MMD chitenge distribution disrupts lessons at Lilanda Basic

MMD chitenge distribution disrupts lessons at Lilanda Basic
By Allan Mulenga and Constance Matongo
Wednesday October 15, 2008 [04:00]

MMD officials on Monday afternoon disrupted lessons at Lusaka’s Lilanda Basic School when district officials went to distribute MMD chitenge materials to cadres. A check by The Post found that the school had been deserted while pupils and teachers were spotted lurking outside classes as they were forced to suspend classes due to the unbearable noise from the cadres.

The MMD Lusaka district team was led by information and publicity secretary Bertha Nampundu. The cadres, who gathered as early as 14:00 hours at the school, chanted MMD slogans as they waited to be given chitenge materials.
But tempers flared around 16:00 hours when cadres mobbed a white Toyota Corolla registration number ABG 4164 carrying boxes of chitenge materials, forcing Nampundu to remain in the car for a while.

And MMD Matero Constituency vice-secretary Clement Shawa said the distribution of chitenge materials in schools was an ongoing MMD campaign programme and a directive from the MMD campaign manager Mike Mulongoti.
Shawa said the programme was aimed at equipping cadres with materials so that they could effectively campaign for Vice-President Rupiah Banda, who is the party’s MMD presidential candidate.

“This is the second time we have come here (Lilanda Basic). We started our programme last Friday when we gave chitenges to some teachers and now we have come to finish up the process,” he said. “Apart from schools, we are also targeting markets and other places. The chitenges you have seen have come from our campaign manager (Mulongoti) as a consignment for our campaign programme.”

Teachers spoke to at the school expressed displeasure about the MMD officials who were using the school premises for campaigns.
One teacher who sought anonymity wondered why the MMD officials were using schools to gain political mileage.

“Upon seeing this huge crowd, my pupils lost concentration, so I had no other option but to allow them to go home,” said the teacher. When some classes were suspended, angry pupils chanted the Patriotic Front slogan ‘pabwato’ whilst lifting their fists much to the annoyance of the cadres.

Earlier, some teachers were seen wearing MMD chitenge materials whilst teaching.
And when contacted for a comment, Lizzy Chibesa, a student teacher, said she only wore the chitenge to prevent chalk dust getting on her clothes.
“Awe imwe ngamwasenda ama pictures mulembika muma problems pantu fwe ma teachers tatufwile ukuba mu mapolitics Don’t publish my pictures; you will put me in trouble because as a teacher, I am not supposed to be partisan,” said Chibesa.