Fri, 29 Dec 2017 10:08:48 +0000
By BENNIE MUNDANDO
SOME UPND leaders in Southern Province led by a senior party official are allegedly going round the region with a begging bowl, getting kickbacks from potential parliamentary candidates with promises that it will engineer their adoption in 2021.
A council official told the Daily Nation that, the group has so far been to Kalomo, Siavonga and Sinazongwe allegedly asking for financial aid with promises that they will ensure they influence the adoption process to favour the donors.
The source said, there was now anger in the three districts as the grassroots were aware of the evil activities the group was involved in.
But provincial youth chairperson Mweemba Malambo said he was not aware of anyone who was involved in such activities because that was not the position of the party. “We cannot have a situation where instead of mobilising the party, some people are busy mobilising personal resources using their positions. Right now, there are people who are going round getting bribes from wealthy members with promises that they will be adopted as MPs in 2021 and this is the fact that is known among the grassroots. “These people have gone to Sinazongwe, Siavonga and were also in Kalomo. You can just see the selfishness of the people who must be in the forefront to ensure that Hakainde Hichilema wins the forthcoming elections. While we are labouring for the party to make significant gains in 2021, others are using their positions to make wealth for themselves,” the source said.
But when contacted for a comment, Mr. Malambo expressed ignorance over the matter saying the party was preoccupied with working with the current crop of MPs in ensuring that it delivered to the people.
“That will never be. We are behind the Members of Parliament that we have and this is not time for campaigns but it is time for work and we want to give a good platform to our MPs to ensure that they deliver. That information, to me, I am not aware about it,” Mr. Malambo said.
Efforts to get a comment from provincial chairperson, Billy Makwembo, proved futile as his mobile phone was constantly switched off.
