Wed, 17 May 2017 10:21:22 +0000
IT is certain that the outspoken Patriotic Front (PF) Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili has taken a populist stance on Luanshya Municipal Council’s decision to remove vendors from the streets.
On account of his zest to gain popularity, he has relentlessly continued practising cheap politics which not only exhibit hypocrisy but also sheer populism.
It is rather shocking that as an elected Member of Parliament, he can choose to take a militant stance against what the Luanshya Municipal Council, in consultation with the business community, is implementing to make Luanshya among the cleanest towns on the Copperbelt.
On one hand, Mr Kambwili admits that street vending is not good while he condemns the Council’s decision to rid the streets of vending and makes very wild allegations against PF leaders of being corrupted with power.
Is Mr Kambwili sincere and honesty in his criticism? When did he cease to be one of the PF leaders?
It is clear that this sort of criticism is insincere and not factual. It is merely an outlandish and inflammatory statement meant to seek political mileage.
For example, Mr Kambwili was among the first to criticise Government to restrict hours of driving for public service vehicle (PSV) to mitigate road carnage.
His suggestion opposing the idea was not only stupid in practice but also unattainable, it was an agenda of fake news and yet he came out with guns blazing condemning Government for the four hours’ drive shift.
He had not done any research or contacted the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) or any authoritative body to verify facts.
And this time he wants to mislead the people on the pretext removing vendors from the streets is going against the PF campaign promises. If Kitwe City Council has removed vendors from the streets and the town is looking orderly, why can the same not be done in Luanshya?
In any case, Luanshya like other towns in Zambia, equally has what is considered as the main market right in town where many traders should conduct their businesses from. It is equally common knowledge that apart from the main market, there are usually markets dotted around the compounds but for residential compound for the affluent.
Thus, it is a baseless argument to oppose the Council’s decision to urge vendors to retreat from conducting their businesses from the streets of town on account of no available trading places. Luanshya has several markets where traders can operate from as opposed to the streets of town.
It is needless to remind Mr Kambwili that by virtue of being a Member of Parliament, he is a member of the Luanshya Municipal Council. In fact, this is not the first time that he is presiding over affairs of Luanshya in that capacity. He has been there since 2011 when the PF took over the reins of power from the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD).
Ideally, every Member of Parliament is supposed to support the programmes that the Council has earmarked for implementation under its jurisdiction as it falls within the constituency they superintend over.
It is disappointing for an MP who is not only a seasoned member of the party but also a former Cabinet minister to begin to work against the programmes that the Government he was once part of just a few months ago.
In fact, as former Information and Broadcasting Minister as well as chief Government spokesperson, Mr Kambwili eloquently explained Government’s developmental agenda and programmes much to the satisfaction of members of the public. Has he lost the zeal to rally behind such progressive programmes simply because he is no longer holding an executive government position?
We think Milenge district commissioner is spot on in censuring Mr Kambwili’s outbursts that power had corrupted many PF leaders such that those who voted for them are now treated like dogs.
Objectively speaking, the Government is doing everything humanly possible to fulfil its campaign promises by equitably taking developmental programmes to all the corners of Zambia.
And it is rather myopic to assert that it has neglected the electorates and now treating them like dogs. Mr Kambwili ought to learn to give credit where it is due and desist from exhibiting rebellious tendencies.
We observe with dismay that since his dismissal from Government, Mr Kambwili has turned himself int0 a rebel within the PF party and has become antagonistic with fellow party members. He vents his bitterness at whoever he imagines is working against his political ambitions.
We urge Mr Kambwili to be a good leader and citizen by supporting programmes that are aimed at bettering the lives of our people and stop shelve his political ambitions for 2021 for now.
