By SYLVESTER MWALE –

INFORMATION and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili has rubbished claims that Zambia has been taken back under the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.
Former MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe was quoted in yesterday’s edition of The Post newspaper that the country had been taken back to square one under a distorted leadership.
But Mr Kambwili said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that Major Kachingwe should be the last person to accuse the PF because he presided over a political party which was kicked out of power because of poor performance.
“Contrary to Maj Kachingwe’s assertions, Government developmental projects being implemented countrywide are there for all to see. They include investment in infrastructure such as roads, schools, universities and hospitals aimed at improving people’s living standards.
“Maj Kachingwe should not pretend that he is not seeing the various development projects the PF Government is implementing since coming into office such as the ongoing L400 aimed at widening and modernising the road network in and around the city of Lusaka,” he said.
The Government however, notes with satisfaction that Maj Kachingwe acknowledges that things have improved under the PF because the “square one” he referred to was the former MMD’s chief executive officer.
Additionally, the Government harbours no illusions about the enormity of the developmental challenges at hand but it is resolved to ensure that Zambia becomes a better place for all.
Mr Kambwili, who is Chief Government Spokesperson, advised former Church of God overseer Bishop John Mambo to take a lead in preaching love and peace instead of hatred and supporting The Post’s hate speech against President Edgar Lungu.
He assured that the Government had no agenda of harming any of its citizens including The Post editor-in-chief Fred M’membe.
Mr Kambwili advised Bishop Mambo to leave the pulpit and join the political arena instead of pretending to be a preacher of the word of God when in fact he was a politician.
The Minister noted that Government was not asking for too much from the media, particularly The Post, by asking the private newspaper to be ethical and professional and avoid pursuing a political agenda.
“In the same breath, Government wishes to register its disappointment with the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) for its failure to condemn unethical and unprofessional conduct by some media houses.
“For reasons best known to itself, PAZA finds it easier to praise rather than censure obvious and overt unethical and unprofessional conduct by some media houses,” he said.
Mr Kambwili was reacting to yesterday’s Post story quoting PAZA president Andrew Sakala as saying that it was wrong for President Lungu to look at criticism by The Post as a battle between him and Mr M’membe.
Mr Kambwili said as a senior media practitioner, Mr Sakala was expected to see that the private newspaper had embarked on an all-out political agenda against the PF Government and its leader.
The Chief Government spokesperson also labeled Prof Oliver Saasa as being a prophet of doom and a UPND cadre who was selling his integrity for political expediency.
This followed claims by Prof Saasa that Zambians should brace themselves for more suffering as quoted in yesterday’s edition of The Post newspaper.