, appeal to the nation to move forward together in harmony, respect and common brotherly spirit.
We have made history by being alive at a time when our country has attained 50 years of Independence, our golden jubilee. God has blessed Zambia with abundant resources, but we have not been fulfilling our potential due to poor Governance and management which could optimize these resources for everyone’s benefit.
I agree, our 50 years journey has not been an easy one. It has been full of hardships. Many of us have experienced and are still experiencing these hardships on a personal level. Our unemployment rate remains abnormally high. Maternal and infant mortality remain extremely high, 50 years after independence. And we are still struggling to make significant gains in governance and democracy. Now is the time to stop dragging our feet and getting distracted by infighting that not only hurts us, but also hurts our children and future generations. Now is the time for Zambia to once again unite as one and fulfill our potential in a new dawn that will bring jobs, improved education systems and develop better health care facilities. Despite these present hardships, we have every reason to be hopeful. When I look to the future, I see hope, I see prosperity for our country.
I draw my hope from the unique endowment of our country. Sixty eight percent of our land is arable and good for agriculture. We have untapped mineral resources. We hold almost 40 percent of all fresh water in Southern Africa and our climate is among the best in the world. Young people make up 55 percent of our population and majority of our people are hard working and very honest. We do not shy away from entrepreneurship. We are among the most hospitable countries in the world. This is what we are blessed with as a nation.
But to build a better Zambia depends on the decisions we make henceforth. It is our responsibility, you and me, to take our country forward. Our founding fathers and mothers brought us political freedom. Now it is time for us to bring economic emancipation for the present and for posterity.
It is time to strengthen our economy to allow for job creation, stable prices and wealth redistribution. We can only do this through prudent economic management. We need a strong and stable economy to support our middle class and SMEs which are basically struggling for survival. The middle class and SMEs are key to economic growth. We must support our economic development with a strong agriculture sector, free appropriate and good quality education, and quality healthcare.
We must build on the foundation that our past leaders and generations have built. You as an individual can do this firstly by participating in the upcoming election.
This is not time to be driven by sectoral and partisan interests but the common good. Those that are putting themselves forward in this election must be looked at critically, by voters, their abilities to deliver and capacity to hold this high office.
Voters must ask the questions and the candidates must answer. This is the spirit of democracy. The man or woman who the people of Zambia will choose shall become the custodian of the hopes and aspirations of thirteen million Zambians for the next two years. His or her decisions will affect our lives for many years to come and the lives of our children and their children’s children.
We must continue with the infrastructure development but at an accelerated pace. Infrastructure is the conduit for economic development. I have always maintained that where a good road goes, development goes. Nonetheless, infrastructure development must be done in such a manner that it does not hurt economic fundamentals. We must increase our revenue collection capacity to fund our infrastructure as opposed to borrowing expensive money. And in some cases we must partner with the private sector (Private Public Partnerships) so as to reduce pressure on the public purse.
Brothers and sisters, there is no better moment than this, for us all to realize the importance of a people driven constitution. If our constitution allowed for a running mate, the expense of a Presidential by-election would have been avoided all together. It is simply mind boggling that we must hold three Presidential elections within a space of six years. It is time we stopped playing games with the people’s aspirations and give them what they want. As UPND, we will not waste time in delivering a new constitution.
Lastly, I call upon my fellow politicians that we continue to restrain ourselves. We should put our country Zambia above our personal interests. Politics is just a competition to serve and, as in any competition, there will always be winners and losers. Let political parties adhere to the rules stipulated in their constitutions in choosing their candidates for the upcoming elections. This is the only way to avoid anarchy. Above all, let us observe the rule of law at all times.
Let us take Zambia forward.
I thank you and once again may the soul of the late President, Michael Chilufya Sata, rest in eternal peace.
Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President
Mwabikako na ka smile. You will be scarring children na beni (Diplomats)
Hmm, too serious facial expressions always! This president should learn to relax his face – its not a war!
Good statement from new President, we get used to his long speeches, at least not in caps.
We thank you for your behavior too HH for good behavior.
You are very childish. Typical Zambian! Mulebako serious ba ngwele. HH is dealing with very important matters of national development, Iwe kulanda fye pa fya smile? Walebutuke isukulu?
The freemason has come again to ride on another corpse. why do you always wait for someone to die for you to take over? You will never be president. You privatisation thief ,the house you live in is a Ramcoz house, it belongs to the people of Copperbelt.
We dont want thieves like you at plot one.
@ D and At A Distance,HH could have gone through a very rough childhood life.Psychologists and Psychiatrist would tell you a lot just by looking at him and his
behavior interaction with others etc.All these haunt us even in adulthood life.Maybe the guy family was very poor he could go to school with shoes no uniforms coz I haveseen that kind of behavior before within my family not outside.Always bitter and you want him to be President.Never in this life or Next life.
HH ,y do you talk about golden jubilee when you didn’t want to take part in the process.stop cheating yourself.remember what u were told,even if sata dies as you wanted you can’t win.
Ndeloleshafye ….. meanwhile Edgar is also watching the space keenly . the Race has began
Iwe Ba Eddie, ni bachakolwa! Teti Bateke Icalo. Ama single malt whisky yakaba pesha!
You’d be hard-pressed to find a sober brain cell in Edgar’s skull.
That is my President. Fair and sorber
Yes tell them, you know him better, tell them.
Me and just coming to like him.
matured speech from a matured leader. Zambians, let us vote above tribal lines. in whatever decisions we make in putting in a new president, the interest of all Zambians should be allowed to reign supreme over any personal interests.
Lets welcome Comrade HH is state house as PF slaughters themselves. HH only feared SATA as Sata (admitedly) only feared MAZOKA…
TRIBAL. MAZOKA with who?
Edgar Lungu for president. Unless UPND holds a democratic conversion you are a tribal party because that post HH (Hekalila Hagain) was purely left for a Tonga who is you. Hukaivotela Weka! HH president MY FOOT.
Sorry Jay, your tribal card won’t work this time. Zambians are far too smart to make another mistake. HH is the man of the moment, viva UPND
@ Jay
Before we start new chapter, can you please enlighten us on the cause of “untimely” death of our “fit as the fiddle” bellowed “democratic” ruler of the “Christian Nation”?
Jay sorry the tribal tug wont work this time.Everyone knows that it was Mumembe who coined this tug to paint HH black ,the same membe is calling others in PF as bemba clique what a backward person.HH is first of all a human being created by god,then he is Ila .what comes first is that he is a human form a human race not Tonga.He was democratically elected by UPND members from the 9 provinces and not southern province a lone.so I don’t see how the Tongas would be found in all the provinces,each province brought equal number of electorates to the convention which was organized by Saki the acting president.It is now clear that the choice was Good as saki has failed to run his party they formed with Lubinda.The Lozis have moved own and so should every Zambian.Lets give HH a chance.
Mmembe used the Tribal Tag on HH for personal interests. Zambians have seen through that wicked scheme which culminated in the Cartel attempting to usurp power even from PF. This time around the scheme will not work Jay! Tough my man. HH is our next President. We are campaigning for him. Ba Eddie ama dizzie! Teti Bateke Icalo!
@Jay, HH is not tribal. You can tell a Tribalist by appointments one makes. He has never been in Government and has not appointed anyone to any position. Check out the appointments Sata has made so far – Diplomatic Missions, PerSecs, Cabinet, Parastatal Chiefs etc you will tell who is TRIBAL.
Presidential material right there….Zambia needs this man as President. Vote wisely and vote HH. When is the first Presidential debate ZNBC?
Presidential material which country?you people you are full of jokes,the way you are encouraging your under 5,as if copper/belt won’t vote,as if Lusaka won’t vote,as if northern won’t vote ,you wait you will cry again.
To ALL well meaning zambians, this message by HH is intended for for you, listen carefully and see between lines that it is full of Care and intelligence.We all agree to good road network, good education,good healthcare systems, creation of employment for many zambians, good economic management.what more do we want? lets not burry our heads in the sand and give our vote to continued suffering.we need to come out this poor governance.the chance for doing so is now.Dont say you were not warned.ifwe tutila ati, umwana ushenda atasha fye nyina. ati mama ewipika bwino.PLEASE CHANGE NOW.JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.
Its no longer time for smiles. You had that time with the late presido. Now its time to get into gear and be serious.
Relax man! No bemba will ever vote a Tonga for the highest office in the Zambian land. We can’t be ruled by a Tonga never! I’m not even sure if you are comparing ‘like with like’? USA and Zambia are very different. I’m sure you are a very big dull Tonga bull.
Never trust your enemy no matter what! Bembas/Chewas/Ngonis know who to vote. Put your enemy in power and he will finish you. Specially, you bembas careful!
Thanks.
Which enemy? Zambia is for all Zambians. In Upnd there is Dr Banda, Madam Mutale Nalumango, Chanda Percy, Mr Mulenga, Mr Kakoma, Mr Kapita, Mr Zimba etc all these are true sons & daughters of our Zambian soils with ability to develop Zambia. The only enemy Zambia has are selfish & greedy people like you who want to use division for personal gain. All Zambians should stand united.
I don’t agree with you because I know what I’m talking about. The motive of HH to enter politics is not a pure one. His aim is to revenge and liberate Tonga people whom he thinks have been oppressed for so many years by the Bembas. You can even see anger written all over his face. Even those names you’ve mentioned are not good enough. Leave UPND for Tongas only. If you are not a Tonga and you are supporting UPND, know that you are sick and rotten. Leadership is not about revenge and liberation of your tribe but its about working for all zambians. Until HH understands this, he will never be a president.
Haha wonders shall never end. I am not surprised that we have sick people in our society like “Nkumbabukata”. Even in Central Texas where I live, we had people like that who strongly believed that Obama being president was coming to revenge for the blacks’ long years of oppression and that he hates whites. That is why they stocked up more on Guns “for fear of Obama and the blacks will come to get them”. Silly!!!
but sorry Mr. Nkumbabukata there is no oppression or anyone who needs to be liberated from the other in Zambia. If you want people to vote for your presidential choice just campaign for that people (as your democratic right) than bringing in tribal divisions that are non-existent
Ha ha UPND cadres balaumfwisha bwino.Everytime we are holding elections it’s time 4 HH 2 rule.watch the space UPND cadres!!U’ll be defeated again.PF will win Lusaka(Matero,mandevu,chawama,kabwata,lusaka central and Kanyama).Eastern will go to PF.Luapula to PF,Muchinga to PF,Northern to PF,Copperbelt to PF.Central(kabwe central,kapiri mposhi,Serenje,Nkushi south and north).Western PF will get 40% of votes.Sourthern UPND will win by 95%.North western UPND wins with 70% N PF 30%.In conclusion PF will win by more than 55% based on my analysis.HH will be retired come january 2015.I don’t know why UPND supporters get their analysis.PF has done a lot within 3 years n People want development 2 continue.HH is not a politician.he doesn’t smile at people.He fails to connect with poor people.Ha…
You have my vote sir. We need to progress in the right direction. 50 years of independence and our leaders still go to receive medical attention from abroad. And when I look at Kenya that has had no minerals to make income from, they are far ahead of us. We need to be serious with the leaders we choose and only hope Bwana HH you mean what you saying. This country needs to move forward for real. We too behind given the resources at our disposal.
Our children cannot be inheriting debt and wonder what they will say when they read the history of the resources the country has hard. We no longer need sweet talkers but people that will drive this nation into the right direction.
Great vision from the great son of our Zambian soils. HH means well for Zambia & is a Zambian who needs to be supported by all Zambians for a better Zambia for Zambians. For once let us refuse to be used by these politicians who are using division for their personal gain at the expense of nation development. Let us stand as united one Zambia one nation. Go HH go!
Very timely and inspiring guidance to the nation.But sense of humour and hands-on pragmatic attitude to work of our beloved late Presido would be missed forever, if you do not improve on your attitude to politics and cheerful personality always! From aspirant UPND {2016} MP for Livingstone.
Zambia bleeds to reclaim its rightful spot as an economic giant in region. Simplicity in the way we keep choosing our leaders has robbed the nation attainment of economic growth! We are our own destiny hopefully this time around with God’s guidance we will get it right
pipo of southern have shown us how tribal they are wen voting.so bwana we shal vote on tribal lines.
hh, you are also saying our late president president??????? hypoclis at its best. zambians open your eyes wooves in sheep skin are on the loose. infact to tell you the truth mulenga qualifies more than you hh.you are a kind of person who always want to climb a tree from the leaves. look at yourself, where were you before mazoka died?? you sprang from no were and cheated upnd and took over presidence, only after mazoka died. were could you have been today if mazoka was alive?????? many top leaders that mazoka left had to leave because you hh you just took advantage of death. and now the death of the great man sata to you its an opputunity , what kind of a man are you who only wait for death of another to take advantage??????plz national presidence is not for chancers like you!!! .go and…
You right my bro-sister. Why does he come only when someone has died? Suspect freemason. He may contribute to these deaths. Voters open your eyes and ears please. he condemned all PF projects the qn is is he going to continue? Very sorry for him
ati ‘continue the infrastructure development’ you are contradicting your self musankwa.a few weeks ago you are on record of having said that sata and his illiterate kaponyas have put the country in reverse gear.what do you mean by saying ‘CONTINUE’ continue in reverse gear iwe under five. you are just desperate. KK once advised you to be sata’s vise but you refused because you are too proud,he knew that you cant make it on your own, look at EDGER! he is almost there……. and please let one-edy talk about continuity and not you. CONTINUITY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII…..
ono who started campianing for himself at the heroes stadium.why is is scared of the convetion.a man with a history of drunkardness ,stealing clients’s money ,grubbing client’s wife and kidney failure.is state house for funerals mwabantu.
what is it that HH is coming to do becoz he was against every project Pf did? surely even if HH is your relative can you risk these project in the hands of a person who has never worked in Govt?
why do you like to mislead HH? you know that you will not vote for him but you are busy praising him. Eastern, luapula, copperblt, muchinga, northern are 88% for lungu. lusaka and central will give lungu 60% where is HH’s presidency with mugabe as campaign manager?
Stop making noise babo hh your time is 2051
its yo opinion boss ,Zambians will show you this time after all Kaponyas like you don’t vote.Viva HH.
Dabo hh your time is 2051
Lets wait for the two candidates from MMD and PF that is when you will put your mpimo properly or else wina a zalila again. If Edgar will be adopted and RB then HH will win because there will be a split of votes between the wise easterners and Northerners there Mbuyas. but if RB is not standing then Edgar will automatically win the presidency. No Under 5 may be 2016 or 2021 may 2026
Hungry hyena is not charismatic , dictatorship tendencies and morally corrupt . It’s ur president but watch the pace he will lose big time
@cozmocowjr,fact man & peter
Sata was against the Chineese but did he chase them? the answer is no. Sata criticized MMD pojects and yet he was implementing them. so if HH criticized some of Sata’s projects it doesn’t mean he will not implement the good ones,,he will. This is the game of politics.In fact all these projects which pf have been boasting about were left by MMD.These were compaign projects for RB that’s why they are in every district throughout the country,,they were meant to give RB a vote in 2011.These were not PF initiated projects,so stop telling people lies because it will not work for you.The chief liar the old serpent, your father, has died and his off springs,yourselves,should not to allowed to continue cheating Zambians. Tribalists.
if HH was Bemba
kaya,,,only God knows
First & foremost: Hakainde, go & mend your route to power (ONLY A TONGA CAN….)
Second, subject your party to a “TRUE” convention to show how democratic you are.
Finally, get it into your ugly skull that the “Only HH, only Sata, only Chimbwi stoopidity has gone.
I conclude to say your statements about the late Chimbwi No Plan, Unplanned for development, Chipantepante policies are just gonna start haunting you in the next 65 days.
Uzakalila mfana early next year!!
aLungu for Zambia!!!!
HH can never be President just keep on dreaming fellas he has no qualities of a Leader.Being Busineessman is different from running a country.
Mr Bull, you can say whatever you want about HH. I myself don’t know much about the guy. However I know that Sata was elected president of Zambia. Think about that for a minute. If Sata could get elected who can’t??
HH; please know that you make a great noise maker in opposition. You will never rule. Sorry, you just have to swallow your pride and let other people rule. You are a Kantemba president…just donate UPND to PF so we can continue ruling you!
Tongas I Wonder Why Think Hh Can Win An Election. Why Do U Like Dreaming. Pf Will Still Win Whether U Like It Or Not. We Will Try Hh In 2051 Not This E By Elections Or 2016 Or 2021
Benangu bazalila – again!
HH is headed for another humiliating defeat . The ruling party started campaigning when it formed government by embarking on ambitious infrastructural programmes .HH is better off to start strategising for 2016 and 2021 because technically the ruling party has already won but if in doubt just look back 2 months ago when UPND was humiliated in their own backyard ( Zambezi – West)
it is not tongas alone who have seen potential in hh its the whole country he speaks for all zambians not for himself or for tongas you dull monkey iam not a bemba myself but have seen sense and iam goint to vote for him i have also convinced many many others it is change for the better viva hh viva upnd here we go
When PF ws in opposition there ws that feelin of havin an opposition party,nat thiz parties we hav now,too weak to offer any meaningful challenge,hence PF is winning again