Wed, 12 Jul 2017 13:05:00 +0000
By OSCAR MALIPENGA
HUNDREDS of Dundumwezi residents gave President Edgar a rousing welcome when he arrived yesterday in a constituency that gave him the least votes in the August 2016 Presidential elections.
Six traditional leaders declared that their respective traditional ceremonies would go ahead despite the incarceration of UPND president Hakainde Hichilema.
President Lungu was in Dundumwezi in line with his declared stance that he would push for development even in areas where he was exceedingly unpopular.
In Dundumwezi, President Lungu got the least votes of all constituencies across the country at 252 votes against his rival UPND candidate Hakainde Hichilema who garnered 30,810. It was worse in 2015 when President Lungu polled 83 votes against Mr Hichilema’s 14,181.
But the residents trooped to Habulile Primary School grounds as early as 07:00 hours where the presidential chopper landed to have a glimpse of President Lungu.
Mr Lungu made his intention clear when he took oath of authority before Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima shortly after elections last year that he would visit Dundumwezi constituency to deliver and tour development projects.
“We have a responsibility to show the people in the areas where we got few votes that we are One Zambia, One Nation. If I didn’t get those 252 votes in Dundumwezi, I wouldn’t have gotten 50% plus 1,” President Lungu said during a victory thanks giving rally at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
The President launched the construction of a multimillion 253-kilometre Kalomo-Dundumwezi road. The launch took place after he inspected several government projects in Southern province.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Chikanta of Kalomo within Dundumwezi constituency, President Lungu declared that time for politics was over and it was time work.
The President said when time for politics returned, the environment would tell.
“Thank you for the warm hospitality I can tell that the people here are happy to receive me. “Time for politics is gone it is now time to work. When time for politics comes the environment will tell,” President Lungu said.
He assured traditional leaders in Southern Province of his administration’s full support especially in the agriculture sector.
And Senior Chief Chikanta thanked President Lungu for visiting Dundumwezi despite his busy schedule.
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Mr. Hamukale said Senior Chief Chikanta had always been worked with the government of the day to deliver development to the people of Dundumwezi.
Southern Province traditional leaders have vowed to go ahead with their respective traditional ceremonies despite the incarceration of the UPND president. The traditional leaders include Chikanta, Mwenda, Simwatachela, Chooma, Sinazongwe and chieftness Sikute.
Meanwhile President Lungu has told the people of Dundumwezi to forget about the “way you voted during elections because it’s now time to work.”
And President Lungu has told Senior Chief Chikanta of Kalomo district in Dundumwezi to ask the area UPND member of Parliament to work with his administration to develop the area.
Addressing a rally outside Chief Chikanta’s palace, President Lungu said if the area member of Parliament refuses to work with him, he would not force him. The Head of State has promised to transform Dundumwezi through infrastructure development.
