Police armoured vehicle guards an illegal Patriotic Front General Conference by a suspended Miles Sampa.
…as Patriotic Front expels Miles Sampa with immediate effect for what it terms, “extremely gross indiscipline!” We ask, “Does Zambia believe in multiparty democracy?”
By WD Reporter.
Lusaka, Oct. 25 – Former MMD Secretary General and former Zambia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Mr. Muhabi Lungu, has described the event as very tragic for the country’s democracy, stating that it was aimed at creating absolute confusion in the opposition Patriotic Front.
“It would be very hard to believe that the governing party, the UPND, is not actively pushing this agenda. This is a clear sign that those in power do not believe in democracy. This should be condemned by every right thinking and well meaning Zambian. In my humble opinion there is no part of this that can be defended. Absolutely none! ” he lamented.
Also Read: UPND’s political strategy to weaken the strongest opposition. By Dr. Mwelwa.
From a historical point of view, however, Mr. Lungu explained that starting from when the country returned to plural politics, it has been then trend. The MMD did it to UNIP through what later came to be known as Zero option. The PF equally did it to MMD by compromising their MPs and interfering in court cases which resulted in several inexplicable court cases being lost and the eventual exclusion of RB in the 2015 presidential by-election. And that now the UPND seems to be doing the same thing to the PF.
“This is not only tragic but a very very bad trajectory for our democracy. If we continue doing this to each party that loses elections and preventing it from reforming and re-organizing itself then we will always kill the Party in opposition. This is not good for deepening democracy. No matter how much people may dislike the PF, this behaviour of trying to destabilize the opposition parties must be condemned by everyone who believes in democracy,” he emphasized.
And the Patriotic Front has expelled Matero MP, Miles Sampa. The Party has since written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Nelly Mutti, to inform her of the decision. The Party hopes that the seat will be declared vacant soon.
In a letter written by Acting President Hon. Given Lubinda to Mr. Sampa, he stated that by holding a purported Extra-Ordinary General Conference, the actions amounted to extremely gross indiscipline and threatened the integrity of the Party.
Patriotic Front Member of the Central Commitee and Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba confirmed the development and stated that although he was aware of involvement of external forces, the Party leadership had a duty to punish such acts of indiscipline.
And Royd Moonga, a former Patriotic Front member, who was enlisted as one of the presidential candidates, has said he recently rejoined the UPND and he is a member of the UPND and he is surprised that Mr. Sampa enlisted him as a candidate for the Patriotic Front presidency.
“I’m shocked to receive phone calls, messages through news feeds on social media, with family as well as political friends calling me, informing me that my name is appearing somewhere on a list purporting to be a presidential candidate for a political party which I’m not a member of. If they are going to be adding names of people who are not members of the party, it’s very unfortunate. I wish to dispel and state it categorically that I am UPND and I have not been politically active of late, even in my party or anywhere else,” stated Mr. Moonga.
He further explained that his decision to return to Zambia from South Africa was purely because his father has been unwell.
“I brought him to Lusaka for medical attention and ever since, he has been in and out of the hospital, battling with cancer. So I spent the whole day today, 24th October, at the hospital as usual. I left the hospital when my brother came to be on the bedside, slightly around 15, 16, and rushed home to pick my children and I took the kids at the mall, at the park. I’m just preparing to take food at the hospital so that I’ll be on the bedside overnight. And that has been the routine of my life, the whole of the last two, three months!” he narrated.
Have Your Say: Does Zambia believe in multiparty democracy?
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