UPND WILL STRUGGLE TO ACCOUNT FOR ITS CHIPANTE-PANTE LEADERSHIP AFTER AUGUST 2026 – NJOBVU
…as he claims government is robbing civil servants and farmers of a decent life
By Francis Chipalo
Democratic Union president Ackim Antony Njobvu says there has been widespread manipulation, deception, and poor planning during the tenure of the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema.
And Njobvu has lamented that civil servants and farmers, which are “pillars of the nation” have endured one of the worst leadership crises in the country’s history.
“Under UPND rule, civil servants and farmers have been neglected and pushed to the margins. Their welfare has clearly not been a priority. It is now January, yet civil servants remain uncertain about whether they will receive a salary adjustment—an adjustment that should have taken effect by the end of this month,” he said.
Njobvu who recently observed that public service workers had been surviving on loans, appealed to government to consider increase salaries to at least a K10,000 in a bid to help civil servants cope with the high cost of living and reduce dependence on exploitative survival loans.
“Instead of prioritising its workers, the government seems more comfortable offering generous incentives to foreign investors while ignoring the suffering of Zambian employees,” he said.
The opposition leader further wondered why Zambians would grant a second term to a government that he said, has failed to manage the agriculture sector, adding that the DU is the alternative party which can redeem the country.
Njobvu said failure to settle farmers on time amounts to lack of seriousness by the government.
“I have never seen a government that pays farmers for their produce as late as January. Even now, there is no sign of payments reaching farmers, only empty assurances,” he said.
Meanwhile, Njobvu has challenged government to explain whether they have diverted grants for some government ministries, or whether they were used to finance Bill 7 constitutional amendment.
“Zambians must unite under the Democratic Union, a party that respects the civil service. Appointments must be based on merit, not political affiliation or tribe. Only then can we restore dignity to public service and hope to our farmers,” he added.