Mon, 20 Feb 2017 11:01:48 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
TECHNOCRATS and people with brilliant ideas should not shy away from supporting President Edgar Lungu in his endeavour to develop and unite the country, says former UPND vice president for politics Canisius Banda.
In an interview with the Daily Nation yesterday, Dr Banda, who now prefers to be referred to as a development activist, said that experts and citizens with ideas on how to develop as well as unify the country should not keep their knowledge to themselves but share it with President Lungu.
He said that the wise thing for every citizen should be to see President Lungu succeed in developing the country and uniting it, saying the next elections would take place in 2021 hence the need to offer ideas on how to foster development and unite the nation.
Dr Banda said that it was vital for everyone in the country to remain peaceful and united.
“For me on a personal level platforms for service will vary over time but selfless service to humanity will remain constant.
‘‘The next elections will be in 2021 and the wise thing for every citizen to do now is to support President Lungu, give him their brilliant ideas, what thoughts they have about national development, thoughts that will keep the country united so that as one nation we stand together focused on fighting poverty, that’s the way forward,” Dr Banda said.
Dr Banda said that he would continue to contribute positively to the country’s national development in any capacity that he finds himself in and stated that he had not gone in oblivion but was still absorbed in writing articles on development as well as lecturing students, saying he needed to give back to society as he was a product of the free education policy under the Kenneth Kunda administration.
He said that was unfortunate that despite the country being endowed with natural resources most people were still living in poverty but expressed hope that with austerity measures taken by the Government, and if the proceeds would be invested back in education and health services, the scourge would be greatly minimised.
