By JULIUS PHIRI –
FORUM for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has warned fellow candidates in the January 20 presidential election to tell Zambians the truth.
Addressing a rally at Nadalisika Primary School in Chipata on Saturday, Ms Nawakwi accused some presidential hopefuls of promising free education and reduced mealie meal and fertiliser prices which she described as empty promises aimed at hoodwinking the electorate.
The FDD leader said that even the United States of America (USA) which had a big economy was not offering free education.
Ms Nawakwi said the people of Zambia should be careful with politicians who were promising a lot during their campaigns.
“Even in America where money is believed to be generated they are failing to offer free education. America has failed to do so and these are empty promises aimed at blackmailing the electorate to vote for them,” she said.
Ms Nawakwi said it was not true that a bag of fertiliser would be reduced once some candidates were elected and that Zambians must be serious in electing people who could improve the economic status of the country, not those making empty promises.
Ms Nawakwi said many Zambians were poor because their leaders had more power than the electorate.
She said her government would ensure that it promoted the decentralisation policy in order to benefit the majority Zambians.
The FDD leader was aware that Eastern Province had the potential to feed the whole country through agriculture.
She reiterated that as long as Patriotic Front candidate Edgar Lungu remained Defence and Justice minister, the electoral playing field would not be level.
“The continued stay of one Edgar Lungu as a minister of Defence and Justice poses a lot of security risk ahead of the January 20, 2015 election. I am appealing to ECZ chairperson Ireen Mambilima to find ways on how the ballots are going to be transported,” Ms Nawakwi said.
She also appealed to the African Union (AU) and SADC Troika Organ on Defence and Security to intervene in the matter before the poll.
FDD national chairperson Portipher Chungu said Ms Nawakwi had the potential to lead Zambia because of her vast experience in politics.
Former MMD Eastern Province information and publicity secretary Phillimon Mwale said the former ruling party was disorganised and that the FDD candidate was the best to support.
Ms Nawakwi yesterday attended a church service at Chipata Reformed Church in Zambia before flying out of Eastern Province.