Maravi

Keep UNIP out of MMD quarrels, Zgambo tells Mpombo

Keep UNIP out of MMD quarrels, Zgambo tells Mpombo
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Friday, October 16, 2009 2:27:51 AM

COPPERBELT UNIP provincial chairman Isa Zgambo has asked former defence minister George Mpombo to stop dragging UNIP in battles in the MMD. Commenting on Mpombo’s constant reference to President Rupiah Banda’s leadership style as Unipist and that the issue of sole candidature belonged to UNIP, Zgambo said the former ruling party had since transformed and held democratic elections.

He said Mpombo needed to make references in the correct context because the UNIP he constantly referred to existed before 1991. He said UNIP had followed democratic tenets since the advent of democracy following the 1991 elections.

Zgambo said Mpombo’s utterances amounted to de-campaigning the current UNIP, which was different from the image that he painted.

“Those who were born in 1991 do not know UNIP. They will think that the UNIP that he [Mpombo] is talking about is the same one that exists today and yet he is talking about the time when he was in UNIP. I was together with him in the leadership of UNIP in Ndola,” Zgambo said.

He said those who were born after 1991 would be under the impression that UNIP was still undemocratic and would not want to vote for it.

He said the issue of sole candidature in UNIP existed when the party was in power during Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s reign.

He said the transformed UNIP had held democratic elections and that the late Kebby Musokotwane stood in party elections with Dr Kaunda.

He also cited the Ndola UNIP congress in which there were 11 candidates competing for the presidency.

Zgambo threatened to dig into Mpombo’s archives in the event that he did not desist from dragging UNIP in what they termed his battles with the MMD leadership.

However, Zgambo urged Mpombo to cooperate, saying such a scenario would not augur well.

Last Wednesday, Mpombo advised President Banda to totally disengage from UNIP mentality and embrace democracy.

Mpombo said issues of sole candidature belonged to the UNIP Central Committee era.

Mpombo said this in reference to President Banda’s comments in Kasama that those who wanted a convention to be held for the MMD should resign and go to the parties that they thought would hold one soon.

Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, UNIP

posted by MrK @ 1:27 AM