Maravi

Opposition parties are not adding value, says PF MP

Opposition parties are not adding value, says PF MP
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe and Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Thu 14 June 2012, 13:23 CAT

KAMFINSA PF member of parliament Moses Chishimba says the opposition in the country is not adding value to good governance as it is full of disgraced and frustrated politicians.

Commenting on the manoeuvres by the opposition political parties to petition donors over their fight with the PF and President Michael Sata through Henry Banda's lawyer, Chishimba said politics of hatred for President Sata by the opposition were unacceptable and an affront to the electorate that democratically elected him Republican President.

He said political parties that had ganged up to make governance difficult for President Sata by involving donors in internal matters would not succeed.

"If these politicians mean well for this country, why didn't they seek audience with the President on matters that affect them? Why are they rushing to the international community? President Sata exercises an open door policy and he would have met them upon their request. We know what they want to achieve. They want donors to start withholding funds for no apparent reason, but it will not work," Chishimba said.

He said schemes by the opposition to divert public attention from pressing issues that affect the nation such as the need to reform the Judiciary and the enhancement of accountability in all wings of governance would not work.

"Frustrated politicians like UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and Pastor Nevers Mumba and these other unpopular political parties with selfish interests must come to terms with the reality that President Michael Sata, who was in opposition for 10 years, was made President by the people of Zambia last September," he said.

Chishimba said PF members of parliament would do everything possible to defend President Sata and the values of the government by explaining to people as it was the only way the country would see development.

And MMD member Sunday Chanda said opposition parties' decision to petition donors with a view to withhold aid to the PF government must be condemned as an attempt to punish Zambians.

Chanda said if the opposition had a heart for the poor, they would think twice before lobbying for such inhuman measures from the donor community.

He said if the opposition parties had any grievances to put across, they should dialogue with government as partners in development.

"... I would re-emphasise that government and the opposition must, as a matter of urgency, begin to see eye to eye and remove all suspicion and hate from the process. Government and the opposition must learn to trust each other if they are to remain partners in development," he said.

"... Nothing would take away from the belief that the opposition parties in their current form and shape have come together and drank from the same cup of bitterness. They have failed to realise their core business and the gravity of the mandate they carry."

Chanda said Zambia was graduating from politics of character assassination and mudslinging to civilised politics based on values, issues and future-seeking.
He said politics must not just be practiced in order to win in the next election.

"Politics are about service and nation building. The opposition parties, individually and collectively, have to decide whether to remain a viable alternative spare tyre that Zambians can look up to for greater hope or a flat tyre that must be confined to the boot. The greatest challenge for the opposition is to re-learn its business. They carry a greater demand to convince Zambians that they mean well and that the agenda they carry is without any malice," he said.

"If you have put Zambia first, there is no way you will call for measures that will punish ordinary Zambians. Seemingly, the opposition is ready to take power even if it means majority of our Zambians being denied basic services as a result of donors withholding support."

Chanda said Zambians must put it on record that insults and abusive language that had in recent times characterised the body politic of the country were not values that people must live with.

"We must cure this political leprosy once and for all. Opposition political parties must also acknowledge the many miles ahead of them before they can think of forming any government. Much as Zambia requires a militant opposition, such an opposition must address itself to being responsible, consistent and placing national interests above anything else," said Chanda.

Labels: MMD, OPPOSITION, PF, UPND

posted by MrK @ 3:59 PM