WE are happy that Harry Kalaba is now regretting having supported President Edgar Lungu, says the opposition UPND. And the UPND in Southern Province has welcomed Kalaba’s statement that Tongas are good people who are being labelled as tribalists by the PF. Meanwhile, the UPND has directed its members to accord Kalaba a befitting reception as he tours the province.

UPND deputy information and publicity secretary Neto Halwabala stated that it was gratifying to note that Kalaba, a former foreign affairs minister in President Lungu’s government, had become humble towards the people of the province.

“It was interesting to hear Kalaba state on radio that he now regrets having supported the PF leader Edgar Lungu as a presidential candidate in 2015 and 2016,” Halwabala said.
He added that it was gratifying to also note that Kalaba now had seen that the PF had failed to bring development to Southern Province.
“On the Mazabuka Radio, Honourable Kalaba acknowledged the fact that people of Southern Province are good when PF only see tribalism in the province…as UPND in Southern Province, we wish to advise our members to give him a good reception as this is part of our political culture to embrace any visitor because we believe in co-existence,” he said.

“People in Southern Province believe in multi-party democracy but without compromising quality leadership based on integrity. We are a province which respects other people’s political rights…Zambians across the country know that Edgar and his party have failed them,” Halwabala said.
He added that it was unfortunate that PF, through its provincial leadership, had launched a campaign to demean traditional leaders by parading them as defectors from UPND to PF. Halwabala wondered how headmen could be paraded as UPND cadres defecting to the ruling party.

“When did traditional leaders become political cadres? Last week PF provincial chairman Lawrence Evans was in Choma’s Chazangwe village. Only three village headmen attended the PF failed meeting contrary to their claims that over eleven village headmen attended the meeting,” he said.

“When are you (PF) going to stop lying to the Zambian people who want change and unselective development? The fact that we don’t make a lot of political noise on camera in our stronghold is not that PF is in existence and popular…we are in touch with our members and deliberately send a few of them to attend your meetings just to give you some political massage therapy. It is very sad that most rural dwellers in the province are the victims of PF’s political thieving of donor funds for the vulnerable,” Halwabala said.

He urged UPND members in the province to stand by party leader Hakainde Hichilema’s principles and wise leadership.
“Do not be carried away by PF cosmetic leadership,” said Halwabala