Solwezi red card campaign annoys MMD

Solwezi red card campaign annoys MMD
By David Chongo in Solwezi
Wed 26 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT

THE red card campaign has infuriated the MMD in Solwezi and the party has declared the district a no-go area for initiator Fr Frank Bwalya (below). The party is enraged with Fr Bwalya’s distribution of red cards and whistles including sentiments that North Western Province had accepted the red card campaign.

According to a statement by MMD Solwezi district leadership, the party would not allow Fr Bwalya to ‘confuse’ the people in the area.

District chairperson Jackson Kakoma and secretary Chris Wasema warned that Solwezi district should not be the starting base for all those who wanted to aspire to higher office.

And MMD provincial youth chairperson Stafford Mulusa warned Fr Bwalya not to concentrate his red card campaign on President Rupiah Banda or he would not have it easy when he visits again to launch the campaign next weekend.

Last week, MMD youths calling themselves ‘the crack squad’ searched for Fr Bwalya in Solwezi after word went round that he was in town distributing red cards.

And an eyewitness said cadres had planned to beat Bwalya up if they had found him, warning that he should not step back into the province, or they would teach him a lesson.

But Fr Bwalya said no one could stop the red card campaign as it was guaranteed under the constitution of the Republic as a means of expression.

He said it was illegal for any individual to suppress another’s freedom of expression.