DO NOT LET PF FINISH WHAT THEY STARTED – UPND

OFFICIAL STATEMENT
09 January 2015

I have heard some people rehearse the argument that we should allow the PF time to finish what they started.

Should we let them finish not paying the farmers, sacking our nurses, increasing the national debt and delaying the constitution? Should we let them finish denying students bursaries, thuggish behaviour and intimidating those who speak out against them? No, we should not let them finish that.

Of course where development and construction projects are underway we must continue with these, but no one government will ever finishdevelopment and I can tell you now that we will move these forward at a quicker rate and at better value for Zambians.

At the same time we will act to stop the various failures in areas such as farming and education. We will stop the waste and irresponsible accumulation of debt without proper benefit to the Zambian people.

On the matter of the budget that has been passed it should be noted that the budget that has been passed is the Zambian National budgetand not simply a PF budget. We can revise elements of that budget, but most importantly we can oversee its implementation with more competent and open management.

We would also like to address some misconceptions being peddled by PF regarding our ability to deliver on our promises if Mr Hichilema is successfully elected President on 20 January 2015.

We have shown in the past weeks that we have cross-party support and that we are in agreement with many others on the right course of action, for example on key areas such as the constitution. In this campaign we have opened our arms to all Zambians – this working together in unity to deliver should be encouraged and not shied away from.

Those who say we cannot do anything in two years are those that twiddle their thumbs while Zambians across the country go hungry. Theyare worried we will show them up and the people will judge them harshly by comparison.

Mr Hichilema has already committed to a number of pledges for almost immediate action, including reversal of the retirement age, ending ofthe wage and employment freeze and recognition of Henry Kanyanta Sosala as Chitimukulu. Some promises will take longer to deliver on but we are committed to getting started in January 2015.

As Election Day approaches I appeal to Zambians to remember this is an election and the choice rests with you the Zambian people. Come 20 January 2015 vote for the candidate you believe will deliver change and move Zambia forward.

Dipak Patel
UPND Campaign Manager