By Francis Chipalo

The United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) is a cartel of jealous individuals which was formed to fight and frustrate President Hakainde Hichilema, Lusaka Province UPND Chairperson, Anderson Banda has claimed.

And Banda has described some UKA members, among them, former President Edgar Lungu, FDD leader Edith Nawakwi and Sakwiba Sikota as an embarrassment to the nation.

Speaking at a media briefing, Wednesday morning, Banda said it was unfortunate that the UKA movement, which he described as a “cartel of jealous people” had nothing to offer Zambians, saying the alliance’s agenda was to only frustrate the Head of State.

“UKA is a club of jealous people who have recruited their fellow jealous colleagues to fight and frustrate President Hakainde Hichilema because of their jealous. They hated HH when in opposition and they still hate him now. Their main Agenda is to cause confusion in the country, but we want to tell them that as youths, we will not sit idle and allow them do that,” Banda said.

And Banda challenged the opposition movement to practice issue-based politics, saying; “we are now in modern era where we should practice politics which will help the nation. Those are the kind of politics Zambians want”.

Banda further described Sikota, Nawakwi and ECL as an embarrassment to the nation, adding that instead of being role models to young people, they had chosen to fight a man who was even sorting out problems that they created and left such as debt.

“President Hichilema has scored a hat trick in the last 72 hours where we saw Mopani Copper Mines being resuscitated and thereby creating employment opportunities for young people. Talk of debt restructuring and Ndola dual carriage way which will also create jobs for the youths. HH is sorting out the mess that those individuals in UKA left, but yet they are trying to frustrate him because of their jealous,” he said.

Banda vowed that youths will not allow the opposition UKA movement to demean the president and his administration, adding that youths were equal to task in protecting the President.

He added that the UPND was not scared by the establishment of UKA, which he claimed had nothing meaningful to offer meaningful apart from showing hatred towards President Hichilema.

When contacted for a reaction, UKA Secretary General, Lucky Mulusa, said the alliance ignores Banda’s comments saying they add no value to UKA.