CHOMBA MUSIKA
Lusaka
STATE House has challenged some opposition political party leaders to explain what they would do differently to improve the lives of Zambians, and not imaginative theories.
Chief communications specialist Clayson Hamasaka says Zambians deserve a serious national conversation on policy alternatives to counter President Hakainde Hichilema’s clear and measurable targets.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Hamasaka said the opposition’s policy positions often shift, while their core messages remain unclear and inconsistent, instead of engaging in serious conversations.
Mr Hamasaka said the inconsistencies, regrettably, make it difficult for State House to engage the opposition when queried by the media to respond to their campaign messages. “We remain willing and ready to engage our colleagues in the opposition,” he said.
“However, such engagement is best served by coherent, realistic and costed policy alternatives rather than theories that appear to have originated from a rather generous imagination.”
Mr Hamasaka said State House has continued receiving enquiries from various media houses seeking its response to statements attributed to certain political groupings.
“Regrettably, it has become increasingly difficult to engage meaningfully and competently with our colleagues in the opposition because their policy positions often shift and their core messages remain unclear and inconsistent,” he said.
Mr Hamasaka said what is more concerning is that some inconsistent pronouncements are being made by individuals who occupied senior positions in the previous administration. “They had every opportunity to implement the very proposals they are now advancing. At times, the proposals venture into rather imaginative territory,” he said.
“Suggestions such as providing free excavators to every marketeer may make for interesting campaign rhetoric, but they raise legitimate questions about feasibility, prioritisation and financing.”
Mr Hamasaka said a more practical discussion from the opposition would be centred on empowering market traders through affordable credit facilities. Others include improved market infrastructure, skills development, access to digital finance, and expanding opportunities for small businesses to grow and create jobs.
