It is true that you cannot heal diarrhea by closing the outlet, says United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema.

And Hichilema says at the stroke of dawn, Zambians should know that the year for change, 2021, has finally come.

Speaking at the UPND end of year press briefing, Thursday, Hichilema said he was in agreement with a News Diggers editorial titled “You can’t heal diarrhea by stitching the anus; firing Kapeso is not the solution”.

“This is state terrorism. PF could not conceal what they were planning or doing. Those who doubted what we said that the state is a killing machine, you have your answer. The genesis is that this is a scheme by the PF government. They invest in oppressive capacities then buy food for those who are hungry. That is why they have bought more rubber bullets, more tear gases, more live ammunition. For the first time, the PF admitted that Nsama Nsama and Joseph Kaunda were innocent citizens killed by the state. To the international community, the PF have now admitted to killing innocent citizens, the question is, what should we do from here? We are saying the government must institute an independent commission to investigate last week’s Wednesday murders exclusively,” Hichilema said.

“We need to lay out an investigation into what was going on behind the scenes. The removal of the deputy inspector general of police is not enough. And I refer to a newspaper editorial, it is like trying to heal the diarrhea by closing the outlet of that diarrhea. It does not work that way. That editorial was correct. These culprits cannot investigate themselves. In a logical line of command, and Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo, he too must go. So who authorised the kill? It’s the commander-in-chief himself. So, there will be no full report because the culprits cannot be investigated themselves. Number two, the citizens of Zambia demand for a full reform of the police system.”

And Hichilema says at the struck of dawn, Zambians should know that the year for change, 2021, has finally come.

“We understand that our country is going through difficulties. Over the years, our country has experienced a situation that was never experienced before. Our people’s lives have changed and they have changed for the worst. And we must all agree that in order to serve this country, 2021 is the year of change. I believe that every Zambian who has been observing how this country has declined, under the PF leadership does agree that 2021 is the year of change for all of us. No one is spared from the economic crisis in the country. 2021 will be like it was in the 1950’s when the people of Zambia were fighting for independence. So it was the people of Zambia on one side, against the colonialist on the other,” said Hichilema.

“As it was in 1991 when the people of Zambia fought a one-party state, so it shall be in 2021. It will be PF, a small number of people benefiting in the PF against the people of Zambia. Let me be specific and put things in context. Last week Wednesday was a dark day for this country. In concluded, brought to the fore what the PF has been for this country. It brought a message to citizens or doubted what PF stand for. You got your answer last Wednesday where innocent citizens were murdered. Even with all these problems that we are going through, even with the hunger, the poverty, the killings, I urge you not to be depressed. I urge you to have hope, continue with hope because help is on the way. At the stroke of midnight today my fellow citizens, you should know that we have entered the year of change. The year of redemption, the year of law and order. It’s the PF versus the people of Zambia and the people of Zambia will win.”