“He’s wondering how ECL managed to do the L-400, where all these township roads were done. He’s now wondering how ECL managed to do the decongestion programme. He’s also surprised that ECL was able to construct three big airports, in Ndola, Lusaka and Livingstone. He’s actually amazed that ECL was able to do the Kazungula bridge, Kafue gorge lower, Kafulafuta dam. So he’s saying how on earth did ECL and the PF do all these things. But to come and admit a few months before the elections, it’s a bit too late”.

And Mundubile said Lungu was not vengeful as he would quickly help President Hichilema if he apologised and asked for assistance so that he could do something that would add to his legacy.

“I sympathise with the UPND, they should not think words alone can pacify the situation. Words alone will not bring down the cost of living. President Hakainde Hichilema has a few months to rectify the situation before they leave government because obviously as head of state he needs to leave a legacy, he need to be remembered for something, four years down the line, there’s absolutely nothing to remember the President for. The only thing the Zambians will remember HH for is high cost of living. So he’s got a couple of months now to quickly adjust and do something for the Zambian people,” he said .

“President Lungu is not vengeful, I know that if President Hichilema picked a phone and apologised to his brother and asked him what he can do in the remaining months just to try and save his face, at least do something that will add to his legacy, president Lungu will be very quick to assist his brother so that he does not walk away from presidency with a bad record”.

“Why is it that these equipment are only breaking down in certain areas? ECZ, as MPs we want to speak without fear, we want to send this warning to ECZ. You want to rig the elections right in the face of the Zambian people? You must do an honest job, you must act above board. MPs are complaining, it can’t be a coincidence. You’ve been to other parts of the country for the past three years, you’ve only gone to some of our constituencies now and you’re rushing through this particular process. That’s not acceptable”.

Meanwhile, Lukashya PF MP George Chisanga said the jailing of Mabonga and Zulu were conveniently timed when the UPND had tabled constitutional amendments.

He said the absence of the two parliamentarians was deliberately intended to tilt debate of the amendments in favour of the UPND as they would have more numbers.

“We express our anger and disappointment because yesterday was another dark day in the constitutional democracy of this country. The nation is aware that the Mrs Mabonga and Mr Munir Zulu’s jailing were conveniently timed at the time when the UPND had tabled constitutional amendments on the floor of the house. As we return to parliament we will consider the controversial constitutional amendments that have been proposed by the UPND government. The absence of these two members is deliberately intended to skew the debate in favour of the UPND because indeed in their absence the numbers of those who are opposed to the constitutional amendments in the house begins to reduce. We cannot divorce what transpired yesterday and what transpired in the case of Munir Zulu to the fact that this is a timed arrangement to make sure that we reduce our capacity in providing opposition to the constitution amendments,” Chisanga said.

“Mrs Mabonga joins the queue of other PF leaders who have been victims of injustice and victims of selective application of the law since the UPND took over power in 2021. It’s a clear fact that honourable Mabonga was merely responding to provocative statements that have become an order of the day by the UPND officials and cadres which are targeted at the PF.

“At the rate the country is moving, many if not all MPs in the opposition and other leaders who choose to exercise their freedoms guaranteed for citizens by the constitution especially the freedom of expression, assembly and speech will end up being jailed by this authoritative regime. The ugly face of police conduct yesterday within the premises of the court when the opposition leaders wanted to state their views on Mabonga’s verdict is a clear testimony of what this government has resolved to do in its treatment of the opposition,” said Chisanga.

“We call upon all the members of the Tonse alliance, the Zambia we want, and by extension the United Kwacha Alliance or at least the remnants of what has remained in it to unite around an ideology and a philosophy that’s going to turn the tables in this nation and restore it to its past years of glory. What we are going through is nothing else but gangsterism. We have replaced the constitution, rule of law by the rule of giants or the rule of savages. You cannot expect any better when you have a country where if your allegiance is to the UPND you can commit any manner of offence and nothing is going to come as consequences”.

And PF deputy secretary general Brenda Nyirenda said by now Zambians were feeling sorry for having voted out the PF, who had a heart for the people.

“Zambia needed to change leadership so that the people can taste the other type of leadership before they can make the right decision. When you have a good leader in power it’s very easy for you to abuse him, to throw a lot of mud at him. I think today every Zambian in their home when they sit and ask themselves questions as to what they did to the PF, I’m sure every home is now saying we are sorry that we removed PF, people who had a heart, people who loved the country to the core,” said Nyirenda.