MUNDUBILE HAS EXPERIENCE TO DELIVER INDUSTRIALISATION AGENDA – MUMBI PHIRI Former Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has defended National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile’s industrialisation agenda, saying both he and running mate Makebi Zulu possess first-hand knowledge of development plans initiated during the PF administration. Speaking […]

MUNDUBILE HAS EXPERIENCE TO DELIVER INDUSTRIALISATION AGENDA – MUMBI PHIRI

Former Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has defended National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile’s industrialisation agenda, saying both he and running mate Makebi Zulu possess first-hand knowledge of development plans initiated during the PF administration.

Speaking in an interview on Capital FM 99.7, Ms Phiri said Mr Mundubile and Mr Zulu had served as Cabinet ministers and were directly involved in formulating and approving industrialisation programmes before the PF left office.

She said the two leaders were qualified to speak about industrialisation because they had participated in Cabinet deliberations on the projects.

“Brian Mundubile served as Provincial Minister for Northern Province before becoming Government Chief Whip, while Makebi Zulu served as Provincial Minister for Eastern Province. They were Cabinet ministers and attended Cabinet meetings where we discussed and approved these development plans,” Ms Phiri said.

“That is why, when Brian Mundubile talks about industrialisation, he speaks from experience. He was part of the team that developed those plans.”

Ms Phiri cited the pineapple processing plant in North-Western Province as one of the projects initiated under the PF government, arguing that the current administration only completed a project that had already been conceived and prepared.

“The UPND government later completed the project, but they have created the impression that they started it from scratch. That is simply not true,” she said.

She further claimed that the previous administration had planned a cassava processing plant in Chitambo and a fruit processing factory in Katete, with outgrower farmers already identified to supply raw materials.

According to Ms Phiri, the PF’s broader strategy was to establish industries tailored to each province’s comparative advantage, including reviving cashew plantations in Western Province and expanding fish farming in Kaoma.

“Our vision was to establish province-specific industries based on each area’s comparative advantage,” she said.

Ms Phiri also disclosed that she had personally invested in fish farming before her arrest, saying the project stalled afterwards.

“As for me personally, I had even begun developing fish ponds at my own home before I was arrested. I had already started filling them with water, but everything came to a standstill after my arrest,” she said.

She maintained that the industrialisation programme was based on practical projects aimed at creating jobs and adding value to agricultural produce.

“These are not empty promises. They are projects we planned, initiated and, in many cases, had already started implementing. Our industrialisation agenda was practical, deliberate and designed to create jobs, add value to agricultural products and improve the livelihoods of our people,” Ms Phiri said.

She urged Zambians to support Mr Mundubile in the 13 August 2026 general election.