UPND WALKOUT WON’T DISTRACT ME – CHITANGALA
…Lusaka mayor laughs off deputy mayor’s protest

By JOHN KOMBE
LUSAKA mayor Chilando Chitangala has described the deputy mayor and a councillor’s walk-out from a full council meeting as laughable, alleging that the action was out of jealousy for her outstanding performance so far but that she will not be distracted.
Ms. Chitangala was commenting on the matter in which the deputy mayor, Ms Nelly Nanyangwe and Kamwala ward 5 councillor, Mainda Simataa walked out of a full council meeting on Tuesday
The two councillors are reported to have walked out from a full council meeting in protest of Ms Chitangala’s inclusion in the Simon Mwansa Lane shop allocation committee.
They alleged that the mayor was politically inclined to the Patriotic Front and would therefore be biased in her functions in the committee.
The mayor wondered why the two councillors kept on referring to her as a PF mayor during their walk-out.
She said that she was the mayor of the city of Lusaka and not of a political party and was therefore taken aback that the two did not appreciate her role.
Ms Chitangala said that she would not be distracted by elements that were aimed at creating divisions in the council.
She alleged that the deputy mayor was particularly jealous of her outstanding performance that has been appreciated by the council among others.
She was happy that no councillor from the ruling or opposition political parties joined the two in their protest.
Ms Chitangala said the two were the only ones who walked out of the meeting. She said that the full council meeting deliberated on all the matters of the day without any difficulties because they had a full quorum.
Ms. Chtangala said that she would not be distracted in carrying out her duties because she had an important role in championing development for the city.
She said that she swore to work for the people of Lusaka and would not allow political schemes to distract her focus.