Lusambo denies billboard saga
I have nothing to do with a welcome billboard which was erected in my honour and causing a stir in Lusaka, says Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo
Mr Lusambo said the action was by a certain advertising company, acting on its own volition which decided to put up that billboard.
Social media was on Saturday awash with messages condemning the erection of a billboard bearing Mr. Lusambo’s portrait which others suggested was put up by him using tax-payers’ money with human rights activist Laura Miti and Brebner Changala taking turns to demonise the Minister for alleged reckless spending.
“I have just passed through the High Court of Zambia on Independence Avenue in Lusaka only to be greeted by a huge bill board of one Bowman Lusambo! Something has gone terribly wrong with our leadership. This country has gone to the dogs or is it the dogs that have come to our beloved Zambia?” Mr. Changala asked while Ms. Miti wrote:
“Ah Lusaka got its own Bowman Lusambo bill board. Now can Bowman himself, Amos Chanda, Sunday Chanda and/or Antonio Mwanza explain why we the people of Lusaka need this bill board, how much the bill board cost and who paid for it at a time when newly constructed roads have developed multiple, dangerous potholes and the whole city is a flood zone whenever the slightest rain falls, when street/market vendors families are starving because there are no markets.”
But Mr. Lusambo yesterday said he had no hand in erecting the said billboard adding that he was a popular politician who did not need any billboard to prove any point.
“I wish to state that I or any of my supporters did not put up the said billboard. My investigations have shown that a named advertising company acting on its own volition decided to put up the billboard. The company also met all the costs associated with the undertaking. I therefore wish to sincerely thank the company for the initiative to welcome me to Lusaka by placing the billboard.
“However, I wish to announce that I have since directed the company to pull down the billboard. This is in no way meant to embarrass the company but simply correcting an impression that maybe falsely created. I further wish to state that as a vibrant, popular and well known political leader, I believe that I do not need billboards to advertise myself. The work that I do to serve the people of Zambia will continue to speak for itself,” Mr. Lusambo said.
He reiterated that his office remains open to working with innovative business houses and that his decision to ask the company to pull down the billboard should not in any way frustrate or demoralize the company.
“In my political journey, I have come to know that there are many enemies against my progress, the message is I will not back down from any political challenge because I know that my destiny lies firmly in the hands of God, Almighty,” he said.