United Party for National Development (UPND) official on the Copperbelt Province Victor Imakumbili has said the people of Zambia should continue believing in the New Dawn government of President Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr Imakumbili, the UPND Chifubu Constituency Vice Chairperson in Ndola, said President Hichilema and his government is providing the right leadership that is destined to take Zambia forward.
He parried aside accusations from UPND critics suggesting that the New Dawn Government was failing Zambians.
Mr Imakumbili, a business executive, said a proper assessment of the UPND Government can only be done at the end of the five-year term.
“We have a President who is able to explain things to the people and people are following. People just need to be patient and they will see more good fruits coming fourth soon. I am just appealing to the people of Zambia to continue trusting in the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema and his team. I think we have the right leadership that is there to steer the economic life of the country. All we need is just to appeal to the people of Zambia to give the UPND Government time; you know the mandate for the UPND Government is five years. So let us judge this government after the five year mandate given by the people of Zambia. Once the five years is over the people of Zambia will be able to decide whether or not to give the UPND a fresh mandate or to look for other people but I can guarantee you that the leadership that we have right now is the right leadership for Zambia,” Mr. Imakumbili told Radio Icengelo in Ndola.
Mr. Imakumbili further hailed the revitalization of Tazama Pipeline and Indeni Energy Company in Ndola as the government seeks to lower the cost of fuel.
He said the re-opening of Indeni and Tazama will rekindle economic activities in the city and beyond
Mr. Imakumbili said the commencement of operations at Tazama and Indeni will create business and job opportunities for citizens in the Copperbelt.
“When you have visionary leaders you see good things. Things should be done in a systematic way. You don’t need to do things haphazardly, you will end up making mistakes but when you look at what is happening now. You can see that there is life at the end of the tunnel. You know the industries that we thought are dead at some point have been revived. We thought Indeni was not going to be resuscitated. Talk of Tazama Pine Lime but because of the good policies of the New Dawn government and the visionary leadership we have in the name of President Hakainde Hichilema we are able to see some of the forgotten industries being revived,” he said.
“You will recall that Indeni was dead for almost two years just like the Tazama Pipeline but since the coming in of the New Dawn government I think each and every person can see that where we are going as Zambians there will be benefits from the two industries. After the revival of Indeni and Tazama Zambians will be business and job opportunities – meaning there will be a trickle down effect from these two companies. We will have the economy of Ndola improve tremendously. Now we will have money in circulation in our cities, not just Ndola alone but the entire Copperbelt Province. A number of people, a number of transporters will be involved in the operations of Indeni Energy Company and Tazama Pine Line. The buying power will increase as well,” Mr. Imakumbili said.
Energy Minister Peter Kapala last week opened the valve for diesel at Tazama just hours after commissioning the processing of feedstock at Indeni after 18 months of shutdown.