ARROGANT UPND WALK OUT OF COST OF LIVING PARLY DEBATE SIGN THEY CARE ABOUT POLITICS, NOT PEOPLE'S CURRENT SUFFERING Good evening. Something happened at parliament yesterday, which will determine how ordinary Zambians regard the ruling party from now till 2026. Walking out of parliament is usually done as a form of protest at some injustice, or to force collapse of a quorum and shut down proceedings. There is no other credible reason for MPs and cabinet ministers to have staged a walkout, simply because a member of the opposition brought up a debate on the high cost of living. In this case, a member of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF), Mutotwe Kafwaya, Lunte Constituency, attempted to steer the House to a quick debate on the current cost of living. If ever there was one realistically non-controversial subject that both sides need to discuss, it is this one. There is no political leader, whether from the ruling party or opposition, who can dispute that Zambians are currently enduring some of the most debilitating negative economic conditions ever experienced in Zambia since independence. Of course, the causes of these adverse economic conditions have been compounded over decades of mismanagement, wrong policies, and corruption. But the effects of this cannot be denied. Neither can any sane Zambian dispute the dire need and search for what immediate measures can be implemented to alleviate the suffering of Zambians, as millions of families are now in a daily battle for economic survival. This need transcends partisan party politics. It is therefore, very sad that cabinet ministers and MPs feom the ruling party failed to see this yesterday. They chose to walk out when PF's Kafwaya started to discuss the cost of living. By this action, they have spoken loudly that for them, making a political point against the opposition in parliament, is more important than consideration of ideas that might help ring down the cost of living and give Zambians some economic relief. The UPND cabinet ministers and MPs who walked out of that debate signified, like never before, that they care very little about the auffering of Zambians. To them, defeating, harassing and humiliating the PF in parliament is more important. The excuse attempted by UPND Chief Whip, Stafford Mulusa, just renders the logic of the walkout even more pathetic. By saying that these thoughtless ruling party lawmakers staged their walkout because the cost of living debate was introduced through a wrong procedure, still elevates a simple matter of procedure over near-emergency economic conditions in Zambia today. It is still not a sign of a caring ruling party to scuttle a debate on such a serious matter over a flimsy gripe over procedure. It is simply inexcusable. As Zambians have come to learn over these four years, the UPND will unleash their hordes of paid propagandists to twist facts, attack those who will complain about this behaviour, and simply attack Mutotwe Kafwaya and other opposition MPs over the matter. But the majority of Zambians are no longer gullible. There is nothing the UPND ministers and members of Parliament can give as a credible excuse for walking out of a debate on the cost of living, at this present moment when millions of Zambians are actually looking up to their leaders to debate and find ways of reducing the cost of living. Now Zambians know. UPND cares more about politics than finding discussing ways to solve their problems. Get in touch with us on WhatsApp +263786654620 John 8:32 "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” #zambianwhistleblower #zwb ©️ Zambian Whistleblower (ZWB).