HH TO BLAME FOR FRAIL ECONOMY
Wed, 27 Dec 2017 12:30:07 +0000
By Aaron Chiyanzo
HAKAINDE Hichilema is to blame for the very mess he says has engulfed the Zambian economy because of his bogus handling of the privatisation process and externalising of needed funds into offshore accounts, says former UPND deputy spokesperson
Edwin Lifwekelo.
Mr Hichilema, the UPND leader, has on several occasions mocked the economy of Zambia, as being on the verge of collapse.
But Mr Lifwekelo said that selfish leaders like Mr Hichilema, should not even mock the economy because he was largely to blame for the mess.
Mr Lifwekelo said the current government, under difficult conditions was busy correcting the mess Mr Hichilema had created when he mismanaged the privatisation process.
He reiterated that the economy would not have been limping, had Mr Hichilema not sold parastatal companies at a giveaway price.
Mr Lifwekelo charged that Mr Hichilema exposed his heartlessness by also selfishly hiding money which could help revamp the economy in offshore accounts.
He said that it was mockery on the Zambian people for Mr Hichilema and his vice president, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba to claim that the economy was collapsing when part of the solution lay the riches they possessed.
Mr Lifwekelo challenged the UPND leader to emulate Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote whom he said was busy ploughing back in his country, Nigeria and had created employment for the youth.“If Zambia is in a mess then it’s because of the bogus privatisation which was presided over by the very people who are claiming to be rich. They selfishly hide money in offshore accounts. They are not injecting anything in the economy but they mock the economy. Is it not Hakainde who sold our companies for a song when he was entrusted to handle the privatisation process?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, Mr Lifwekelo said that Zambia needed serious patriots who could help build the nation when given an opportunity and not mediocre politics being exhibited by Mr Hichilema.
He said that people who give away public resources to their friends on a silver plate should not be given an
opportunity to be in power.
And Mr Lifwekelo said that those who claim to be rich should share with the poor as President Edgar Lungu had demonstrated.
Mr Lifwekelo pointed out that it was shameful how UPND youths were suffering when their leader was claiming to be rich and hiding money in offshore accounts.