Tue, 18 Apr 2017 10:39:01 +0000
By BENNIE MUNDANDO
THERE is need for the Patriotic Front (PF) government to preoccupy itself with policies that will improve the quality of life of Zambians as opposed to directing its energies at attacking perceived enemies, National Restoration Party (NAREP) secretary general Ezra Ngulube has observed.
Mr. Ngulube said there was need for government to avert the seemingly increasing tension among political players by concentrating on matters which directly benefited Zambians.
He said that the increase in dissent among citizens had the potential to bring down governments no matter how powerful they were hence the need for those in power to respond positively to the needs of the people.
He said Zambians voted the PF into government in 2011 because they believed that the party could transform the country but warned that the same people had the power to remove them from power should leaders concentrate on bickering.
“We are appealing to PF to focus on how they are going to improve the lives of the people of Zambia and not wasting time plotting how they are going to bring down those with opposing views. Let them remain bold and visionary as leaders to make sure we form decisions that will benefit Zambians,
“There are retirees that have not been paid their dues. Some of them have even died without having received their pensions. There are still gaps in youth and women empowerment and high levels of unemployment. These are the issues that should preoccupy the PF rather than being preoccupied with how to attack enemies,” Mr. Ngulube said.
And Mr. Ngulube has urged those in power to exercise servant-leadership and not to be vindictive as the same measure of pain they may be inflicting on others would be used against them when the systems they were abusing turned against them when they were out of office. He said there were a number of examples of how former leaders in ten country were choked by the same “concoction” they devised against perceived opponents once they were out of office.He alleged that there was tension in the country today because some people had failed to exercise restraint and were using their positions to fix their opponents.
“As NAREP, we are concerned that there is too much tension in the country. Freedom of the press also seems to be under threat. A lot of media houses are being affected by some people in the ruling party using institutions such as the police.