Hichilema candidate for prison, says Changala

Hichilema candidate for prison, says Changala

By Tony Nkhoma

GOVERNANCE expert Brebner Changala has warned President Hakainde Hichilema that dishing out money is extremely dangerous and problematic and will soon land him in prison.

In an interview with The Mast, Changala said Hichilema must account for the K1.3 million he donated to the United Church in Zambia (UCZ) Kwacha East congregation in Kitwe on Sunday.

He wondered how Hichilema had been dishing out huge sums of money when the economy was on its knees.

Hichilema said the donated K1.3 million should support the church’s activities and infrastructure.

Changala has, however, asked the UCZ to provide a Bank account and ensure that the funds were paid through the account and not in cash.

“They must not receive that money as cash. That money must be donated to them through a bank transfer. Not from suitcases,” Changala said.

He said Hichilema had embraced himself as Kasaka ka ndalama, the term he widely criticised and condemned his late predecessor, former president Edgar Lungu.

“What Hichilema has started doing in the last hours towards the end of his term is extremely dangerous and problematic. That donation to the UCZ Church is not done in good faith but to buy the Church and the Church membership’s loyalty,” he said.

Changala said Hichilema would land himself in prison after he leaves office, because he had started doing the same things that sent many of his political opponents, particularly from the Patriotic Front (PF), to jail.

“I must remind the President that what he’s doing is through a digit, through the Khaki envelopes. When Lungu did it, he called him kasaka ka ndalama. And he was in the forefront condemning that,” he said.

He said Hichilema must urgently declare his assets so that people know the source of the money he was dishing out to churches.

Changala said Hichilema had aligned himself with the big mines, which were currently enjoying tax holidays.

“And it is very important also to affirm that he would be coming across such kind of huge sums because of the office he holds today. He’s not going to hide behind being a rich man. Which is a relative term and where he has never endeavoured to prove to the people of Zambia how rich and what he owns,” Changala said.

He said Zambians were finding it difficult to trust Hichilema after he failed to declare his assets.

“Not money in suitcases. And I go further that the President must be transparent. He must declare his assets. As we go towards the election, we shall see a lot of that kind of obscure resources being thrown around. And the President must show leadership that no dirty money will come out to build his image and that of his political party,” he said.

Changala appealed to churches not to be abused by politicians through such unexplained monetary donations.

He challenged the church to hold leaders accountable for their deeds.

“Please make them accountable. They are donating that kind of money while the economy of this country is on its knees. Where are they getting the money that an ordinary businessman cannot make or have access to?” Changala said.

He reminded the church that Hichilema never made such huge donations while in  opposition, wondering where he could have suddenly gotten the money now to donate to churches.

“While in opposition he equally said he was a rich man. Why is he making these huge donations from the office of the President? These are legitimate questions that the President and his administration must put to rest by answering without any acrimony. And these are the issues the Church should strive to ask our leaders. So many people from the previous administration are in prison for donating to churches,” Changala said.