BRAVO CHIEF CHIPEPO! T
Dear Editor, HERE is no doubt that Zambians are living in deeply unsettled and challenging times. This has become to be so because the UPND we entrusted with power to take greater care of us has now instead brought about scepticism and fear in us. It is for this that I fully throw my support behind Senior Chief Chipepo of the Tonga for warning our politicians to stop taking citizens for granted and focus on finding solutions to problems facing the nation. Chief Chipepo recently told Byta Radio Station that he had noted with sadness that both the ruling UPND and opposition political figures have similar tendencies which only focus on elections and not diligent service to the people. He also said that it was disheartening to see our Members of Parliament playing politics in their deliberations at the expense of finding lasting solutions to challenges facing communities such as hunger.
I must quickly say here that when those in government lose integrity on issues of governance, they quickly lose trust from the public.
Why our government appears not to be bothered with what is on the ground in Zambia today is hard to guess.
All we see and hear are threats and arrests of those with divergent opinions, especially on issues of governance, pursuit of freedom, democracy and peace.
While the opposition can somehow be blamed for not doing enough for the people, the big buck stops at the ruling UPND. This is purely because UPND threw away its campaign promises to the winds, leaving Zambians to face the worst ever form of life since independence in 1964.
Zambians faithfully followed UPND in 2021 with full hope but it appears that blind following was truly bad enough but limping in the rear like most of us Zambians are, is far worse. Life certainly is not what it should be as our hopes in the so-called new dawn administration have only brought about frustration and fear. Chief Chipepo’s worries should be taken seriously by all parties he has talked about if the turnaround will bring even a little cheer on the faces of Zambians. No doubt we are presently living in a momentous time as it now appears we are facing determined politicians to kill democracy, what with almost daily threats and arrests of opposition leaders. I am more than certain there are many Zambians out there who agree with Chief Chipepo and for good reasons too. Like Chief Chipepo has correctly observed, it is now up to Zambians to resist forces that can move them backwards.
THOMAS KACHINDAMOTO, Lusaka.