FORMER works and supply minister Sylvia Chalikosa says UPND’s commitment to fighting corruption is easier said than done because they will not be able to police each and every person in Zambia.

And Chalikosa says UPND has never appreciated the PF despite all the good things they did, especially in terms of infrastructure development.

In an interview, Monday, Chalikosa said corruption happened everywhere in society, and that the new dawn government should focus on recovering the economy rather than targeting PF.

“To be honest with you, much as the top leadership is targeted for corruption, corruption happens everywhere. From the technical staff, from the ordinary citizens, there is always an exchange of underhand methods and so targeting the ministers for instance will only attract sympathy for the new dawn government up to now. The new dawn government has to start working and even if they follow one or two ministers, what good will it be for the people? If people did the wrong things, it’s up to the investigative wings to do their work, but to talk ill about the PF government despite all the goods that we did, especially in terms of infrastructure development?” Chalikosa wondered.

“People today are driving on very good roads because that was the main focus in the last five, six years of the PF government, after which we embarked on empowerment programmes for Zambian citizens, especially the youths and the women. That is what the new dawn government should be focusing on now. How do we get the economy to recover and what do we need to do to enhance the empowerment programmes that we started rather than blaming people for this, blaming PF for that, it’s not going to help them. They need to also tell us what they are doing to help the country and the citizens. I think we are tired of listening to this blame game you know. Will the number of PF members they have caught under the guise of corruption, will that satisfy the Zambian citizens in showing that they have worked for the people of Zambia?”

Chalikosa said the UPND government was trying to use the corruption fight to win the hearts of Zambians.

She argued that fighting corruption was easier said than done as the former ruling party also tried to fight the vice.

“Of course they have to win the hearts of the Zambian people so they will target corruption as a number one fight. In PF we were also trying to fight corruption but it’s easier said than done because you will not be able to police each and every person in the country. So they are trying to use corruption fight to win the hearts of Zambians but I think what’s important is for all of us to be engaged on empowerment programmes. How do we make citizens manage their economic affairs so that we are all doing something sustainable rather than looking on our shoulder and saying ‘when is UPND going to accuse us of this and that’?” Chalikosa said.

And Chalikosa said UPND had never appreciated the PF despite all the good things they did, especially in terms of infrastructure development.

“UPND has never appreciated PF’s goodwill gestures in whichever form, whether we do a road from Lusaka to Mazabuka or Livingstone. Whether we embark on the Kazungula bridge, whether we do the road to Mongu. We do all these things with a view of making use of these economic roads in the far future and yet there is no appreciation by the new dawn government. All they sing is that ‘PF neglected the people in certain regions’ which is not true,” said Chalikosa.

“If anything, PF concentrated on bringing infrastructure development to all parts of the country, but as the economy would have it, COVID came, other pandemics came and other issues came and hampered the economic recovery. So UPND has never appreciated any good that PF has done, that’s a fact and they will continue painting PF black even when they know not everything was in bad faith but for the good of the people.”