Maravi

PF will hold conference before 2011 – Kabimba

PF will hold conference before 2011 – Kabimba
By George Zulu in Monze
Tue 22 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary general Wynter Kabimba has said the political situation in Zambia needs great attention because it is very clear that President Rupiah Banda’s government is tired.

And Kabimba has announced that the PF will call for a general conference before the 2011 elections, contrary to assertions by their political opponents that they will not do so.

Featuring on Face the Media programme on Monze’s SKY FM radio on Sunday, Kabimba said a lot of things had gone wrong and there was need for a new crop of leaders that could give hope to Zambians.

Kabimba said President Banda’s reign had so far been catastrophic.
“The President has been thriving on lies at State House. On a daily basis President Banda has been lying to the nation on various important issues and has no plan to fight corruption which is very sad,” Kabimba said.

“Since he took over there have been a lot of contradictions from the Zamtel and RP Capital saga, GMOs acquisition, fuel shortages and procurement, the administration of justice and the acquittal of former president Frederick Chiluba and now the Director of Public Prosecutions Chalwe Mchenga saga. It is too much mistakes by a head of state.”

He said the UPND and PF pact was the only alternative government which would help Zambians redeem themselves from the shackles of poverty, corruption and mismanagement of justice. Kabimba said the people of Zambia called for the formation of the pact.

He said President Banda had failed to unite the country and come up with an economic development programme. Kabimba said the current environment in the Judiciary and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions made sad reading, hence the demand by the people of Zambia that the DPP resign.

“The allegation by government against LAZ makes very sad reading because we are entrenching an environment in our country where we want to run a society which is timid about debate. Any democracy must promote debate and if your view and my view coincide, you have not become Wynter Kabimba. And therefore if what LAZ is saying over the conduct of DPP and the Executive is true and PF agrees with LAZ conversely so that does not mean that PF has become LAZ and LAZ has become PF, no,” he said.

“The DPP issue has become an issue of public interest and for government to accuse LAZ it is very unfortunate and… it is coming from a learned person like George Kunda who is our Vice-President. If it came from someone else like William Banda who is a cadre at the market I will not have problems. But from George Kunda I worry a lot because we are not going to move this country forward and be able to address issues of checks and balances.”

Kabimba observed that Vice-President Kunda was misleading the nation on various legal issues such as Dr Rodger Chongwe’s compensation, the Kashiwa Bulaya nolle prosequi and the mess DPP Chalwe Mchenga had found himself in.

He said the claim by Dr Chongwe was total madness and the PF and UPND inclusive government would not entertain it.

Kabimba said it was very unfortunate that the government had allowed itself to meddle into issues which were difficult to explain to the people and it was sad that they had politicised the office of the DPP.

“The organ which is politicising the office of the DPP unfortunately is the Executive; we have seen under this government going back to Chiluba’s government this erosion of separation of powers, there is lack of respect for constitutional office holders. This disposition by the President in State House of trying to own this country on personal to holder basis, outside law is unacceptable and it will send this country into problems,” Kabimba said.

He also said it was wrong to suggest that PF leader Michael Sata was not willing to call for a general conference.

“We are now looking for over K2 billion to cater for over 6,000 delegates at the general conference which will be held before 2011 general elections. The PF would want to maintain and promote divergent views on issues of democracy through the promotion of debates. We have listened to our members and we shall do exactly that,” said Kabimba.

Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, PF-UPND, RADIO SKY FM, WYNTER KABIMBA

posted by MrK @ 5:17 PM