Maravi

Teta expresses readiness to relinquish party position

Teta expresses readiness to relinquish party position
Written by Allan Mulenga
Friday, December 05, 2008 11:36:48 PM

MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba yesterday said he is ready to relinquish his position and remain an ordinary member if he is found wanting by the national executive committee (NEC).

Responding to MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga's statement that the party will take disciplinary measures against him, Judith Kapijimpanga and Jonas Shakafuswa for issuing statements to the press, Tetamashimba said he was not among the people who disregarded party directives and challenged Mabenga to prove that he spoke to the media about party issues contrary to the authorities.

"Although I am not aware about the disciplinary action the national chairman is talking about, all what I can remember is that our national chairman [Mabenga] issued a statement directing members not to discuss party matters through the press," he said. "I don't remember really that I have said something to the press ever since the directive was made. If at all I will be found guilty, the honourable thing to do is to relinquish my position."

Tetamashimba challenged Mabenga to prove to the members that he had a case to answer.

"I think he [Mabenga] will be able to prove what he said; because I truly remember that I have not spoken out ever since the party directive. I have never responded to Shakafusawa's recent attack because I knew that doing so will be acting against the party leadership," he said. Tetamashimba hoped that he did not fall in the trap, saying there was need for party members to be disciplined and respect party leaders.

"As MMD members we need to unite and respect every decision made by the party," he said.

Tetamashimba urged members to respect the party leadership and President Rupiah Banda.

On Tuesday, Mabenga said the party would take disciplinary measures against Kapijimpanga, Tetamashimba and Shakafuswa for issuing statements to the press.

Mabenga said the MMD leadership would discipline erring members because the national executive committee had earlier issued a statement directing members to address issues affecting the party through the secretariat.

On Monday, MMD NEC member Kapijimpanga said the issue of 'true blue' and 'light blue' had the potential to divide the ruling party.

Kapijimpanga said new- comers in MMD often disregarded those they found in the party.

Kapijimpanga's comments came in the wake of MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba's statement that only true blue members of the party would determine his fate. This was after Tetamashimba's statement that Kalumba was trying to justify his failure to deliver Chiengi Constituency to President Banda.

Tetamashimba had earlier called for an audit of the October 30 presidential election to ascertain why President Banda lost in constituencies where the ruling party has members of parliament.

President Banda lost to Sata in Chiengi Constituency.

In response to Tetamashimba's statement, Kalumba urged MMD members not to insult the people of Zambia who did not vote for President Banda.

Kalumba said parliamentarians could not force people on who they should vote for because human beings were capable of making their own decisions.

Kalumba also said only the "true blue" [original or MMD founder members] could determine his fate in the party.

Shakafuswa then asked Tetamashimba to shut up because his public statements were weakening the party.

Shakafuswa said the issue of 'true blue' and 'light blue' had arisen because people were beginning to re-assess their positions in the party because of Tetamashimba's provocative utterances and actions.

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, MMD, NEC

posted by MrK @ 11:37 PM