Sikumba is an absent MP, he shouldn’t just come for CDF handouts – Moyo
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
JOSEPH Moyo has accused tourism minister Rodney Sikumba of abandoning his constituency “thinking being minister is more important”.
The founder and president of The Africa Woman Foundation reminded Sikumba that he’s member of parliament at the pleasure of the people of Livingstone and “not President Hakainde Hichilema or Cabinet”.
He told The Mast in an interview that Zambians must stop pretending and speak out when the truth needs to be told.
“The truth of the matter is that Rodney Sikumba, the MP for Livingstone Constituency, is not present on the ground. I am not saying minister Sikumba because he was not elected to be one. Sikumba is not there, he is not available. He is not interacting with his people. Let him come and move around, the same way he did when he was seeking the privilege from the people of Livingstone to become MP. He moved around and sought the people’s vote and after being voted, the eagles has flown away. It is not touching ground. It’s unacceptable to have such an MP,” he said. “Sikumba is unfit. He thinks being a minister is more important than the humble, poor vulnerable people who went to queue as early as 04:00 hours to vote for him that today he may look down on them. He looks at the people of Livingstone as disposable. He has outsourced his duties to councillors, he is an absent MP. This is negligence. This is constituency abandonment, abandoning the very people who voted for him. I am very blunt and straight forward. The MP has abandoned his people.”
Moyo said President Hichilema must chuck out MPs who have abandoned their people.
“If there is any MP who abandons his people like Sikumba has because of a ministerial position Mr President chuck them out. Tell them that my appointment has made you abandon your people so get back. Sikumba feels he is shielded from constituency condemnation or visits because he has to attend to more higher assignments which they call national duties. But the most important calling is being an MP, not a minister,” he said.
Moyo said Livingstone has many challenges which Sikumba must address such as teenage pregnacies, which have skyrocketed in compounds due to poverty.
“The MP cannot outsource his duties to councillors. He must be there and meet his people and understand their needs. Sikumba is an absent MP. He should not just come for CDF issues or handouts. He must be everywhere. This thing of seeking votes only when you need them is criminal. You cannot abuse people by coming only when you want votes. That is abuse,” said Moyo. “The people of Livingstone did not elect Sikumba to become a minister. They elected him as their representative. So his daily call to duty is to please the people of Livinsgtone. He must be there as humanely as possible. This is the basis of why he was chosen. He must not take his loyalty to the Ministry of Tourism. People elected him not thinking of a ministerial appointment. Yes that is the prerogative of the President and yes, he is one of the few lucky ones who was appointed but this should not make him ignore the people of Livingstone, which is what he has done. Sikumba serves as a member of parliament at the pleasure of Livingstone residents, not President HH or Cabinet. Only nominated MPs serve as ministers at the pleasure of the Head of State.”