Maravi

Panji accuses Tilyenji of running UNIP from his bedroom

Panji accuses Tilyenji of running UNIP from his bedroom
By Brighton Phiri
Saturday May 19, 2007 [04:00]

EASTERN Province UNIP chairperson Colonel Panji Kaunda has accused his younger brother Tilyenji (r) of running the party from his bedroom. Col Kaunda, who confirmed in an interview that he had differed with Tilyenji over his leadership style which he said had destroyed UNIP, said his brother was under the heavy influence of UNIP vice-president Njekwa Anamela because he was ever at his father, Dr Kaunda's residence.

"He must be under the influence of his vice-president because he spends most of his time at daddy's house. Tilyenji has never been to Freedom House to run the party. You can't run a party from the bedroom...it is completely a disaster," Col Panji said. "We have no choice but to change UNIP leadership from the top to the grassroot level. Tilyenji has completely failed the UNIP membership."

Col Panji cited the party's recent selection process of the Kapoche by-election candidate, where UNIP adopted former Msanzala UPND parliamentary candidate Levison Mumba, as one of Tilyenji's failure to provide leadership. He wondered why Tilyenji chose to ignore him as Eastern Province chairperson in the selection process.

"As provincial chairman, I should have been consulted. As UNIP provincial chairman, I have been preaching the consolidation of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) but to my rude shock, Tilyenji and his colleagues chose to field their own candidate," he said. "I feel strongly betrayed. We cannot afford to compromise our principles just like that."

Col Panji said he would not allow Tilyenji and his colleagues to have a field day over the running of the party affairs.

"I am determined to contribute towards changing UNIP leadership. As chairman, I am aware that we have not met as Central Committee to discuss the party's affairs. You can imagine that we went into the 2006 elections without the Central Committee meeting," Col Panji said. "How can we go into war without the generals meeting?"

According to UNIP sources, differences between Col Panji and his younger brother erupted after Tilyenji engineered the adoption of Mumba for the Kapoche parliamentary seat.

The sources disclosed that Tilyenji left his elder brother behind in Lusaka when he travelled to Petauke and that Col Panji confronted Tilyenji over his conduct.

"Yes, I asked Tilyenji to explain why he left me out and how UNIP could go it alone when we belonged to an alliance. He said he wanted to introduce high profiles in the party. This is absurd because Charles Banda was our candidate as UDA," Col Panji said. "I am on my way to Kapoche to campaign for UDA candidate Charles Banda because Levison Mumba is a mercenary."

When contacted for comment, Tilyenji admitted that there were differences between him and his elder brother over party matters.

"These are internal problems and can be resolved internally," Tilyenji said. "There will be always grievances but they will be resolved internally."

Tilyenji said there were differences between him and his elder brother on the pull-out of UDA.

"There was full consultations...I think that there is no UDA candidate in Kapoche," Tilyenji said.

He said there was no need to describe Mumba as a mercenary because he was UNIP before moving to MMD and UPND.

Tilyenji said UNIP considered Mumba because he apologised to the Zambians for having participated in the corruption scandal under the Chiluba administration.

"He is our son as UNIP and we allowed him to come back," he said. "Levison Mumba is very much UNIP while Charles Banda is not."

On Col Panji's accusation that he was running UNIP from his bedroom, Tilyenji, who could not deny, said technology had necessitated one to operate from a house office. Tilyenji dismissed Col Panji's accusation that he was being influenced by his vice-president Anamela.

"I am being influenced by all my leaders from the section, branch, ward, constituency, district, province and central committee level," he said. "My job is to harmonise the UNIP leadership."

Tilyenji took over UNIP leadership after UNIP cadres ousted then embattled president Francis Nkhoma from Freedom House in 2001. In 2004, Tilyenji's other elder brother Dr Waza left UNIP in anger and joined Patriotic Front before retiring from politics.

Labels: PANJI KAUNDA, TILYENJI KAUNDA, UNIP

posted by MrK @ 4:09 AM