Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya says things in the country are not so bad as people would want to believe.

And Siliya says government has not given its position on the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) Bill saying it would do so in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Siliya has called on the UPND to go to State House if there is an issue they would want to air out than telling donors to put pressure on the PF that things were not good in the country.

“There has been still a continued effort by some quotas of our country and even outsiders. They want to continue to paint Zambia black. I think we have to remind ourselves that this is our country. All countries go through turbulences all countries go through problems. You just have to turn on the news and see the problems in countries in Europe. Zambia is just part of the world. We have to compete and place ourselves in a position where we can create better lives for ourselves and our children. This means that the perception and value of our country must be inculcated in all of us,” Siliya said

“We have to worry about the way people perceive our country because that affects investment. And no matter how much people have tried to perceive this country’s perception, when it came to democracy they talked. I was tweeting few days ago in response to the outgoing British High Commissioner. This country is now on all six presidents elected by the people of Zambia. It is a good record for us, we mustn’t forget. We have changed political parties three times. There are countries who are still struggling with democracy in Africa. Not just in Africa, we have seen in America and Europe that the concept of democracy is being challenged and threatened. So sometimes we must remember that maybe things are not so bad as we want to believe,”

And Siliya says government has not given its position on the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) Bill saying it would do so in Parliament.

“We have heard a lot of talk, uninformed opinions because people have not taken time to read the NDF bill. People have not taken the bill and read it so they can prepare and make submissions. Which are beginning on the 2nd to the 27th of September at Parliament. Because Bills are not made on the streets or the internet, bills are made in Parliament. This bill is now going to be given to Parliament. Parliament will invite people to go and make submissions. I know there is a day when parliament will live out a day for the public to go and make submissions. Thereafter, Parliament committee will do a report for Parliament. When that report comes to Parliament, then government will give its position on the NDF bill on the Constitution. That is the procedure,” Siliya said

“PF has commented, UPND has commented, Citizens have commented but government has not given its position on any of those matters. Because we are waiting for it to come to parliament first. Where we participate as government. I hope that people will stop making wild allegations about the NDF because it’s a clear process. The NDF is a bill of the NDF. Not of government. Government has just facilitated on behalf of the people of Zambia through Ministry of Justice who received the initial submissions that people wanted another consultation platform, and the NDF was created,”

Meanwhile, Siliya has called on the UPND to go to State House if there is an issue they would want to air out than telling donors to put pressure on the PF.

“I have seen today the UPND spokesperson giving statements saying ‘please donors tell government that things are not good in the country.’ Do we really care about our country? If UPND has an issue they would like to air out, and advice government on, they are very welcome to go to Sate House, to the Office of the Vice-President and any Ministers offices, to the Chief Whip at Parliament. When we keep saying this country is not good, but we want to see investment for jobs. There is a difference between a country’s reputation and investment. Let us not be proud singing out there that we have problems,” said Siliya.