Mabenga condemns Findlay’s hatred for Lambas

Mabenga condemns Findlay’s hatred for Lambas
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 30 Mar. 2010, 04:01 CAT

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga yesterday condemned Copperbelt former party chairperson Terence Findlay’s hatred for the Lamba people and late president Levy Mwanawasa.

Commenting on Findlay’s recent revelation that he hated Lambas, Mabenga said he was disappointed with Findlay’s statement.

“Yes, chief Machiya, I am terribly disappointed. I am saying this from the depth of my heart, and I am saying this on behalf of the party because first and foremost, Findlay must be speaking as an individual, not as a party. He doesn’t hold any position of authority anywhere. Terence Findlay was removed as provincial chairman because of indiscipline. That removal still holds, and no one has lifted that kind of punishment,” Mabenga said.

“So whatever he has said, we condemn, and let it be understood that that does not come from any hierarchy of our party in any way. It doesn’t.”

But when reminded that Findlay was recently with former president Frederick Chiluba on the Copperbelt to campaign for President Rupiah Banda, Mabenga responded:

“Well, let me tell you this, anyone even when not invited can do whatever they want to do because they are free to do what they can do, yes. But I can tell you, no one sanctioned his movements there, from the party hierarchy, no.”

On assertions that President Banda wanted to reinstate Findlay as provincial chairperson, Mabenga responded: “No, we haven’t heard that. If you are hearing that then that’s you hearing that. But I haven’t heard it.”

Findlay recently revealed to Lusaka lawyer Wynter Kabimba that he hated Lambas and president Mwanawasa because they wanted to send him to jail for 15 years.
On assertions by North Western Province MMD youth chairperson Newton Malwa that the party would lose if they adopted another candidate other than Elliot Kamondo, Mabenga advised Malwa to wait and listen to what his superiors in the province and the MMD national executive committee (NEC) would do.

“The observations he made are misplaced, and we suspect that he must be working for other people, and not really this party,” said Mabenga.

On the argument by Malwa that the MMD lost Solwezi-Central because they did not listen to him over the adoption of the candidate, Mabenga said whatever happened there was recommendation by the grassroots.