STATE House says the opposition have no original policies as they have continued to “photocopy” President Hakainde Hichilema’s policies and ideas. In a statement, Wednesday, State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said the opposition had no plans of their own. He mocked NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, saying the only genuine policy he had […]

STATE House says the opposition have no original policies as they have continued to “photocopy” President Hakainde Hichilema’s policies and ideas.

In a statement, Wednesday, State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said the opposition had no plans of their own.

He mocked NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, saying the only genuine policy he had was giving marketeers excavators.

“The more one listens to the opposition’s campaign messages, the more obvious it becomes that their greatest political challenge is not convincing Zambians they have a better plan, but convincing them they have none at all. Strip away the slogans, the theatrics and the personal attacks, and what remains is an almost complete absence of original policy thinking. Listen carefully. On mining, they repeat what President Hakainde Hichilema is already implementing. On energy, they echo government policy. On agriculture, manufacturing, education, healthcare and public sector recruitment, they simply recycle programmes that are already being delivered. So far the only major policy that genuinely belongs to them is giving marketeers excavators for using in their tomato sales at Soweto, Chisokone and other such trading places in the country. This should surprise no one,” he said.

Hamasaka added that the opposition had their time to implement their ideas but instead left behind an economy crippled by debt.

“They already had their turn in office, they were not spectators; they were the government. They had every opportunity to implement these ideas but instead left behind an economy crippled by debt, weakened institutions, declining investor confidence and stalled development. Having emptied their own policy cupboard, they now spend their days borrowing from one that is well stocked. Their campaign has therefore become remarkably predictable. First, copy government policy, then repackage it as though it were an original thought. Finally, when that fails to excite anyone, they resort to personal attacks on President Hichilema. It may be entertaining theatre for their most devoted supporters, but it is hardly a substitute for serious leadership,” he said.

Hamasaka said demands by the opposition for a policy debate were more theatrical than practical, as they had no original ideas.

“They resemble students who spent the entire term sleeping in class, only to demand copies of the brightest pupil’s answers during the examination. The only awkward detail is that these are not first-time candidates. They have already written the examination, marked their own script while in office and still managed to fail it. The irony is delicious. Every speech they make is, in effect, an endorsement of President Hichilema’s agenda. By copying his policies, they inadvertently admit that they have accepted his direction for the country,” said Hamasaka.

“This also explains why demands for a policy debate sound more theatrical than practical. A debate requires two competing visions. What exactly would President Hichilema debate when the opposition has adopted so much of his programme? It would amount to the unusual spectacle of a President debating his own policies while his opponents attempt to convince the public that photocopying amounts to innovation. Original ideas win arguments. Photocopies merely remind people where the original came from. They are no longer setting the national conversation; they are chasing it from a respectful distance”.