Kabushi PF member of parliament Bowman Lusambo says he slapped NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili at parliament buildings last year in order to “fulfil scripture”.

Drumming up support for PF candidate Joel Chibuye ahead of the April 11 Roan parliamentary by elections, Sunday, Lusambo said NDC had nothing to offer the people.

“I slapped Kambwili in order to fulfil scripture when it says spare the rod and spoil the child,” Lusambo said.

He said he got so fed up with Kambwili’s arrogance and behaviour that he had to slap him.

He said the government of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu would have absolutely no hindrance in delivering development with Kambwili out of the way.

Lusambo also asked Luanshya residents to interrogate Kambwili, who is immediate past Roan member of parliament, on the whereabouts of the Ndola-Luanshya railway line.

And Lusambo said the UPND failed to avail a candidate because they were ashamed of what their leader, Hakainde Hichilema, had done to Luanshya miners and their families.

Lusambo, who is also Lusaka Province minister and deputy campaign manager, told the residents of Roan that their development story would have been different and inspiring had Hichilema paid the over 12,000 employees of the Roan Antelope Mining Corporation of Zambia (RAMCOZ) at privatisation.

Lusambo claimed that it was immoral for the UPND leader to pay himself and his partners when thousands of Luanshya miners were left to suffer.

“UPND has completely failed to present a candidate in Roan constituency because Hakainde Hichilema knows exactly the role he played in collapsing the Roan Antelope Mining Corporation of Zambia (RAMCOZ). Hichilema and his partner Mr Mulenga overpaid themselves before paying a single Ngwee to the employees! We are shocked today that he wishes to distance himself from the misfortune he imposed on the residents of Luanshya,” said Lusambo.

Meanwhile, Copperbelt PF Chairman Nathan Chanda questioned the opposition alliance’s thinking if they could find it fit to pick a “political nonentity” to represent the people of Roan.

“It does not make sense that in the midst of the much needed development in Roan, Kambwili would choose to impose on you a political child in diapers as your representative. Something is very wrong in their heads and they should not take you the good people of Luanshya for a ride,” said Chanda.

But NDC National Youth Chairman Charles Kabwita says the PF is failing to set right priorities by spending big during by-elections but failing o lower the standards of living.

In a statement, Kabwita said it was shocking that the PF was celebrating the suffering of ex-miners in Luanshya.

“The net present value of the unit-cost of electricity is not reasonable and manageable by the ex miners in Roan constituency. The increase in electricity tariff will disadvantage a barber man and hair saloon business lady in Roan constituency. President Edgar Lungu has abandoned the PF manifesto of lower taxes and creation of jobs. The by-election in Roan constituency has exposed the PF government’s failure to intervene, insuring that ex-mine workers are paid their benefits and create jobs for the youths in the mining town, who are languishing in abject poverty,” stated Kabwita.

“As NDC deputy campaign manager I am appealing to all the residents of Roan constituency, to turn out in large numbers on the 11th April 2019 to vote for Joseph Chishala.The money the PF are giving you should not deceive you in voting for the PF candidate, instead get all the gifts that they are giving you during this period of campaign, it is Christmas in March and on election day, show them that Ukutumpa basha kumushi, donchi kubeba PF slogan must work against them in Roan constituency.The PF government has created poverty in many parts of Zambia, including Roan constituency, thereby making it difficult for people to choose their leaders based on performance.”