Government has hit back at the state vice president Saulos Chilima for accusing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government of copying his manifesto.

Chilima, who is also the United Transformation Movement (UTM) President on Sunday, told his supporters that those in government have started copying his 2019 manifesto and implementing them.

Chilima’s remarks came in following government’s decision to abolish quota system and bringing back Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) examinations.

Chilima cited the sudden abolishment of the infamous quota system, as announced last Thursday, as a ploy to win more votes in the forthcoming presidential election from the electorates in the north who have been bitter with the policy.

Information Minister Mark Botomani claims Chilima has missed a point in the policy shift saying it used to be a national policy as opposed to a regional based which could not just be changed anyhow.

Botomani has since defended government’s new stance as being a result of a consultative processes with key stakeholders and research which has necessitated creation of more spaces in both secondary schools and tertiary institutions.