Opposition reacts to Museveni’s Zambia speech

Mr Mao

What you need to know:

  • Back home, Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao said no one should take such advise from Mr Museveni since he has not demonstrated what he is preaching.
  • Dr Kaunda, 92, spearheaded Zambia’s struggle for independence in 1964.

Kampala- Opposition leaders have reacted to President Museveni’s advise to opposition leaders in Zambia not to consider “politics as the end of the world”

President Museveni while at a state dinner in Zambia advised the country’s opposition leaders to stop “trouble and contribute towards the development of the country”.

“To disturb means to cause ruin. If you are not in politics, you can be in agriculture. Politics is not the end of the world,” Mr Museveni is quoted as saying according to a statement from State House.

Back home, Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao said no one should take such advise from Mr Museveni since he has not demonstrated what he is preaching.

“He should practice what he is preaching. Let him first demonstrate that he can leave politics,” Mr Mao said yesterday by telephone.

Forum for Democratic Change party spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda said Mr Museveni shouldn’t be advising Zambians to venture into agriculture since he has killed the sector back home.

“Because he killed the sector, he now thinks it belongs to the people he doesn’t like,” Mr Nganda said.

In Zambia, President Museveni saluted the former Zambian leader Dr Kenneth Kaunda for spearheading Africa’s independence struggle alongside other leaders in Tanzania, South Africa and Mozambique.

Dr Kaunda, 92, spearheaded Zambia’s struggle for independence in 1964.

Mr Museveni is being hosted by newly elected president Edgar Lungu and the two leaders discussed bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Don’t rubbish what was ahead of you. I am here to witness the past development in 1970s when you were two million people and today when the population of Zambia stands at 15 million people with the existing general infrastructure and agricultural development…,” Mr Museveni is quoted as saying.

Present at the dinner were former Zambian president Rupia Banda, vice president Inonge Wina, Uganda minister of State for International Affairs Okello Oryem, Uganda’s Ambassador to Zambia but based in Dar es salaam Doroth Hyuha, Ms Annet Nakecho, MP for Tororo County North and Peter Ogwang the MP Usuku County, among others.