Central PS Kabwe slams greedy ex ministers

By ROGERS KALERO

IT is nonsense for some former ministers to seek political support from marketeers and vendors when they had no regard for them at the time they were in office,' Marketeers, Traders and Vendors Association patron Chanda Kabwe has said.

Mr Kabwe has advised marketeers, vendors and traders not to allow themselves to be used by disgruntled politicians by fighting political battles which they did not understand.

He said it was unacceptable for some former ministers who had no regard for marketeers when they held ministerial positions to seek political support from them after being fired.

Mr Kabwe said in an interview yesterday that former ministers who were seeking political support from marketeers by telling lies that the government of President Edgar Lungu had neglected them, should be ashamed of themselves because the Head of State was working hard to improve the welfare of marketeers.

“When those former ministers were enjoying themselves, they were not thinking of marketeers. Actually, they were abusive, selfish and greedy. But now, after being fired, they want the support of marketeers whom they had no regard for,

“No, that does not make sense. It is nonsense. When they were enjoying, they were even closing the windows of their ministerial vehicles. But when they are facing battles, they want everyone to support them in their battles. They just have to be strong," Mr Kabwe said.

Mr Kabwe said marketeers should reject moves by former ministers who wanted to use them to fight political battles because such kind of people do not mean well for the marketeers, but only have selfish motives.

He said only President Lungu has the interest of marketeers at heart because he has given 10 percent of his salary towards their welfare.

“Icikwanka Bachimwena Kuma Mpalanya meaning a genuine and true friend is helpful in time of problems. So President Lungu has always been on the side of marketeers, for example when the shelter collapsed at Chisokone market in Kitwe, he contributed K250, 000 towards