UPND rally Mandevu Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema says the successful holding of Sunday’s Mandevu rally has broken the back of the Public Order Act. Mr. Hichilema said the UPND has managed to successfully protect and safeguard the country’s democracy following the holding of the rally at Mutende grounds in Mandevu. “We have broken the back of Public Order Act. All political parties are now free to hold rallies. Don’t be afraid to go ahead and organise rallies. The UPND has restored our freedoms as a people,” Mr Hichilema told a cheering crowd. He said the fore fathers fought hard for democracy and that they should be emulated. “We now have a duty to deliver economic and social freedom. Our freedom fighters were not afraid to fight. Let’s take out our fear factor so that UPND can win the next election and liberate this country economically and socially.” Mr Hichilema who catalogued a number of national issues on which the PF has allegedly failed to deliver said the UPND deserves a chance to govern Zambia. “All opposition parties should unite around the UPND. Our friends in the MMD should rest, they had 20 years to rule this country, we love them but they should give us a chance. The PF has failed and the UPND is the obvious choice,” Mr Hichilema stated. UPND rally Mandevu He encouraged UPND members to encourage and embrace new members. “UPND is not Hakainde. UPND is not Canisius Banda or Kapita. Kapita this is not your party, it os the people’s party. Let’s welcome all new members as we built a strong party.” On governance, Mr Hichilema charged that the PF has failed to govern the country using sound governance principles and the rule of law. “Mr Sata said he will use the Ten Commandments to govern this country but looking at the way this country is going, we don’t know which Bible he reads.” He also condemned the manner in which the PF government is “brutalizing” former President Rupiah Banda. “Mr Sata, please leave RB alone. Allow him to enjoy his retirement. Stop brutalizing Mr Banda. We promise we will not brutalize you when you leave that office. We will take care of you and other former Presidents,” Mr Hichilema stated. The UPND President also demanded that the Anti- Corruption Commission takes up allegations by Vice President Guy Scott and Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba that some senior PF government officials are corrupt. “This is the man who told us that he is allergic to corruption, we want the ACC to step in and investigate the confirmations from Guy Scott and Kabimba, we believe a white man does not tell lies so the ACC should act quickly on these allegations,” he said. Part of the crowd that attended the UPND rally Mr Hichilema also demanded that President Sata’s government releases all the 84 Barotse detainees including former Ngambela Clement Sinyinda. “This man (Sata) has arrested and ill-treated more Liyungandambos than Mr Banda ever did. You have arrested Hon. Sinyinda for performing his duties. Hon Sinyinda called the Barotse National Council in his official role as Ngambela and you arrested him for treason. Please Mr Sata, release these innocent people forthwith.” Mr Hichilema said the UPND will use the Barotseland agreement of 1964 which he called a legal document as a basis of devolution of power across the country. He said the UPND will never interfere in the traditional affairs of the Royal Establishments. “We will respect the BREW, we will respect Mwine Lubemba and all traditional leaders because we treat them as partners in development,” he said. Mr Hichilema reiterated that the PF government’s decision to remove fuel and maize subsidies has thrown more Zambians into poverty. “The cost of living has gone up, bus fare have gone up the price of cement has gone up, food and other essential commodities’ have also gone up.” Mr Hichilema stated that the UPND will restore fuel and maize subsidies once voted into power. “We will bring back these subsidies as a way of reducing the cost of living. We will also offer free education to all Zambian children. We will pay pensioners their dues within reasonable time.” He said Zambia is such a blessed nation and its citizens do not deserve to be suffering the way they do. “Let me speak to you as a business person. We have a beautiful country. Zambia is a highly blessed country. We have a small population but plenty of natural resources. We are poor because of bad leadership, vote for UPND, vote for economic and social freedom,” he said. Other speakers at the rally included the party’s two Vice President’s Canisius Banda and Richard Kapita, former Deputy Speaker Mutale Nalumango and other provincial leaders. Political activist Dante Saunders and a horde of bus drivers endorsed Mr Hichilema as their preferred candidate in the next general election. At the same rally, youthful politician James Lukuku dissolved his own political party to back the UPND whole renowned Musician Petersen performed the famous anti PF song Bufi. UPND rally Mandevu
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 17:56:23 +0000
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