DON’T stop me from reminding Zambians of the PF atrocities; please praise me, otherwise you would have been beaten when we won in 2021, President Hakainde Hichilema has told Brian Mundubile and his team.

And President Hichilema says the biggest reason Zambians will be voting for the UPND is the need to unite the nation across all provinces.

Addressing a rally in Pemba District, Sunday, President Hichilema said Mundubile and his team were trying to use what he termed “rabbit tricks” to stop him from reminding Zambians how they used to be beaten during the PF era, saying history cannot be erased.

“Are you being beaten? Are those in green being beaten? Here in Southern Province we used to be beaten. When we won in 2021, you wanted to beat them up, is that not so? I had to stop you. PF members please praise me, otherwise you would have been beaten when we won in 2021. And when I say so they say I am dividing the country. Don’t vote for those who were beating people, and there are some of those here in Pemba. They killed Lawrence Banda a UPND youth aged 23, they killed Joseph Kaunda, they killed Joseph Chibulo. Let’s tell the truth. They want to stop me from telling the truth, those are tricks of a ribbit, so that I don’t remind people of what used to happen in the past,” President Hichilema said.

He warned that voting for the opposition would mean returning to the violent past.

“History can’t be changed, don’t we talk about what the white man did to us during the colonial era? I was in Mukobeko, in a tiny cell, with no sanitation. We need to talk of those days. In markets and bus stations they had cadres. I am just opening your eyes. When I say they used to beat you up you respond in fear, don’t fear, you won’t be beaten anymore,” President Hichilema said.

He, however, said there were still some people perpetrating the PF style of violence in markets and bus stations, but was quick to add that it was not as bad as it was during the PF era.

“There are some who are still continuing to steal, but people are freely working in markets. We just want to work, we don’t want to fight, that is why we are voting for the UPND on 13th August,” President Hichilema said.

He added that most provinces had already resolved to vote for the UPND and called on Southern Province to do the same.

“We are working day and night so that you live better lives. You are eating and getting satisfied and children are learning without paying, is that not so? That is what it means to rule yourselves. Do you want to continue living better lives? Then vote for UPND, is that not so? There is nothing much to say since you have been listening to me during the several meetings I have held, and your eyes can see and your ears can hear. The way your eyes and ears work means that you have seen and heard the best things since you voted for us in 2021. Do you know that I love you and we are working day and night so that you live better lives? We have done a lot and that is why we are voting for UPND on 13th August. Is not so? So being cheated is not needed. Let us all agree that we are voting for UPND, all the eight provinces have agreed, it remains for you Southerners,” President Hichilema said.

He also directed the unopposed UPND council chairperson to join the campaign team for the other candidates, saying he had received reports from Pemba residents that he had stayed away from campaigns.

“The Council Chairperson has already won, but he needs to join the campaigns. Join the campaigns. Don’t say, ‘I am unopposed and can’t campaign,’ because the MP needs to win, the President needs to win. Every week I send him money. He receives money for campaigns every week. Join the campaigns, my friend. It is not me who is saying so, it’s those people there who are saying so. So please join the campaigns. I don’t want us to fight. Fighting ended with PF, they were the ones who were crooked. He has heard, he is a clever person,” President Hichilema said.

He said his government is working day and night to ensure that Zambians live better lives.

“The first reason why we are voting for the UPND is that we need to unite this country. We need to unite this country in all the 10 provinces. We have 116 districts, but one country. We have 1,858 wards, but one country. We have 13,500 polling stations, but one country. So we are one country, that is how God created us. Do you ask a girl you love and want to marry what tribe she is? Do you ask a young man who is wearing a tie, works for a bank and wants to marry you what tribe he is? Don’t you just stand up and get married?” the Head of State wondered.

He further said that unity and peace are what can help bring development to the nation.

“The number one reason we are voting for the UPND is to unite this country because unity and oneness will help us develop this country. Unity will help us bring development. Don’t be cheated by people who divided this country and want to come back and continue dividing you. Even in UPND, don’t be cheated by people who want to sway you. Here in Pemba, let us not be divided, let us be united. The biggest reason is that we must not go back to the past. Let us not go back to Matongo, and when I say Matongo [ruins], I mean the PF. A lot of children under the PF never used to go to school. Anyone who does not want his or her child to get free education is bewitched, and the witch died and was buried with the cleansing medicine,” said President Hichilema.