Acting President Dr Guy Scott says it is sad that Daniel Munkombwe has decided to endorse UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema for next week’s presidential election.
And acting President Scott says Zambians should never give up on voting because that is the only way they have to fight injustice.
In an interview, acting President Scott described Southern Province minister Munkombwe’s move as one made out of frustration.
“Munkombwe feels sidetracked in the PF by new members. He is frustrated and he has let his frustration out. None of us who are founder members of the PF have felt frustrated – [Chishimba] Kambwili, Miles Sampa – we are all still with PF. But it is the people who joined recently who have gotten frustrated. It is sad and I wish Munkombwe all the best. I mean he was asked by president Michael Sata to say, ‘come and give me a hand’ and now that Sata is no more, he feels it is time to leave,” he said.
And speaking when he visited Kasenga island on Lake Bangweulu which is among the few places in Zambia where the Batwa speaking people live, Dr Scott said voting was the only way ordinary citizens could make their voices heard.
“Never give up on voting because your vote is the only way you have to fight injustice. It is the only way you can have your voices heard. Be proud to vote even you as Batwas,” acting President Scott said.
He said the PF government believed that all Zambians were equal and no tribe or colour was above the other.
“You people of Kasenga Island (the Batwas), you are the first we found and also found others in Chiengi. We also hear that in the Kafue flats, we have Batwas. You are many as Batwas in neighbouring countries like Botswana, Congo DR but you have had to hide from farming people who have pushed you into the island. As far as we understand, you were the first people to settle in Zambia, before there was any white man. Don’t fear this government. We have no commitment of taking your land,” said acting President Scott, adding that a film that has been produced on the Batwas had continued to receive attention from foreign countries.
And Charlotte Scott who accompanied her husband, said since 25 years ago when she met acting President Scott in Mpika, he had always talked about visiting Kasenga Island and that she was glad to have finally visited the area.
Kapata ward councillor George Ching’ambi said most Batwa people do not have National Registration
Cards as officers from the department of National Registration do not usually visit the island.
The acting President was accompanied to the island by UN resident coordinator Janet Rogan and National Arts Council of Zambia chairperson Mulenga Kapwepwe.
While on the island, the acting President took time to watch a documentary that was done by
Enso Media on the life of the Batwa people, and also visited some villages on Kasenga.