Maravi

Manjata explains why he quit MMD to join PF

Manjata explains why he quit MMD to join PF
By Mwala Kalaluka in Mongu
Tue 19 July 2011, 13:59 CAT

Everyone is joining PF, why shouldn’t I, says former community development minister Stephen Manjata. And a 71-year-old former Lozi treason accused says the only answer for Western Province Barotseland in this year’s election is to support the PF, as it was the only party at the moment advocating a federal system of governance.

Meanwhile, an MMD councillor in Mongu has ditched the ruling party for the opposition PF saying the MMD had abandoned the legacy of zero-tolerance to corruption. Annoucing his resignation from MMD, Manjata, who is also the immediate past MMD parliamentarian for Luampa Constituency in Kaoma, said in an interview last Friday that he left the ruling party because of frustrations.

“I have left MMD,” Manjata said. “I have joined PF because it is a very progressive party. Everyone is joining PF, why shouldn’t I?”

Manjata said he left the MMD last year but that it would be up to the people of Luampa to ask him to contest in this year’s general elections.

And Nayoto Liamba, a resident of Mongu’s Mbuywana compound, who together with several other Lozis were in January this year taken to Lusaka where they were charged with treason over the Barotseland Agreement issue and later taken to Mumbwa on a riot charge before being acquitted, said Western Province must support a strong party.

“Our relationship with PF is better than supporting the MMD. If the MMD comes back, some of us have been shortlisted and we will be re-arrested,” Liamba said.

“The situation at the moment which was compounded by the bad incidences of 14th January, 2011 (Mongu riots) which will take a long time to be reversed or to be wiped out from the people’s memories needs deep thinking. People must support a strong party which can win the election otherwise the situation could be worse after the coming general elections.”

Liamba said problems of Western Province were distinct from those of other provinces that were ‘singing’ praises to the government over what had been done for them.

“The only answer for Western Province Barotseland is to support a party than can accept regional or federal government, as this is the only answer for development of Barotseland. At the moment, it is only PF advocating for federal states,” Liamba said.

“The only solution to our present problem is the people of this province to look around and see which party is strong enough to defeat their common enemy, the MMD.”

He said Western Province, which is officially the least developed in the nation, could not be blindfolded by individuals showering praises to the government leaders in a bid to get employed or had somehow benefitted.

And Mulambwa MMD ward councillor Mwenda Akoyawa Lishebo stated in his resignation letter dated July 4, 2011 and made available to The Post that he could not doubt Sata’s ability to lead Zambia to greater heights of prosperity.

“Following your reluctance to expel me from membership of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy on account of an article that appeared in The Post newspaper of Saturday 12th March, 2011 in which I was quoted as having said MMD was finished in Western Province, I hereby tender my resignation from membership of the MMD with immediate effect,”

Lishebo stated. “I declare my membership with the Patriotic Front PF as the only formidable political party with a predictable agenda and vision for Barotseland and Zambia in general.”

He stated that his resignation from the MMD comes in the wake of the party leadership's incorrigible resolve to abandon the legacy of zero-tolerance to corruption and removal from the statutes of progressive pieces of legislation left behind by late president Levy Mwanawasa.

“Notable among, which is one touching on the concept of windfall tax,” Lishebo stated.

“…selective application of justice and undue political interference by the executive as seen in the recent past where state machinery would almost be set in motion against nationals with opposing views on matters of national character and in certain cases lives lost unnecessarily for merely attempting to discuss a liberating document such as the Barotseland Agreement, 1964, are a host of such other tormenting issues for which no independent mind such as mine can ever get to entertain.”

Labels: BAROTSE FREEDOM MOVEMENT, PF, WESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 3:25 PM