There’s a lot of political hooliganism – Munkombwe

There’s a lot of political hooliganism – Munkombwe
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Sunday, May 31, 2009 4:17:05 PM

THERE is a lot of political hooliganism in the country, Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe has charged.

Commenting on the harassment of Post reporters by MMD cadres, Munkombwe said while he was not sure if it was the MMD cadres who were behind the harassment of the reporters, some people were being rented out to harass others.

"There are a lot of people now who are being rented out for harassment. You can't say The Post newspaper journalists are being harassed by MMD cadres. You could rent a group of people to go and embarrass that particular meeting and they would be no proof to say they belong to that particular party and this time around people are roaming about and they are looking for anybody who can hire them, who can rent them in order to embarrass the other," Munkombwe said.

"I am not very sure myself that those people that have caused problems to Post reporters are MMD. They can be plants."

Munkombwe observed that it was a pity that leaders both in government and the opposition had involved themselves in witch hunting at the expense of issues affecting the country.

"I maintain that there is a lot of political hooliganism now in the country and that to say they are MMD, I will need proof beyond what has been said so far," he said. "We in the leadership have now involved ourself in witch hunting of issues. We are no longer specific. For instance, we would rather want to mislead the party in government in order to score political goals and that should not be the case. Equally... those of us in government would want to undermine the opposition whether the opposition at that particular time may be saying the right thing."

Munkombwe said there was a lot of jitteriness by every politician in the country.

"I think Zambians are losing patriotism now, are losing political reality in life. Some people behave as if they have concluded that they will never be in government. Even if you conclude and you are a leader of a political party, political parties are formed with a sole purpose of one day getting into government," Munkombwe said.

"Now if you are making comments which obstruct government development then what are you in the political party for? To conclude that those people who have been harassing the Post reporters are MMD, I am yet to be convinced."

He said there was need for politicians in the country to focus on things that would benefit the majority Zambians.

"My message is concentrate on serving the lives of our people, creating employment and creating jobs and the oppositions are a party to finding solution to the economic problems the country is facing and therefore, we politicians must concentrate on things that add value to political stability of our country," he said.

"We have lived in Zambia for 45 and half years and all the 45 years have been peaceful compared to some other African countries around us. Why don't we continue swimming in the same pool even if the waters may become shallow?"

Munkombwe said politicians were expected to be exemplary and live up to the expectation of the people.

"I belong to a political party and my leadership in the party expects me to be exemplary and if I stray outside, you will have a political leadership that will put me straight," said Munkombwe.