Nawakwi regrets FDD's past alliances
Nawakwi regrets FDD's past alliancesBy Allan Mulenga
Tue 16 Oct. 2012, 11:40 CAT
EDITH Nawakwi has blamed FDD's misfortunes on its association with selfish politicians.
Featuring on ZNBC's The Interview programme on Sunday evening, Nawakwi (right) said the major mistake that the party made was to align itself with political parties that did not share its agenda.
"I would be the first to admit I think that in 2001 we rode on the momentum of really trying to uphold our Constitution. In 2006 after my ascendancy to this privileged position of being a leader of a political party, I think the momentum for our party was really very high," she said.
"I am quick to admit that one major mistake that we made was to think that we could align ourselves with other political parties, especially political parties that did not carry our agenda. I think that had taken a toll, but I want you to know that people really believe and for that we are truly grateful."
Nawakwi said the latest incident where UPND and MMD failed to agree on the candidates to field at ward level in Mufumbwe was a clear indication that alliances would not work in the country.
"You must have political alliances of politicians who have a common agenda. Alliances that are founded on faults and that are not congruent in terms of which direction you are going are always doomed to failure. I think you realise that in this country we haven't had any one successful alliance," she said.
"I think the simple example is what is happening in Mufumbwe. They agreed that at a local level, where you need to mobilise the political power that is at ward level but there is no agreement…if you cannot agree at branch level as to how you are going to align yourselves, you cannot agree in the offices in Lusaka."
Nawakwi, however, said political alliances could only work if the 50 per cent plus one clause were adopted in the Constitution.
"There is no incentive to have an alliance because our Constitution is a simple majority constitution. Once we have a majority constitution that will require that there is 50 per cent plus one, automatically people will begin to align themselves for purposes of probably achieving the objectives of what a smaller party may not be able to," she said.
Nawakwi urged politicians to guard against politics of vindictiveness.
"We need to be able to accommodate each other's views; we need to sit and discuss. I look forward to the time when politicians can behave like our colleagues in Zimbabwe, where the head of State can actually go and have tea with the leader of the opposition."
In 2006 FDD was in a pact with the UPND and UNIP. In the 2008 presidential by-election, Nawakwi as leader supported the MMD's Rupiah Banda.
FDD had 14 members of parliament from the 2001 general elections, four in 2006 and currently has one MP.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, UPND
posted by MrK @ 2:54 PM
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