Mon, 28 Aug 2017 09:13:01 +0000
By Annie Zulu
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema should stop using his stay in prison to gain political mileage, but rather use it to sober up and get rid of his stubbornness, National Revolution Party president Cosmo Mumba has said.
Mr Mumba said that since his release from prison, Mr Hichilema had become more pompous and was portraying himself like a super hero.
He counselled Mr Hichilema that the few months he spent in prison should be a turning point for him to be a better person.
“HH should stop thinking that he is a super hero just because he was in prison, it’s high time that he engages in mature politics. We know what is going on in his mind right now, he is thinking that since other Presidents that had gone to prison before became presidents, then he will also be President,” Mr Mumba said.
He advised Mr Hichilema to instead show leadership and patriotism by swallowing his pride and getting rid of his stubbornness. Dr Mumba said Mr Hichilema should now concentrate on how best he can contribute to Zambia’s development as an opposition leader, rather than showing his hunger for power. “Being stubborn will not make him famous or President, he should just humble himself instead and get rid of his heavy baggage of pride,
“This is a time for him to find ways of how he can help Zambia while he is in the opposition, it does mean that when you are in the opposition, then you can’t help in developing the country. You can play a part while in the opposition, that is what it means being a leader,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Mumba has said that the behaviour that the UPND had continued to display after the 2016 general elections left much to be desired.
He noted that the constant refusal by the opposition party to accept defeat was not only inciting division in Zambia, but also delaying the national agenda.
“It is undeniable and inescapable fact that throughout the political history of every country on earth all the elections are won in the ballot box. It is ridiculous for Mr Hichilema and his UPND living in denial,” he said.
