VICE-PRESIDENT Mutale Nalumango says residents of Kalungwishi constituency in Luapula Province should dance to opposition songs but vote for President Hakainde Hichilema on the 13th of August.

Speaking during a rally in Kalungwishi constituency, Vice-President Nalumango said the opposition should not lie that they introduced free education as they claimed it was impossible when they were in power.

“Those children even start dancing to their campaign songs. They are playing their song, just dance to it, but when it comes to voting, vote for HH because he is taking this country forward. Just look at the 30,000 teachers he has employed. Where have you seen that happening? Only HH has achieved this. We didn’t have teachers in this district, but look now we have teachers that are teaching our children quality education. Just look at how many nurses were employed. Even though you don’t appreciate, HH is a real man for the people. People remained unemployed for more than 10 years, but because of HH they are working. Can you say he is a bad person?” she asked.

“I am who I am because of free education, can you tell that I’m coming from a poor background? That’s why we decided that we can’t throw away our children because they are poor. He put it into law. Then these people should come lie to you and tell you we are the ones that started free education. They told us in Parliament that it’s not doable. In fact, Mabumba, Education Minister in their time, refused that free education cannot be done. Moreover, you will waste a lot of money. But when you spend money on a child, are we wasting it? That translates to progress for the country. That’s how HH thinks”.

She added that President Hichilema has always promoted peace and unity in this country, which was evident in this year’s election period.

“In their time, during by-elections there was no peace. Others [don’t] even know that there are elections because of the peace that we are experiencing? Our campaigns are peaceful. When they came here, did you beat them? Those days, can you come and make a meeting here? You’ll be scampering for your lives. But is that normal? Peace is needed because where there is peace there is progress, and that’s all Hakainde has been preaching about, and that’s for the country to remain peaceful and be united,” Vice-President Nalumango said.

“Hakainde has equally made it his mandate to implement free education. No matter how poor you are, you now have access to free education because once they get an education they will live better lives. You look at me today. It doesn’t mean if you’re a politician you need to lie. That’s why it will be up to you to choose whether you want to go back to the past or want to stay with a progressive party. These same people with their lamp slogan, what does it even mean? Is it the one we put under the bed? They are saying if you vote for the lamp it will be bright. That’s just going back to the old bad days. They just want to eat the money that Hakainde has worked so hard for. They want to finish the money. When they were in power they would laugh at us, saying ‘Where will we get the money from?’ We told them, ‘wait and watch us.’”

Vice-President Nalumango added that voting for President Hichilema would bring development.

“When you vote for HH you will see how beautiful the country will become because he is always thinking about how to progress this country. You can accuse him of anything else but not him failing the country. He is a different class of people. President Hichilema is respected in other countries. They ask him, ‘How did you manage to revamp the country’s economy after finding out that you are heavily indebted?’ But we think it’s all fun. And those people ruled for 10 years, but look at the conditions of the roads. Don’t worry, vote for HH and see development in this constituency. He will transform it. So please don’t listen to these liars. They promised things they failed to fulfil, but HH is the man for this job. He will make this place a better place,” said Vice-President Nalumango.