Maravi

Katele’s wife warns Chiluba against visiting Chiengi

Katele’s wife warns Chiluba against visiting Chiengi
By Patson Chilemba
Sun 12 June 2011, 07:40 CAT

FREDERICK Chiluba might just end up putting salt on the wound if he visits Chiengi to campaign for the ruling party, says MMD NEC member Lumba Kalumba. And well placed MMD sources in the Luapula Province executive committee have disclosed that Zambia Democratic Focus (ZDF) president Ben Mwila has applied to stand on the MMD ticket in Nchelenge.

Commenting on the problems the MMD was encountering in Chiengi to adopt a parliamentary candidate following the alienation of area member of parliament Katele Kalumba, Lumba, who is Kalumba’s wife, said the people in Chiengi might end up voting against the MMD depending on how the party handled the issues surrounding her husband.

She said she doubted if Chiluba would have any sort of impact if he visited Luapula, particularly on the indications from the MMD that he would campaign for President Rupiah Banda and the ruling party in Luapula.

“Ahhh, I think if he is going to campaign, he has his own popularity circles within the country and within Luapula, being a son of Luapula. In Chiengi per se I am not sure that he would have a positive impact. But then I don’t know, I doubt it, If anything he might actually put salt on the wound,” Lumba said.

She said the manner Kalumba was treated in the MMD could diminish the ruling party’s chances in Luapula.

“My husband has political influence in Chiengi and in Luapula. I don’t think that is something that is unknown or contested. Those who feel strongly about his inability to stand may vote against MMD, not because they don’t like MMD but because they feel the person who they support has been scape-goated and pushed aside,” Lumba said. “So yes it can have a negative impact on the vote for MMD. It can.”

Lumba said the anger from the people was not about whether Kalumba should be adopted or not but the manner they felt he had been treated.
“He has already said he is unavailable to stand and the reason he is unavailable is because he has a court matter. So he informed the constituency to say he is unavailable.

They are upset according to my understanding, they feel that his court case has been some kind of scape-goated against him and I cannot say for sure but this is what I understand,” Lumba said. “It would be better if you speak to them. So they feel that he has been deliberately scape-goated to prevent him from standing and that’s what they are upset about.”

Asked on the possibility of being talked into standing in place of her husband by the MMD leadership, Lumba said no one had talked to her about her possible candidature.

Lumba, who was elected to NEC at the recently held MMD convention, said she had informed the constituency that she was not interested in standing.
Senior chief Puta of Chiengi district’s Bwile people said the MMD was not wanted in Chiengi and that the ruling party’s chances of winning in the area this year were slim.

Chief Puta said there would be no MMD candidate in Chiengi for as long as Kalumba was not freed from his corruption cases.

Well-placed sources close to chief Puta disclosed that MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga contacted the chief to find out why the people there were not fielding any candidate.

“The chief gave a condition that there will be no candidate for as long as Katele is not freed. He said others were freed except Katele. In fact he said they can’t understand why their son was the only one left when others had been freed from their cases,” said the source.

The source revealed that the people were questioning the rationale behind the acquittal of Chiluba and education minister Dora Siliya and not Kalumba.

And the sources in Luapula have disclosed the names of people who have applied for adoption on the MMD ticket in Kawambwa was PF ‘rebel’ member of parliament for the area Elizabeth Chitika alongside Chongo Kabwe.

Pambashe PF ‘rebel’ member of parliament Dr Bernard Chisha has applied to re-contest his seat on the ruling party’s ticket.

Bangweulu PF ‘rebel’ Joseph Kasongo has reapplied to stand in Bangweulu together with former district commissioner Dr Chimfwembe.

In Mansa Central, MMD member of parliament Chrispine Musosha was being challenged by Dr Chilufya Chitalu.

In Luapula Constituency, PF ‘rebel’ Peter Machungwa had applied, together with Daniel Chisala.

In Mambilima, area MMD member of parliament Chinyanta was being challenged by the party’s Luapula Province vice-chairperson Davies Chanda.

In Mwense, PF ‘rebel’ Chongo would be challenged by Norman Chibamba.
Chembe MMD parliamentarian Mwansa Mbulakulima has reapplied to defend his constituency while ZDF president Mwila also applied to stand on the MMD ticket.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, CHIEF PUTA, FREDERICK CHILUBA, LUMBA KALUMBA, MMD

posted by MrK @ 2:44 PM