PF should continue offering checks and balances

Dear Editor,

PATRIOTIC Front (PF), the major opposition po litical party in the country, is offering credible checks and balances to the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) through parliamentary de bates. This is what democracy entails. As such, I implore the Patriotic Front to continue offering credible checks and balances.

It is a known fact that the United Party for National Development won the August 12 general election on the premise of providing free education from Grade one to tertiary level, cre ation of job opportunities partic ularly for the youth, revamping of the national economy, halting of cadres from operating the bus stations and the markets and bring the exchange rate of the kwacha against the dollar and other major convertible curren cies, among other things.

In view of the aforesaid, it is clear that people have great expectations from the United Party for National Development administration to deliver on the party’s campaign promises prior to the August general election.

What is clear is that making the campaign promises is one thing and fulfilling them is an other. The UPND campaign promises look good on paper but, the major issue is how these campaign promises will be actualised.

The most unfortunate part is that people seem to slowly but surely confidence in the new dawn administration notable on the issue of free education. President Hakainde Hichilema was mute on the promise of free education during his inaugura tion ceremony let alone during Mr. Hichilema’s maiden speech to parliament.

I hope people are not miscon struing the UPND’s campaign promises as a ploy for the party to win the August general elec tion. The way UPND saw things when the party was in opposi tion is different from the way the party looks at things as it is now in government. Let me not bring out the issue of easier said than done. This is a topic for another day.

One thing for a fact is that Zambia is bigger than any polit ical party. If this is not enough, national leadership chang es hands when the right time comes and when people decide during the general election.

However, it is true to mention here that the ruling party and the opposition political parties are the stake holders in the gov ernance system of the country.

In my aforegone conclusion, I wish UPND all the best as it has embarked on serving the nation by fulfilling the campaign promises. On the other hand, I implore the Patriotic Front and other opposition political parties to continue offering the checks and balances.

ELEMIYA PHIRI, Lusaka.