Maravi

Zambians decide how long a party rules, says Anamela

Zambians decide how long a party rules, says Anamela
By Namatama Mundia
Mon 16 Jan. 2012, 13:56 CAT

THE power to determine how long a political party should continue ruling the country remains with Zambians, says UNIP vice president Njekwa Anamela.

Reacting to Vice-President Dr Guy Scott's statement that 10 years would be enough for the PF to be in government, Anamela said how long a political party stayed in power should not be limited by any law as doing so infringed on the right of choice to competing ideas, principles and systems which those political parties embodied.

He said that Dr Scott's argument on how long a political party should stay in power was defective because parties represented aggregate interests as opposed to individual self-interest, which he suggested.

"The argument is also defective in that it is biased against the young generation of members of political parties who are dedicated, committed to promoting the continuation of the ideas, values, principles and systems that personify the existence of political parties," he said.

Anamela said that if it was Dr Scott's wish that PF dies in 10 years, that could not be a prescription for other political parties that compete for power for the sustenance of democratic development.

"His argument should be rejected and seen to be antiquated, undemocratic and limiting to the growth of the nation's democratic development," Anamela stated.

"In fact, even in the more developed democracies either in Europe or North America, such a political experiment as Dr Scott wants to do in Zambia does not exist nor can it be entertained as it has instability elements written all over it."

Anamela added that it was support from citizens and its popularity which determined how long a party stayed in power.

And UNIP archives research officer Elina Nyirenda has said that UNIP had in existence a well-established party archives which was digitalised.

"This archives also holds ANC historical material as the two parties merged. The UNIP archives in terms of political material is one of the biggest in the country and follows only the national museum in this respect," she said.

Nyirenda said that even as an opposition party, they had worked to preserve and professionalise the archives especially in the last 10 years in addition to upgrading its holdings.

Nyirenda said that the party learnt with interest PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba's interest in documenting UNIP history apart from the PF desire to archive its own history.

"The PF's intention to adhere to the Constitution by complete delinkage from use of government infrastructure is as it should be and most welcome," stated Nyirenda.

Labels: GUY SCOTT, NJEKWE ANAMELA, PF, UNIP

posted by MrK @ 7:37 PM