Maravi

Zambians are no longer in the mood for MMD – Mpombo

Zambians are no longer in the mood for MMD – Mpombo
By George Chellah
Wed 05 May 2010, 04:10 CAT

President Banda with Defence minister Kalombo Mwansa before departure for Tanzania yesterday at Lusaka International Airport-Picture by Collins Phiri
GEORGE Mpombo yesterday said President Rupiah Banda has ordained political violence as a vehicle for his 2011 election campaigns.

And Mpombo said there is a strong indication that people are not in the mood for the MMD anymore. In an interview, Mpombo urged Zambians to rise and halt the culture of political violence.

“Mr Rupiah Banda must step in. What is amazing is that there is always a loud silence with the President. Where you expect him to show leadership he just keeps quiet. You look at his conduct in Mufumbwe amidst the violence,” Mpombo said.

“By keeping silent on this issue it’s a confirmation that Mr Banda is ordaining violence as a vehicle for his 2011 election campaigns. He has ordained violence for 2011. If we have a situation which will be violent in 2011, then the President himself will be caught in that one.”

Mpombo said President Banda has failed to exhibit strong leadership qualities.

“Unless Mr Banda takes a path of a national leader then we are going to have problems in 2011 and that will render him useless as a leader because this country has always known peace,” he said.

Mpombo also said MMD Lusaka Province chairman William Banda has no room in today’s politics and must be condemned.

“Zambia has made an irrevocable step in entrenching democratic governance and we will therefore not tolerate Stone-Age politics being exhibited by political hoodlums like William Banda,” Mpombo said.

“Who is William Banda to curtail people’s democratic rights and freedoms of citizens?

Democratic rights and freedoms of citizens will not be trumped upon by political demagogues like William Banda.

“That has to be made very clear to everybody, especially William Banda that there is no compromise. William Banda, will meet a mammoth political task because Zambians will not allow him to get away with this.”

Mpombo urged William not to be bigheaded because he was just a leader of one of the political parties in Lusaka.

“I think he requires some mental surgery because there is no way a leader can be behaving like this. Look at what he is saying…the threats on Fr Frank Bwalya. This is the problem with our leadership. Everybody is talking about arrogance, kulimba mutima,” Mpombo said.

“Zambians must rise up, we should not allow this kind of situation to continue. William Banda must be told that he has overstepped his mark. There is something wrong in Lusaka. Wherever he William speaks, he intimidates people. He is promoting political anarchy in the country.”

Mpombo said as a leader, President Banda must not be seen to be siding with proponents of political violence.

“If you have two political parties that are fighting, as a President you must be fair in attending to the problem. Even the police must encourage the public to have confidence in them,” Mpombo said.

“In Mufumbwe, the police were busy saying that UPND must stop the violence. How can the police take a side? The police are taking sides. I want them to take a balanced view of events.”

Mpombo said President Banda chooses to attend international conferences at the expense of solving problems that are facing the country.

“He should know that the results in Milanzi and Mufumbwe are a wake-up call. We have seen even on the Copperbelt, this demagogue Joseph Chilambwe MMD Copperbelt Province chairman and Mwansa Mbulakulima Copperbelt provincial minister have failed to organise the party,” Mpombo said.

“MMD was beaten by PF hands down in a ward by-election in Luashya where Chilambwe stays. PF actually grabbed the seat from MMD and then someone there in Lusaka is busy making noise that the party is growing on the Copperbelt, which Copperbelt? The loss in Luanshya is a strong indication that people are not in the mood for MMD anymore.”

According to a Times of Zambia story on Tuesday, William Banda warned of stern action against Fr Frank Bwalya if he attempts to extend the Red Card Campaign to Lusaka.

Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE

posted by MrK @ 5:03 AM