“Hunger Is Beyond Political Parties” – Fr Mwansa

Fr Christopher Mwansa of Holy Trinity Catholic Church has called on the country’s political leaders to take care of the needs of all Zambians, regardless of political affiliation.

“Give people food, regardless of their political affiliation. Hunger is beyond political parties. Don’t look at who voted for you, just help and provide services to the Zambian people,” he counselled.

The priest was speaking during a Mass attended by Lusaka Province Minister and Kabushi MP Bowman Lusambo.

“My message is that of poverty. Here in our area, you have children that are not only PF, like in a family, you have different children in Kabushi, and all these children feel hungry. PF is hungry, MMD is hungry, UPND is hungry, so we are all hungry,” Fr Mwansa stated.

Fr Mwansa also called on people to work, rather than to wait to be provided for.

Meanwhile, CARITAS Zambia has charged that the government is failing to reduce inequality, which is causing problems including civil unrest. The group’s executive director Eugene Kabilika has called for targeted policies to tackle inequality, such as those that support small business owners and small-scale farmers. He pointed to the problem created by increased in Zesco tariffs, as well as trouble for farmers accessing inputs throuh Farmer Input Support Programmes (FISP).

The UPND MP for Kapiri-Mposhi Stanley Kakubo has been warned and cautioned for alleged defamation of the President when discussing inputs last week.

Kakubo is alleged to have criticised the failure to deliver agriculture inputs to farmers on time and has been quoted as stating “Umuntu uutalepela abantu fertilizer ninshi takwata skopo bwino bwino (the person who is not giving people fertiliser has no brains).”