Sun, 12 Nov 2017 11:18:50 +0000
By OSCAR MALIPENGA
THE Paradise Papers have exposed UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s luck of patriotism and that he cannot be trusted with the leadership of Zambia, his former deputy spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo.
And Mr Lifwekelo has demanded that government must investigate the Paradise Papers report to determine whether there is an element of money laundering linking Mr Hichilema.
In an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Lifwekelo said revelations by Paradise Papers casts doubts in the minds Zambians as to whether the role that some of the political leaders played in privatisation process was really genuine or meant to amass wealth for themselves.
“We fear that yes there might be nothing illegal in anyone investing in offshore but I think at the end of the day what is certainly clear is an element of lack of patriotism on the part of the UPND leader.
“How do you entrust a leader to come and run this country and preside over the population of Zambia and be assured that this leader will not continue along the path of removing wealth from the nation and taking it abroad? That is the danger of having such kind of a leader,” he said.
Mr Lifwekelo said it was no wonder that whenever Mr Hichilema had issues in Zambia, he ran to the International Community, confirming that he had no passion to really support or deal the issues facing Zambians.
“So the report has exposed HH’s lack of patriotism and he cannot be trusted with the leadership of Zambia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Lifwekelo has threatened to petition Parliament to establish legislation that would curtail candidates from being perpetual presidential candidates.
“We also want to see because HH has been talking about no third term for Lungu whatever he means but we know that President Lungu qualifies to contest going by the amended constitution.
“If that is the route HH wants to take to start talking about no third term we might be tempted to ask Parliament to bring legislation in particular on presidential candidates that have stood in presidential elections for more than three times,” Mr Lifwekelo said.
He said there was no way someone could be a perpetual candidate in a political party.
“I think we must have rules or legislation that will stop those candidates that perpetually want to be candidates as and when an election is called and we shall be appealing to Parliament to see how we can bring legislation to bar them,” he said.
