‘HH bribing students, buying false popularity’
By George Zulu
A CATHOLIC priest has dismissed the picture of President Hakainde Hichilema being popular among college and university students on the Copperbelt last weekend as corruption because they were bribed to endorse him.
Reverend Father Martin Mwango, who is based in Italy, said the students who went to endorse Hichilema in Kitwe were bribed to do so to paint a false picture that he was popular.
Speaking to The Mast from Italy, Fr Mwango said government and institutions of higher learning that had allowed students to welcome and endorse Hichilema should stop sugarcoating corruption by calling it exactly what it was.
He said corruption was poisonous to society and, if not stopped, would destroy the country.
Fr Mwango was commenting on the revelation by Northern Technical College (NORTEC) principal Martin Kasonso that over 3,000 students who attended the presidential meeting in Kitwe were paid lunch allowances.
He said it was shocking that universities and colleges were defending corruption and bribery.
“Stop sugarcoating corruption. Call it what it is. The university administration should refrain from labeling bribery as ‘payments’. I challenge them to clarify what was meant by the statement that students who welcomed the President in Kitwe were paid,” Fr Mwango said.
He urged the students union leaders and their institution’s administrations to admit that they were bribed to welcome the head of state.
Fr Mwango said the decent thing government institutions should do was to disclose the source of the money they paid the students for such an undertaking, which had not been budgeted for.
“They should admit that the students were, in fact, bribed as part of a deal. If a government institution claims students were paid to welcome the President, they should disclose the source of the funds, the purpose of the payment and the nature of the agreement. These are fundamental questions that demand answers, lest we risk indoctrinating our youth with a corrupt mindset. We cannot tolerate unlawful behaviour from government institutions, especially universities, which should remain sacred and free from political influence,” Fr Mwango said.
He said politicians and heads of colleges and universities should know that students were not on a salary or Cash for Work.
Fr Mwango said the students were bribed or paid to welcome Hichilema.
“The money given to students is not a salary or Cash for Work; it’s bribe money, plain and simple. I urge politicians, particularly the ruling party, to refrain from using students as pawns in their games. I recall when HH was in opposition, they condemned this very practice,” he said.
He urged the UPND leadership to focus on presenting the true state of affairs on the Copperbelt instead of manipulating the narrative for the President’s benefit.
