By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THOUSANDS of Mansa’s Bahati Constituency residents yesterday braved the rain to attend a meeting at which Patriotic Front (PF) members of Parliament and Cabinet ministers explained Government policies.
Bahati was in the spotlight recently following the resignation of its PF MP Harry Kalaba who cited rampant corruption in Government.
Addressing the crowd yesterday, Pambashe MP Ronald Chitotela said the Government would not be derailed by corruption allegations and would continue working to ensure that development was delivered.
Mr Chitotela, who is Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister, said all those who were accusing the PF of corruption were doing so because they had failed to work as entrusted by President Edgar Lungu.
He said Mr Lungu wanted to see real development in Luapula Province and had entrusted the province with seven Cabinet ministers.
“It is the responsibility of each MP from Luapula to ensure that development is brought to the province,” he said.
Mr Chitotela said the Government had so far mobilised US$132 million to build the FTJ University.
Mansa Central MP Chitalu Chilufya called for unity of purpose for the people of Mansa, saying that MPs in Luapula had a duty to help deliver development.
Dr Chilufya, who is Health minister, said the Government would work hard to put up a modern hospital and a market.
Luapula MP and Minister of Community Development Emerine Kabanshi said the PF had indiscriminately taken development to all parts of the country and so far 12,000 people in Luapula Province were registered on the social cash transfer.
Mansa Mayor Emmanuel Chungu called on the people of Mansa to uphold the leadership of President Lungu.
He dismissed reports aligning him to defecting to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying they were false.
Former NDC Luapula Province chairperson Emmanuel Chitonge said the NDC leadership had nothing to offer.
Meanwhile, Chief Mabumba of the Ushi people of Mansa said the Luapula Chiefs Council had not supported the political position taken by Mr Kalaba.
The chief said the Luapula Chiefs Council, during its recent meeting, tabled Mr Kalaba’s resignation and unanimously resolved to support the leadership of President Lungu.
He said the leadership of Mr Lungu had done a lot for Luapula and the country.
Chief Mabumba said he would not support the decision of one person to derail Government’s ambitious development agenda for Luapula.
The traditional leader said whenever PF members differed, they should ensure that they resolved the matters internally.
Chief Mabumba said this when Cabinet ministers paid a courtesy call on him yesterday.