MMD shouldn't be hijacked by clever illiterates, says Mulusa

MMD shouldn't be hijacked by clever illiterates, says Mulusa
By Roy Habaalu
Wed 20 June 2012, 13:23 CAT

Aspiring MMD vice-president Lucky Mulusa says the party should not be hijacked by clever illiterates. He said MMD as a political platform had its identity linked to the shortcomings or successes of its members.

He said it was important that members that are vying for the vice-presidency and believe in the re-branding of the party are those that would bring competence and admirable characters.

"MMD leaders must be selfless and exercise generosity to the party's desires to continue in existence because it's an important constituency in the Zambian political space. They must do a self-reflection and if they feel that they are providing less than what it is required to assist the MMD to rebrand as a result of their past mistakes, they should be generous enough to step aside and allow MMD to have new blood, fresh minds, ideas including fresh reputations," said Mulusa in an interview.

MMD president pastor Nevers Mumba has vowed to wipe out corruption in the party as a way of re-branding it.

During his inauguration as the party's fifth president last month, pastor Mumba who beat six other contestants said fighting corruption would be his first call of duty.

And Mulusa said Zambia was where it is today, a rich nation of poor citizens, because of political elements that had not lived up to the equal task of policy formulation and implementation and superintended over them to ensure there were productive outcomes.

"So I appeal to Dr Mumba to create a new saleable team that will underwrite the MMD's ability to come back to power. The PF are in government and much as we might say that they are failing to live up to the expectations of the Zambian people, they have the instruments of power. To wrestle that power from them will require a lot of courage. Recently, we have observed cowardice in the MMD where the leadership sits behind a tree and sponsor youths from various provinces to proclaim their presence for leadership positions," he said.

"Zambia does not require that; it requires courageous leaders who will stand up and defend themselves. If those who want to aspire for positions have any mistakes from the past and want the role of leadership so that opposition parties can gain back power, let them give chance to others."

Mulusa said it would be easy for the MMD to re-brand under the leadership of pastor Mumba because he was a tested leader.

He said after listening to all the seven presidential candidates, only pastor Mumba convinced him that he had a vision for the development of Zambia and its people.

"Even at the burial of late vice-president George Kunda, pastor Mumba was the only one with some semblance of power and recognition whereas the rest of them the only companion they had were car keys," he said.

Meanwhile, Southern Province MMD executive committee members are engulfed in a war of decisions as two officials have shown intentions to contest the position of vice-president - political.

Sources said provincial chairman Edgar Keembe and MMD member and lawyer Vincent Malambo were among those intending to contest the position.

"Now even ba (Kabinga) Pande is busying mobilising for support in North Western Province but he just lost the presidency to Nevers Mumba. What makes him think people will vote for him this time around? He's just trying to divide votes, anyway that's democracy," said the source.

Western Province endorsed convicted former labour minister Austin Liato as their candidate for vice-president, political.

Liato was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour for concealing K2.1 billion at his Mwembeshi farm which has since been forfeited to the state. However, Liato has appealed against the conviction and sentence and is out on bail.