Mweetwa has failed - UPND member
By BENNIE MUNDANDO CHOMA Central Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa has failed the people of Choma and must pave way for serious-minded individuals to takeover and serve the constituency diligently, UPND member Joe Muchindu has charged.
Mr. Muchindu, who wants to challenge for the Choma Central seat in 2021 has demanded that Mr. Mweetwa must explain where the earth-moving equipment purchased using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in 2012 had gone since he used that as a campaign message.
Speaking on Choma Maanu Radio on Saturday, Mr. Muchindu said while people in the constituency were grappling with many challenges such as the drought and the looming hunger situation, Mr. Mweetwa was nowhere to be seen even when Parliament was on recess.
He said Mr. Mweetwa had failed the people in his constituency and must pave way for individuals with practical ideas and a heart for the people if the constituency was to develop.
“This year, there will be hunger. Since Parliament is on recess, we expected Mr. Mweetwa to go round his constituency to take stock of what is happening in terms of agriculture.”
This would ensure that even when he reports, Parliament will understand that he is speaking from an informed position and the people he represents will agree with his records.
“This will help Government to start budgeting on how much relief food will be needed in Choma but he is running away from responsibility.
“He is saying that is not his job but the role of the office of the Vice President. When I come into power and I fail like Mr. Mweetwa, please vote me out.” Mr. Muchindu said.
He also said the deplorable state of roads in Choma must be blamed on Mr. Mweetwa because he had not explained how the CDF money set aside for the procurement of earthmoving equipment was used.
“In 2012, there was CDF money which was set aside to buy earthmoving equipment but where is the equipment?
“Did your MP explain to you what happened to this equipment? Did he tell you where the money went and if it was stolen, who was behind that theft? That is his duty as an MP to explain things clearly.
“He used the same earth-moving equipment purchase as a campaign message. He was bragging that when time for elections come, he will just be pointing to the earth-moving equipment to beat some of us who have been challenging him.
Meanwhile, Mr. Muchindu maintained that Mr. Mweetwa grabbed land that was allocated by the council for construction of a modern market and a mini hospital in Choma.