Kalaba surges with his mobilisation for 2021 elections
By Staff Reporter
RULING Patriotic Front Bahati member of parliament Harry Kalaba says he will not be detracted by disrespectful attitudes by PF members because they don’t own Zambia.
Kalaba, who is positioning himself to contest the 2021 presidential elections was addressing his supporters in Soweto residential area of Nchanga Constituency, Chingola over the weekend.
Eight months after resigning as a foreign affairs minister, Kalaba is slowly intensifying his presidential bid with membership mobilisation meetings in various places across the country.
He, however, is using the Harry Kalaba Movement as a public mass to spearhead his bid.
“Why should we keep quiet as if those in the PF are the ultimate owners of this country? So, what I’m saying is that I will vie for the Republican presidency in 2021. Tatulefwaya nechibeleshi (we don’t want contemptuous familiarity). Ichibeleshi uko kwine (contemptuous familiarity; away from me!) Batubomfya pafula (they have used us enough.) Ichibeleshi kwati nipa KMB! (What disdainful familiarity as if it’s at Kitwe Main Bus station (KMB!)” Kalaba told his supporters.
He said he had reached a point where he could not let down his supporters.
“Ine nomba apa nfikile nina ng’ombe pabana taya (I have reached a point where I can never abandon you.) I heard about your suffering here in Soweto and I said it’s better I relinquish my ministerial position and work with the people of Soweto,” Kalaba explained.
“Ubutungulushi tukwete lelo butungulushi ubwaitemwa nganshi (the leadership we have today is too selfish;) konse akamoneka ebo (whatever avails itself is theirs.) It’s for that reason that I propose that some of you here should lead so that self-centredness can be curtailed.”
He reiterated that Zambia was in a ruined position today because: “Those in leadership are self-serving at the expense of you.”
“It’s for that reason that you live in an area like Soweto where there is no well-designed water supply! You keep on voting but you see no benefit for voting. We need to roll out real development here,” pledged Kalaba, adding that time for Soweto residents and other Zambians to spearhead personal advancement and to free themselves was now.
“Let’s unite and let’s be strong so that in 2021, we do what is right – that which will bring real development to Soweto. They are building police houses here in Chingola. But who has the contract to build those houses? It’s the Chinese! Surely, can Zambians fail to build houses? You say Zambians can’t construct an airport, university, stadium and that they cannot erect a [communication] tower. But what about a mere house?”
On Sunday, Kalaba, in the company of Chifunabuli constituency 2016 losing independent parliamentary candidate Justine Nkonge and his Movement’s spokesperson Judith Kabemba, attended a Church service at Nchanga Catholic Parish and later at Jesus is Lord Christian Centre within Chingola.
Around April, an opposition political party, the Democratic Party (DP), announced that it was in talks with Kalaba on the possibility of him joining the party, contesting its internal party elections and if successful be fielded as a presidential candidate for the 2021 general elections.
But the Ministry of Home Affairs deregistered the DP on operational technicalities.
The party has since sought judicial review in the High Court.
