STATE HOUSE SCHOOLS NAKACINDA ON WORK, LEISURE

STATE House has described as irresponsible remarks from the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General, Mr Raphael Nakacinda, suggesting that President Hakainde Hichilema is on holiday and doing nothing when the country is facing a crisis.

Mr Nakacinda was quoted saying it was irresponsible for President Hichilema to go on a holiday when the country was in a crisis.

Reacting to the statement, State House Chief Communications Specialist, Clayson Hamasaka, said Mr Nakacinda, who claims to have come from a culture deeply rooted in agriculture should know better.

According to Mr Hamasaka, President Hichilema's trip to his farm in Namwala is for the purpose of furthering work that contributes to national economic productivity.

“The assertion ignores the fact that visiting a farm is not akin to leisure activities like playing snooker or nsolo. Generally, farms are not destinations for holidays; they are places where one engages in physical labour to generate livelihoods.

“However, we understand Mr Nakacinda's perspective might be shaped by his experiences with what were considered presidential holidays in the past: lavish excursions involving wining and dining in national parks and foreign capitals, accompanied by individuals of dubious reputation, all funded with public money borrowed by the country,” Mr Hamasaka said.

Mr Hamasaka said Mr Nakacinda should recognise that the country has shifted towards more responsible behaviour, noting that the focus is no longer on endless partying but on continuous hard work aimed at achieving economic recovery.

He said while President Hichilema promotes domestic tourism, he also advocates for responsible living among the citizens, especially during this period of crisis marked by drought-induced food and energy insecurity as well as an economy weakened by the previous administration's frivolity.

“Unlike indulging in leisure activities such as drinking expensive whiskey, President Hichilema prefers to spend productive hours on his farms. Although there will be time for holidays, now is not the moment for leisure but for hard work.

Mr. Hamasaka has advised that people need to shift their work ethic for Zambia to become a successful nation.