‘Where are 400 Mulungushi-bound containers?’
By Thandizo Banda
WE CHALLENGE government to show the nation the 400 containers of machinery which it claimed were in transit to Mulungushi Textile in Kabwe, Patriotic Front (PF) Central Province chairman Billy Sichamba has said.
Sichamba said in an interview with The Mast Zambians were fed up with the empty promises of the United Party for National Development (UPND).
“It is time for transparency and action, not more broken pledges. The reopening of Mulungushi Textiles is a big deal for the community, and they deserve the truth about what’s happening, not politicking,” he said.
Sichamba said successive government’s had during elections made similar promises about reopening the factory, but that had not materialised.
Zambians were familiar with the story.
“Government lied about reopenning of Mulungushi Textiles. They said there were some 400 containers marooned at the Mozambique border during the political instability in that country. So, when did the containers come for them to claim they are re-openning Mulungushi Textiles?” he said.
Sichamba said the recent tour of the plant led by commerce minister Chipoka Mulenga was being hyped for political reasons ahead of the August 13 general election.
“What is the status of the remaining containers? Are they still in transit or have they still been delayed? Can the government provide detailed breakdown of the project timelines and expected completion and commissioning date?” Sichamba said.
“We continue to question where Mulungushi Textiles, if at all it opens, will source its cotton from given the country’s limited production capacity,” he said.
Sichamba has also warned the UPND against misusing the Boma Hall as the venue for political activities citing the recent Patriotic Front (PF) defections held at the government facility.
“We want to seriously warn our colleagues to stop misusing government facilities for political expedience. We challenge the police to show us the permit they gave the conveners of political gathering held at provincial administration offices on Sunday, where the so called defections were held,” he said.
Commenting on the recent defection of five PF councillors to UPND, Sichamba said no well-meaning politician would want to associate with UPND which had failed Zambians.
