Maravi

Mukata cautions youths on being used at MMD convention

Mukata cautions youths on being used at MMD convention
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 11 Jan. 2011, 04:00 CAT

YOUTHS must not allow those vying for various positions at the forthcoming national party convention to use them as tools for achieving victory.
This is according to MMD national trustee Keith Mukata.

Mukata, in an interview, warned that perpetuating hooliganism through the youths both at provincial and district level as means of achieving victory would not take the party anywhere. His statements come in the wake of various youth groups within MMD having declared some individuals as sole candidates at the convention slated for April this year.

“The approach of violence as a means of achieving victory will be regrettable whether internally or externally. It should be condemned by all in the party. My message to the youths is that they should avoid being used,” Mukata said.

“Youths are the future leaders so the characteristics of youths we see now are the same we expect to see in future when the young people take up the leadership mantle. Youths should not fall prey to people pursuing personal ambitions. They should use their own minds and not violence.”
Mukata called for tolerance and acceptance among members if preferred candidates were not elected in the party’s favour.

Mukata said all leaders contesting any position should be screened constitutionally as opposed to intimidation.

“We have a constitution that provides for those who are contesting. A member must be in good standing with the party. They have to be a fully committed and serving member of the party. People who have the democratic capacity to lead, all those elements,” he said. “The problem though is we have some people who come up only when there are elections. All will be scrutinised so that we can see how much they weigh in terms of their service to the party against those who are being challenged.”

Mukata said the MMD had performed to the expectations of the people with only a few omissions committed such as the removal of the abuse of office and the failure to finish off the constitution review process, which it started in 2006.
“As you note people’s expectations have been met in terms of development. I think even the opposition are quite numb in their criticism on areas where government has failed. The opposition in Zambia are playing a spoiler’s role and not a role of providing checks and balances. So you see them taking an opportunistic view on few omissions that government committed. They have failed to come up with a holistic bouquet of failures of government. That shows that MMD has performed,” Mukata said.

Mukata disclosed that he was ready to contest for any position lower than the vice-presidency at the request of the President

Labels: MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE

posted by MrK @ 1:43 PM