ZAMBIA: Mongu residents mob President Hichilema as he urges a UPND vote in Thursday By-elections

By: Ollus Ndomu

Mongu residents Sunday mobbed Republican President Hakainde Hichilema as his convoy drove through the heartland of Western Province, mobilizing support ahead of the Thursday Mayoral By-election.

Straight from attending the mesmerizingly colorful Kuomboka traditional ceremony which attracted both local international tourists, a jovial Hichilema echoed the need for Mongu residents and residents in other parts of the country where there will be By-elections to vote for the governing United Party for National Development -UPND-, reminding them that the prevailing national peace, unity and the beckoning economic prosperity were courtesy of his party’s leadership.

“…The peace that we are currently enjoying is because of UPND. The law and order is the work of UPND. In order [for] this to continue, you should vote for the Mayor candidate for UPND.”

Stuck in the midst of an electrifying red outfitted throng of supporters, President Hichilema said the time for attacking the opposition was long gone with the former governing party, underscoring the need for peace among political players from the political divide:

“We also want the opposition to campaign freely and no one should stop them and even if they meet with us, no one should harass them but wish them well. Ours is to exchange ideas for the greater good of Zambia and not exchanging punches or indeed hacking each other with pangas.”

Western Province has from time immemorial been Hichilema’s traditional political stronghold and he did not remember to forget to thank residents for their unwavering regime-change vote in last year’s historic August 12 polls.

“Once more, thank you to the people of Mongu for accepting change and assuring us of unwavering support and we can safely say that through you, Zambia is set to benefit from our clear intent on how resources must be shared,” the President added.