FORMER Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Sketchley Sacika has wondered why President Edgar Lungu can be proud of his leadership when Zambia has been classified as the fifth hungriest country in the world.

And Dr Sacika says PF is using the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to impose a political lockdown by restricting the opposition political parties from campaigning.

Meanwhile, Dr Sacika says ECZ can still redeem itself by lifting all suspensions to allow all political parties to participate freely in the electoral process.

In an interview, Dr Sacika said the poverty levels in the country were unacceptable.

“Unfortunately for President Edgar Lungu and the PF, their time is up and they must accept that. Their government has been the most corrupt government in Zambia ever since our independence. They do not seem to know what they are doing. All they are interested in is to remain in power. Why should you continue in power when you are doing nothing for the people? Zambia is now classified as the fifth hungriest country in the world. Zambians are hungry because they have no jobs and have nothing to do because they are poor. They cannot afford food. The poverty levels in this country are simply too high and this is unacceptable. And how can anybody be proud of being a President of a country which finds itself in a position which Zambia is in? I find it difficult to understand,” he said.

Dr Sacika said state institutions had lost competence because the PF government had compromised them.

He added that the PF was using ECZ and the COVID-19 pandemic to impose a political lockdown by restricting the opposition from campaigning.

“Our state institutions have stopped working for the people. The government’s incompetence is simply too high. You go to government institutions for a service but you do not get it. People do not know what to do? Now how can we have a government of this nature? People have seen through all this and they have made a decision. I believe come next week, the people will vote accordingly. Zambians are not fooled by the PF and government image to disadvantage the opposition in these elections. The PF has been using COVID-19 to impose political lockdown on the opposition political parties. This is very unfortunate. It is an election where other candidates are prevented from meeting people to exchange ideas. They are prevented from telling the people what their political party is prepared to offer. This is the only election which is a sham and a traverse, to say the least,” Dr Sacika stated.

Dr Sacika said ECZ could still redeem itself by lifting all suspensions to allow political parties to participate freely in the electoral process.

“The Electoral Commission of Zambia can redeem something for themselves by removing all restrictions on elections so that the remaining days are more productive for all those taking part in the elections. People out there do not know what these political parties are offering. How can political parties convey their messages when they are not allowed to meet the people? The voters want to know what these political parties stand for. They want to hear the politicians talk. They do not want them to be dishing out simple and empty messages. The PF and the ECZ are treating Zambians like fools and children. These are serious matters. People do not know what these political parties are offering because there is a lockdown on political dialogue. I have watched elections in Zambia since 1964 when we opened up, this is the worst ever election that our country is experiencing,” said Dr Sacika.