REMEMBER that you lied to us even as you seek prayers today, Copperbelt ex-miners have reminded President Edgar Lungu. Copperbelt ex-miners secretary Brian Mukosha said leaders who practice lies should pray for their own repentance.

“We know people are going to pray tomorrow (today) but the question is who are they praying for? What are they praying for? But they should be reminded that they need to pray for their own repentance. We want to tell President Edgar Lungu that even as he goes to pray, let him remember that he lied to us and we are suffering. Let him remember us in his prayer,” Mukosha said.

“He should pray and ask for forgiveness. We have forgiven him his lies. Though we are suffering, we have forgiven him. So it is up to him to pray for his own repentance now. President Lungu needs the saviour so that he can have a human heart that will understand the sufferings of the people.”

He said it was a shame that the ex-miners had waited in vain for the land they were promised.

“We were retrenched in 2015 because government, through President Lungu, did not show any seriousness to save our jobs. President Lungu promised to empower us to become farmers. To date, we are still in poverty while he is busy and enjoying the luxury from our votes,” Mukosha said.

“Time will tell. But you journalists go and write and tell him that we are watching. That he should know. Tell him that the number of people dying out of depression is increasing. Those dying out of hunger; marriages breaking up; our children dropping out of school; go and tell him all this is because of his lies.”

Mukosha said it was now three years since the promise of land was made.

“The number of us suffering is just too huge. We were recently joined by the suppliers and contractors at KCM (Konkola Copper Mine). Those contractors dismissed a lot of workers. The President came to Chingola but he could not even show any concern. We wonder what sort of a leader he is,” said Mukosha.