Maravi

Opposition has lost it - Mangani

Opposition has lost it - Mangani
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sat 23 June 2012, 13:24 CAT

LAMECK Mangani says the opposition in the country has lost it by concentrating on taking over office instead of providing checks and balances. And Mangani says the UPND still has a lot of work to do if it is to form government.

Commenting on the current state of the opposition politics, Mangani, the former home affairs minister, said the opposition had concentrated much on issues like the Judiciary which were already being handled by the other wings.

"The opposition has lost it; right now we have a very important document, the constitution. Instead of educating their members on the key areas on the draft constitution so that they can effectively contribute what they want to achieve in the whole constitution, the opposition spend more time on issues which can be handled by the other wings. For example, we have talked too much about the court and Judiciary and so on but these matters are before court," Mangani said.

"There are issues relating to job creation which are very critical and they (opposition) are supposed to help government sort out some of these problems. They are concentrating much on issues relating to 'taking over'. They want to frustrate so that they take over, but it doesn't work like that. A good opposition should provide checks and balances, that's the most important matter," he said.

Mangani said there were so many areas that the opposition could help government to improve.

"I think they (opposition) are handling very infertile issues that are not helping the welfare of the people in the country. Another part is that when you advise, you should refrain from vulgar language because when you are using very abusive language, your advice will not be appreciated. Some of the areas that the opposition could be addressing could be good but the people that you want to advise will not listen because of the manner you are presenting your advice," he said.

And Mangani said the UPND had not yet produced a national character.

He said the UPND should have a membership throughout the country.

"The UPND is basically in Southern Province and nowhere else, so they have a lot of work to do if they are to form government. They have to produce a national character and a national character means that they should be an opposition that is very attractive; they should have a membership throughout the country. That is a lot of work than just target on a few statements made by President Sata; it will not help them," Mangani said.

Labels: LAMECK MANGANI, MMD, UPND

posted by MrK @ 3:10 PM