Maravi

Panji weakened UNIP in E/Province - Musunte

Panji weakened UNIP in E/Province - Musunte
By Sandra Lombe in Lusaka and Christopher Miti in Chipata
Saturday July 14, 2007 [04:00]

LUAPULA Province UNIP chairperson Mwansa Musunte has said Colonel Panji Kaunda weakened UNIP in Eastern Province. And MMD Eastern Province chairperson Lameck Mangani has welcomed Col Panji’s resignation from UNIP. In an interview on Thursday, Musunte said Luapula Province had accepted Col Panji's resignation but did not agree with his sentiments that there was no vision and unity in the party.

"A statement by UPND that they were targeting UNIP, after some FDD members defected to it, was undermining us as a party," he said. "Panji as UDA chairperson weakened the party. We can't continue to be with people whose interest is in another party."

Musunte said UNIP members in Luapula were behind their party president Tilyenji Kaunda because he had turned round the economic performance of the party.
Col Panji last Saturday resigned from the party saying the party lacked vision and unity among others.

His final departure from the party followed differences with his brother Tilyenji over management of UNIP.

Col Panji accused his brother of running the party from his bedroom. He also supported FDD candidate Charles Banda in the by-election while his party fielded Levison Mumba. Tilyenji has been elusive to comment on his brother’s resignation from the party. And Mangani who is also Eastern Province minister said UNIP had lost its burning power.

"UNIP has lost its burning power and it’s unfortunate that most people in UNIP do not recognise that," he said. "Tilyenji though being nice can't provide political leadership required of a modern political party."

He said there were many rooms in MMD as he invited Col Panji to join it.
"My advise to Panji as he is reflecting on his next step, he should take into account that he should join forces which will add value to his talents, for us in MMD, we have many rooms," Mangani said.

Meanwhile, Nyimba district UNIP chairman Fastone Mumba resigned from the party citing immature leadership exhibited by Tilyenji.

"I joined UNIP on 23 December 1961; I became a full-time leader in 1980 but today, (11 July 2007) I have decided to resign. Since 2001 elections there has been a lot of immaturity and impotency in the running of UNIP, Tilyenji has no driving force to lead the party," Mumba said.

Mumba said he fully supported Col Panji’s stance. But former Chadiza UNIP member of parliament Philip Zulu accused Col Panji of having destroyed the party in the province.

"Why is Panji and Phiri leaving UNIP after messing it? They have contributed to the destruction of the party in the province. These people are the destructors, destroyers and spoilers of UNIP I don’t know where they are going," Zulu said.

Labels: EASTERN PROVINCE, MWANSA MUSUNTE, PANJI KAUNDA, UNIP

posted by MrK @ 4:29 AM