Chama — PRESIDENT Michael Sata has lashed out at MMD president Nevers Mumba for allegedly failing the people of Chinsali where he hails from.

President Sata said Dr Mumba failed to bring development to his native boma despite the time he spent in Government as vice-president under then leader Levy Mwanawasa.

The President was speaking at Chinsali airstrip when he made a stopover en-route to Chama to drum up support for Patriotic Front (PF) candidate, January Zimba in the July 5, 2012 by-election.

MMD is fielding Yotam Mtayachalo while UNIP has settled for Herbert Zimba.

"Mwebena Chinsali mwachula pafula kwamba fye muli chachacha, muli UNIP nobu ubuteko bwafuminepo (You people of Chinsali have suffered for far too long starting from Chachacha times, the UNIP era and during the previous regime)," the President told the residents who met him at the airstrip.

Mr Sata said the residents of Chinsali did not get any help even when Dr Mumba was in Government.

Mr Sata promised to tar the runway at Chinsali airstrip as well as the roads linking Chinsali to Chama and from Chama to Isoka.

The President later paid a courtesy call on chiefs Chibale and Mulilo both of whom he promised that he would deliver development in their chiefdoms.

Chief Chibale bemoaned the poor road network in his chiefdom saying it had led to the maize crop from the 2011/2012 season to go to waste because his subjects could not transport the commodity to storage facilities.

The chief, who also thanked Mr Sata for being the first President to visit his palace, said his subjects were in dire need of an ambulance at the clinic near his palace and better water and sanitation facilities in the area.

The President directed Muchinga Province Minister, Malozo Sichone to take note of the problems raised by the two chiefs and ensure their plight was urgently attended.

Addressing a rally at Chibale Basic School, the President introduced the PF candidate in the by-election and advised him to listen to the electorate because they had the power of sending him to Parliament or not.

"You see these women and children, they are widows and orphans, so you now become their father. They are not sending you to Parliament so -that you become rich and forget them," he warned.

The President had a go at MMD candidate Mr Mtayachalo whom he said left Chama to "enrich himself" in the city and now wanted to hoodwink them and get their vote.

Mr Sata warned the electorate in Chama and the country at large against being cheated by Dr Mumba whom he referred to as the son of Sekwila.

He advised Mr Zimba to routinely visit the electorate so that he is kept abreast of the challenges they were facing.

"Get wisdom from the electorate and these chiefs. They live with the people, they are the ones who can tell you what the people want," he told the PF candidate.

Justice Deputy Minister, Alfrida Akasembe told the rally that Chama District had two constituencies and that it was time both seats got in the hands of the PF so that they could receive development at the same time.

She said voting for an opposition MP would always leave them lagging behind in terms of development.

President Sata was welcomed by Mr Sichone, Northern Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Permanent Secretaries for Muchinga and Northern Province, Charles Sibanje and Emmanuel Mwamba, respectively.