Zambians can’t return to PF – Lufuma

FORMER Defence minister Ambrose Lufuma says he is confident that the UPND will win the August polls. Lufuma says Zambians cannot go back to the violence and corruption that characterised the PF government. In an interview on Friday, Lufuma said the UPND were not feeling any pressure. “The fact that they have changed name does […]

FORMER Defence minister Ambrose Lufuma says he is confident that the UPND will win the August polls.

Lufuma says Zambians cannot go back to the violence and corruption that characterised the PF government.

In an interview on Friday, Lufuma said the UPND were not feeling any pressure.

“The fact that they have changed name does not make them different. That is PF and we are aware. They will go back to the old ways. They will rule like PF and how Zambia used to be ruled. Violence, corruption and all the vices you can think of. We don’t want to go there. And then these two people, Mundubile and Zulu are advocating for that. It is clear they have not learned from what ECL used to do. We cannot afford that. So there is no conflict between the opposition and the ruling UPND. We are moving smoothly. There are no incidences. For us, everything is fine. And I think this is how it should be everywhere. So my message to the people is to keep the peace, because democracy requires peace,” he said.

“There is no pressure. People are curious sometimes but there is no pressure at all. We are confident as the United Party for National Development that this election, we are definitely going to win. Yes, we are definitely going to win. I think it is important that we keep the peace. We should never go back to those dictates of the previous government, the PF. The way to go is to maintain peace so that people freely go to cast their vote and elect their leaders. If we go back to the PF, it means we are going back to violence. The opposition are full of violence. We are going back to the killings, we are going back to corruption, we are going back to the historical fights that were taking place during the PF regime”.

Meanwhile, commenting on Mundubile’s promise that his government would address challenges in the defence force, Lufuma said the UPND had limited resources to address the challenges due to competing needs.

“You know the history of this country in terms of finances, we inherited an empty treasure, presently. The treasure was looted from zero. And the GDP was zero, 2.8 percent gross negative, gross rate. And for the past four years, we are trying to ensure that we get parity by restructuring the debt. And so there were a lot of competing things. These guys looted. The same guys who are talking about that, looted the treasury. Now he’s talking about that because he has seen that there is 5.6 or 5.8 United States billion dollars in reserve, which is why he’s talking about that. But if you find zero in the treasury, how are you going to provide such services? You can’t. So it was genius for President Hakainde Hichilema to even be able to provide some of the services that have been provided to the citizens,” he said.

“It’s the desire of the current government to ensure that the men and women in uniform are comfortable, they are well accommodated, and everything else, given the necessary facilities and equipment that they require. That is the wish of our government. We are doing all that is required to ensure that desire is fulfilled. And so what Mundubile is talking about is exactly what we, as United Party for National Development desires to do. And finances being available, we definitely will do that and we are doing it as it is”.

Lufuma said Mundubile lacked vision for Zambia, just like late former president Edgar Lungu.

“We have built up the reserves and we want now, the economy is doing well in terms of the growth. Our industries are doing well, mining is booming, the price of copper is going up, thanks to the leadership of Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND. And with that growth, we then can channel these resources to competing needs. That’s how you rule. You just don’t come on the podium and start talking without any facts and reason. They are telling us they are going to rule like ECL, so they are going to loot the economy again. That’s what happened,” said Lufuma.

“What he is saying is that he is going to rule like ECL, Zambians rejected ECL on account of incompetence. His government was completely incompetent. Of corruption, they looted the treasury, there was violence. All the vices that you can think of were basically imported by ECL. So what vision is there in Mundubile? There is nothing. He is going to rule like ECL and Zambians rejected ECL, totally. Don’t forget to tell the people what you should hold for proven leadership. You have seen what has been happening. The macroeconomic indicators are all positive. You couldn’t do better. The rating of our President is one of the best on the continent and on the globe. And this is what you require from us. On the 13th of August, please vote wisely and the only way is to vote for Hakainde Hichilema”.