…accuses the new dawn of being the most corrupt, tribally polarised, calls on Zambians to vote out the UPND in 2026 and save Zambia from being looted to the core
By Nation Reporter
ZAMBIA is in real trouble under the UPND government because the ruling party has abrogated all its promises, raising governance concerns among citizens, include the unfulfilled promises, rampant corruption, racketeering, ever-shrinking democratic space, continued breach of the Constitution, electoral malpractices, the economic malaise, Harry Kalaba has said.
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Mr Kalaba has also called out the new dawn for mishandling the Sensele Mine disaster from which almost 30 youths were buried alive and still remain trapped with no hope of rescuing survivors.
Mr Kalaba, the president of the Citizens First Political Party (CF) is now calling on Zambians to vote out the UPND government in 2026 which has become more repressive and corrupt.
Addressing the media yesterday at the CF secretariat in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kalaba said in opposition, President Hichilema promised sweeping changes that would have enhanced the good governance of the country but that he had chosen to walk back on all the promises and instead had transformed himself into a full-blown autocrat running a corrupt and tribally polarised government.
“While in opposition, President Hichilema promised sweeping changes that would help enhance the governance of the nation as well as help win international confidence in the way he would govern the nation.
Three years down the line, this President has shown his true colours that point into the fact that he will go down as presiding over the most corrupt and most tribally polarised government,” Mr Kalaba said.
Mr Kalaba has condemned government for mishandling the Sensele Mine in Chingola, stating that the UPND had exhibited serious lack of care and love for citizens.
He is shocked that President Hichilema remained in Dubai when the country was in distress as a result of the almost 40 youths being buried alive after a landslide instead of cutting his calendar to return home and be with the people in trying times.
“Technically speaking, this incident happened on Thursday and the government was briefed in the early hours of Friday. While the nation is at a loss and in a state of mourning, it is ironic that the President saw it fit to remain in Dubai rather than heading home to come and provide guidance at such a trying time,” Mr Kalaba said.
On the recently held local government by-elections, Mr Kalaba accused the UPND of breaking all the electoral laws with impunity by engaging in vote-buying, distribution of mealie meal and violence but warned that 2026 shall be a different year and that the governing party should begin to prepare for its exit.
Discussing country’s economic status, Mr Kalaba said the UPND had condemned Zambians to deep economic miseries with the ever-increasing cost of living, the inability by government to contain the runaway Kwacha which has seen inflation nearing 13 percent.
He bemoaned the rampant corruption in the UPND government, saying the new dawn administration had in fact become more corrupt than the Patriotic Front (PF) which it accused of being corrupt while in opposition. “While the UPND was voted on the commitment of addressing corruption and ensuring that the nation was rid of corrupt practices, we have however seen the UPND evolve into a more corrupt institution than what was obtaining under the PF government. One of the biggest challenges that was raised in the nation under the previous government was around the Mukula tree.”
The question is why has the handling of Mukula been given to ZNS under the UPND as opposed to ZAFFICO whose mandate is to deal with forestry? How can a President who believes in transparency be making significant investments in an institution that cannot be audited?” Mr Kalaba wondered.
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