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Let’s create a platform of decency in politics – Miyanda

Let’s create a platform of decency in politics – Miyanda
By George Chellah
Sun 13 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

HERITAGE Party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda has called on politicians to create a platform of decency in politics.

And Brig Gen Miyanda advised the authorities not to use power to find fake offences and charges against competitors in order to shut down their companies after an election.

During Let the People Talk programme on Radio Phoenix, Brig Gen Miyanda urged politicians to discuss issues that are factual.

“We must create a platform of decency in politics, we should not just make basic accusations. We must also when we are criticising the government, let us make points that will even convince the people that yes, there is a valid point there. I am not saying what they are saying is not true,” Brig Gen Miyanda said. “So we need to insist that we discuss matters that are factual, matters that will help to win over the public in a proper way. Let's not send lies in the public domain in the hope that, that will send sympathy.”
He said there was need to get the politicians to talk issues and not to insult one another.

“But it is not going to happen because the people enjoy it. If I had my way that's what I would say that if a politician comes and starts insulting somebody and usually somebody is not even there,” Brig Gen Miyanda said. “If they want to bring up false stories about the friends because the false stories win elections by the way, I have experienced this.”
He demanded that the people of Zambia enjoy the wealth of the nation.

Brig Gen Miyanda said there would be no solution to problems until Zambians come right with God.
“…We come right with ourselves, become honest with one another. First and foremost, you cannot rule this country alone it's not possible. Mistakes have been made, the same mistakes in the past. After an election is over the competitors are not enemies, they are citizens. Don't shut down their companies, don't use your power to find fake offences, charges against these people so that their companies can be shut down, you are shutting down fellow Zambians,” Brig Gen Miyanda said. “Fight political battles differently but let the economy run. Now how do we do that? I don't know the answer because under Dr Kenneth Kaunda KK this thing was there, victimisation of people who are not with you. In our time under president Frederick Chiluba this thing was there, under late president Levy Mwanawasa this thing was there.

“I can't analyse the current one because he has just come in office. But am sure if we dig deep we are going to discover that there are people who are complaining that they are being victimised because they belong to other organisations.”
Brig Gen Miyanda also condemned the tribal sentiments attributed to President Rupiah Banda during the last presidential election campaigns.

He said it was not correct to campaign on tribal lines.
“I am not against tribe. God himself created the tribes but it's us who abuse the tribes,” he said.
He described the pact as a convenient strategy, which may work.

“… Because if you can handle it well then you will get what you want,” he said.
On the Kasama by-election in which PF's Geofrey Bwalya Mwamba emerged victorious, Brig Gen Miyanda agreed that the tribe was a factor.

“Yes, the tribe played a part. But in my opinion it was not the only thing. I think the influence of the Catholic. You know in the Northern Province Catholics wield a lot of influence in the Northern Province. At the time of that by-election there was a standoff between the government and the Catholics based on the statements that… were made. I had my own views about the statement by government, I didn't agree with them. I felt that they should withdraw them from Parliament because they remained a permanent record, which was not verified,” said Brig Gen Miyanda.

“But in my opinion that thing, I think it's still doing… causing harm to them. They Catholics are not happy to be accused of the Rwandan things and so on. So I assessed that because they have influence there in the area probably it played that big role of the massive turnout. In Solwezi, Solwezi is an urban, you can literally call it urban. It's not rural … and there has been an influx of people from outside that area coming from the Copperbelt and so on. So that percentage also has influenced that a lot.”

Labels: ETHICS, GODFREY MIYANDA, POLITICS

posted by MrK @ 5:51 PM