SOLWEZI MP READY TO WORK WITH GOVT

UNITED Party for National De velopment (UPND) Solwezi Central Member of Parliament Stafford Mulusa has pledged to work with the government of the day on matters relating to the development of his constituency.

And Mr Mulusa has called on the government to ensure there is equitable distribution of resources to all parts of the

country.

Speaking when he featured on a live radio programme on Solwezi FCC Radio yesterday, Mr Mulusa said he was ready to work with the government whenever he was called upon.

"It's not true that our president, Hakainde Hichilema, has stopped anyone from going to State functions or interacting with government officials," Mr Mulusa said.

He said his constituency was in desperate need of development and that could only be achieved by working with the government.

Mr Mulusa dispelled assertions that Mr Hichilema had stopped the opposition MPs from attending State functions and to interact with government officials.

"I am always ready to work with the government, and what we are saying is that if there is a government programme of a development nature being done, let the permanent secretary or the President himself extend an olive branch.

"I will go and select. Where he is doing politics I will leave, and where he is doing development work I will attend," he said.

Mr Mulusa said all MPs were part of the government and there was no harm in working with the government and interacting with high ranking officials such as the republican President to discuss matters of development.

"If FDD [Forum for Democracy and Developmenr] has given you an MP to represent the people, he or she is part of the government and you have to respect the people.

"There should be separation between politics and national development. These are modern politics and this is a democracy, and in democracy different people have different choices and they have to be respected," Mr Mulusa said.

He, however, appealed to Government to ensure there is equitable distribution of resources to all parts of the country.Mr Mulusa accused the government of delivering development selectively especially to areas where the ruling party enjoyed support.