UPND vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has urged the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini to bring back the impeachment motion to the House, saying President Edgar Lungu has gone too far and Parliament should not be used to protect criminals.

And GBM says Zambians need a fresh start and the only suitable political party, which is ready to begin the new transformation is the UPND.

In a statement, GBM, who envied the South African Constitution, which has a provision for a political party to call back a non-performing or corrupt Head of State, charged that President Lungu had reached a point of ‘call back’.

He, however, observed that no one in the PF could push for a vote of no confidence, adding that could be the reason why Dr Matibini was still sitting on the impeachment motion.

“We have observed that Edgar Lungu and his Patriotic Front government have taken Zambians for granted because they have been allowed to steal the country’s resources and silence those with opposing views at the expense of Zambians’ suffering. I appreciate the Constitution of South Africa, which has a provision for a political party to call back a non-performing or corrupt President. Edgar Lungu has reached a point of call back; the iron is there, but, unfortunately, no one in PF can push for a vote of no confidence and that could be the reason why the Speaker of the National Assembly is sitting on the impeachment motion,” Mwamba stated.

He urged Dr Matibini to learn from the South African Parliament that impeachment was part of the democratic process, and also insisted that Parliament should not be used to protect criminals.

“Speaker Patrick Matibini should learn from the South African Parliament that, impeachments are a part of democratic process and the House should not be used to protect criminals. Jacob Zuma survived three impeachment motions brought before Parliament without the Speaker showing any bias. The UPND demands that Matibini brings the impeachment motion so that it is debated as its continued judicial review process lacks merit. If Lungu is popular, he will stay, but we know he will go because he has failed the people of Zambia and the writing is on the wall,” he added.

GBM, the former Kasama Central lawmaker, observed that Zambia was not short of quality men and women who could provide leadership.

He added that even in PF, they were those who could take over from President Lungu and actually do a better job than him.

“Zambia is not short of quality men and women who can provide leadership; even in PF itself, they are those who can take over from him and actually do a better job than Edgar,” he argued.

And GBM stated that Zambians needed a fresh start and that the only suitable political party, which was ready to begin the new transformation, was the UPND.

“It’s no doubt that my president Hakainde Hichilema and I have travelled the country and understand it better than Edgar. It is time to go and leave Zambia to a leadership that will put the people of Zambia first. ‘DZIKO NI BANTU’ is what we believe in as UPND. Look at the Zambian people today; majority are wallowing in abject poverty can’t afford three meals in a day,” he stated.

“The intellectual capacity of our students in higher institutions of learning, such as UNZA and CBU, has been affected due to poor funding of their meals, accommodation and project allowances, worsened by poor management of their lecturers who have to fight for better conditions of service. Traders, too, have been affected by the burning of markets, which the Patriotic Front has up to-date not told the nation the cause. Civil servants are struggling to live decent lives as their salaries have lost value, while Edgar Lungu is besides the wealth he has suspiciously amassed, has also increased his salary.”

Meanwhile, GBM stated that the UPND would not allow austerity measures that were implemented using the “animal farm” formula.

“We have had enough! PF has gone too far. In Bemba we say, ‘Edgar waya sana.’ Every sector has been affected by Edgar’s poor performance, but he is showing no remorse other than fighting to remain in power as means of enriching himself, while Zambians get poorer and die prematurely. We’ve had enough. Imagine closing the Post Newspapers to the extent of reducing its workers like they were cadres in the opposition, yet they have an important role in society, which was also benefitting the PF as a ruling party,” stated GBM.

“Today, Zambians can’t express themselves on issues affecting their lives and surroundings, while journalists remain risking to provide information to the community; enough! Edgar should go, go, go! Edgar has also abrogated the [Republican] Constitution he swore during his inauguration, as well as broken some Biblical commandments, which late president Michael Sata swore to use in governing this nation. ‘Awee, mwachilamo ba Edgar,’ Zambians today are among the hungriest population in the world; it’s too much, enough is enough.”