ZULAWU condemns Hakainde

By ALEX NJOVU

ZAMBIA United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) general secretary Noel Kalangu has condemned United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema for threatening Livingstone town clerk Dras Neves over the continued suspension of councillors.
And Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) president Charles Mumena warned politicians against interfering with the operations of local authorities.
Mr Kalangu said in an interview yesterday in Ndola that it was wrong for Mr Hichilema to attack Ms Neves and appealed to politicians to desist from trying to win political mileage over the suspension of the council.
He urged politicians to refrain from politicising the suspension of the Livingstone City Council.
“What happened is wrong and we condemn Mr Hichilema for what happened at the funeral. Funerals are supposed to be respected, we attend funerals to pay our last respects to departed ones and not to attack and warn others,
“Politicians must not win political mileage over what is happening at the Livingstone City Council, they must not politicise the issue,” he said.
He said it is unfortunate that a leader can threaten someone at a funeral over issues which can be discussed at suitable places.
Mr Kalangu said there is need for government to quickly lift the suspension of the council.
He said implementation of developmental projects is being affected as a result of the continued suspension of the local authority.
“We are appealing to our government to quickly lift the suspension of Livingstone City Council. The current situation is affecting development in the area because there is no one to make decisions. With the onset of the rainy reason, there is need to ensure that drainage is worked on,” Mr Kalangu said.
Ms Neves said on Saturday that she is fearing for her life after allegedly being threatened by Mr Hichilema during the burial of former Southern Province permanent secretary Darius Hakayobe on Friday.
And Mr Mumena urged politicians to stop politicising councils’ operations.
He said in an interview from his base in Chongwe yesterday that politicians must learn to use laid down procedures when airing their grievances.
“We want to warn politicians against interfering with the operations of local authorities. If they have a problem against an individual, they must follow procedure instead of attacking them in public,” Mr Mumena said.
He urged them to refrain from politicising activities in various councils in the country.