By KAPALA CHISUNKA
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has called on people aspiring for public office to respect the people they intend to lead.
President Sata said it was impossible for people to have confidence in a leader who did not respect them and only approached them when it was time to seek their vote.
The president was speaking in Feira yesterday when he went to drum up support for the Patriotic Front candidate Patrick Ngoma, who is contesting the June 20 by-election.
“Respect these people; they are the people who will put you in office. If there is anything that Mr Ngoma might have done or failed in his duties to deliver development, I want to assure you that under the PF, he will work to better the lives of everyone,” he said.
Mr Sata said the PF government wants to ensure that Luangwa is turned into a tourist hub once Mr Ngoma has been elected into office.
He said the completion of the on-going projects in the district by the PF government will ensure that the high levels of unemployment are addressed and reduced in the shortest most practical time possible.
“We are already working on hospitals, schools and electricity because we want development to spread out in all corners of Luangwa. We are asking for your vote because we want development to come to Luangwa.
“It is time that you people changed and voted for the Patriotic Front. It is easier for development to trickle down if your member of Parliament belongs to the ruling party…that is the reason Mr Ngoma has also decided to join the PF government,” President Sata said.
President Sata said the PF government is aware of the problems being faced by the people of Luangwa but that it is difficult to address these problems when the area MP belongs to an opposition party.
And Mr Ngoma, who knelt before the people of Feira asking for forgiveness, pledged to work for the people.
He said he would continue to speak on behalf of the people of Feira constituency so that their various problems are addressed.
Campaign manager Edgar Lungu called on the people of Feira constituency to vote for Mr Ngoma to push the district forward.
Mr Lungu, who is Minister of Home Affairs, said it is regrettable that the people of the constituency refused to move forward unless they voted for a working government like the rest of their counterparts in other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Chief Mpuka, who bemoaned the lack of development in his area since 1964, said he was encouraged that the PF government has already started implementing developmental projects in the area.
“For many years the people of Feira have been lied to by the politicians but I am encouraged by the projects that the PF government is working on. We are assured that they want the best for these communities when they embark on the construction of roads, hospitals and schools,” he said.
And President Sata held three separate mammoth rallies in Feira yesterday. The rallies were held at Feira grounds, Chitope area in Chief Mburuma’s area and Kaunga School grounds.
Thousands of residents clad in PF party regalia welcomed the President at all the three rallies. Also present at the rallies were Mr Cosmo Mumba, PF Deputy Secretary General Bridget Atanga, Lusaka province minister Freedom Sikazwe, Lusaka and Kafue district commissioners, as well as provincial, district and constituency leaders.
Mr Mumba urged the people of Feira to be careful when choosing leaders they want to represent them. Mr Mumba said no other political party can offer the people of Zambia what the PF government is offering in terms of projects such as construction of roads and universities.
“All opposition political party leaders are governed by President Sata. So as people of Feira, choose an MP who belongs to the ruling party so that your needs are addressed. Do not listen to lies being perpetuated by these political parties who have nothing to offer,” he said.
Mr Mumba is an opposition political party leader.
509 total views, 390 views today