UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has projected a historical removal of the PF leadership from power saying Zambians must unite and remove a thieving regime.

Meanwhile, Hichilema says his party will not join “thieves” at the National Day of Prayer, Fasting and Reconciliation which falls on October 18.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, Thursday, Hichilema urged Zambians to unite and remove PF from office in 2021 if they wanted better lives.

He observed that PF members were suffering even more than those who did not vote for the ruling party.

“We have one country which we have been working together to deliver. Even before independence we worked together. There was no segregation, we needed each other. So we called for an early election before 1991, we had an election in 1988. Even now winangu munthu azawina na (someone will win by) 90 per cent. In 1991 we said we can’t wait for 1993, there was an election two years ahead of time. We united. This time around we are saying we shall unite to say no to the corrupt, to the people who thieving, stealing from the blind. We are saying no to people who are using debt to take our money. My message is that this is the time to work hard, this is the time not to pet with each other. This is the time not quarrel because the only quarrel which we have is with the PF. But it will not happen if we don’t work hard, we have seen where we are going,” Hichilema said.

“Let’s not be shy to change the government democratically. You should not fear! Why are we here? We want to change the government so that we can run this country better. We want a change of government, but we will do it democratically. Part of the process is to unite, you must know that the trouble maker is PF. So isolate the troublemaker, even you who are PF today because you are also suffering. What we have been saying is that we have a better solution for this country, everyone knows that. Even those who may not like us for whatever reason, now they know that we offer a better alternative and since we are one people, let us live like that.”

Hichilema reminded Zambians that the power to change their situation was within them.

“Zambians please, I know you have good hearts, but time has come that your good hearts will not help you in any way. No one person will do it for you. Me I remember when I was in jail people were sending notes to my wife, I read the note and it says ‘HH what are you doing about the situation in this country?’ I am like ‘but me am in jail’. That is your duty to do what is right for your children. Remember the kids who are still in prison. If there is a person who is hurting everyday it’s me, I left innocent UPND children in prison and I said to them that ‘we will work hard to get you out of prison’. Today somebody doesn’t want to dialogue so we can get those children out of prison. They committed no crime, I am hurting inside. You should be in that situation as well, but they are not there I vein, they will come out. I will walk with them the remaining short distance to the destination,” Hichilema said.

And Hichilema challenged PF to refund motorists who did not buy the Saudi Arabia fuel at the promised K5 per liter.

“Because we are dealing with thieves, we don’t know if it’s true that the fuel from Saudi Arabia came. And when Zambians quizzed them, they said ‘no no no’, it was only for six days. So if it was for six days, why didn’t the pump prices go down for six days? Now here my request on behalf of the people of Zambia, if the fuel came which is supposed to be K5, it means all the motorists are owed any price above K5 they bought fuel for those six days must be refunded to the motorists. If you don’t refund that money to the motorists then even that money you have stolen. And if you don’t refund that money now, time will come very soon and will ask you to refund as individuals… Citizens, let me indicate to you, the next increase you are going to see is electricity. Don’t say you were not told. And because of this transit from VAT to Sales tax, you are going to see a reduction in revenue collection. As we you in 2012 the things we said are happening now. We are now telling you that you will see another feature load shedding. But you had goos rains, Kariba is full and in other places load shedding is already there. So these things are connected,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hichilema said his party would not attend the the national day of prayer.

“Some of us pray everyday. Some us go to Church every Sunday, some of us go to Sabbath every Sabbath. So why create a fictitious day of prayer? It means that those [in PF] maybe before that day they are pagans, they are other things. They are even doing negative things all year round including monies from the old people, then on the day of prayer once a year they go and pray. We are not part of them, we pray every day. I would like to tell Zambians that prayer without action does not yield results,” said Hichilema.