. Hichilema

By SARAH MWANZA –
GOVERNMENT has described as damning remarks attributed to the United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema at the Global Investment Summit on Africa in London.
Mr Hichilema was quoted stating that investor interest and appetite in African countries had continued to grow, but that many countries, including Zambia had failed to capitalise on it fully.
The opposition party leader said a heavy focus on the mining sector and continued fiddling with the regulations had not only resulted in damaging Government’s relationship with companies, but had also seen neglect in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, retail, finance and telecommunications.
But Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Hichilema’s sentiments had the potential to discourage investors.
“These are damning statements from the opposition leader as far as attracting investment to this country is concerned and while this forum was an opportunity for all the guests to market their countries, Mr Hichilemna used the opportunity to discourage investors to come to Zambia,” he said.
Mr Kambwili, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said Mr Hichilema’s remarks showed that he did not have the heart for the people and warned that the UPND leader was not fit to lead the country, because of his ego.
He said Mr Hichilema’s remarks were not only unpatriotic to Zambia but to Africa, and that President Edgar Lungu had since been inundated with phone calls from other African leaders expressing their displeasure.
“The Patriotic Front Government has created an unprecedented enabling environment for business to thrive in the country and Mr Hichilema failed to pin-point laws that are inimical to investment,” he said.
Mr Kambwili said Mr Hichilema should take a leaf from the very people who invited him and see how patriotic they could be to their country once they travelled abroad.
“I therefore urge Zambians to critically analyse statements coming from some of the people eyeing State House and guard against unpatriotic Zambians whose reasoning is badly flawed by their lust for power,” he said.
Mr Kambwili also challenged Mr Hichilema to offer tangible solutions locally which could endear him to the electorate.
On the statement that Zambia’s tourism potential has been haphazardly marketed and as a result the country has not properly benefited from it, Mr Kambwili said Government found Mr Hichilema’s comments callous and totally bereft of facts.
He said President Lungu in his recent press conference announced that an ultra-modern airport would be constructed near Ndola, Luanshya and Kitwe.
He said among the hundreds of projects, this massive project was aimed not just at increasing the number of flights into the country but also at promoting tourism and employing thousands of people.
Mr Kambwili said when Vice-President Inonge Wina addressed an investment conference in London last month, the programme was over-subscribed with more than 200 investors seeking appointments with her.
Mr Kambwili said the mission in London is processing these appointments to ensure investors travel to Zambia to survey investment opportunities.
‘Contrary to Mr Hichilema’s claims, the Bank of Zambia (BoZ), the same day he was speaking in London, disclosed that Foreign Direct investment in Zambia grew from US$1.7 billion in 2013 to US$3.2 billion in 2014 owing to improved investment policy,” he said.
Mr Kambwili said BoZ Governor Denny Kalyalya, a seasoned, experienced and internationally acclaimed economist also revealed that preliminary data so far gathered showed that the first half of 2015 indicated that there was an increase in investments in Zambia in 2015 compared to last year.
Government also condemned sentiments by Mazabuka Central Member of parliament Garry Nkombo that the people of Southern Province are resolved to changing Government in next year’s general elections.
“Yet again the UPND are showing their true colours that they are a tribal party and for them Zambia begins and ends in Southern Province,” he said.
Government urged all Zambians to reject and condemn regionalism as practised by the UPND.