Battle against tribalism has just started, declares Moonga
By Lambwe Kachali
Friday May 09, 2008 [04:00]
THE battle against tribalism and nepotism has just started and it will be fought to the bitter end, expelled MMD national executive committee (NEC) trustee Christine Moonga yesterday charged. And suspended MMD Copperbelt provincial chairman Terence Findlay said he is not worried about his suspension because it will give him more chance to concentrate on his business.
Reacting to her expulsion from the party for alleged breach of the party constitution, Moonga said no political demon would stop her from fighting crookedness and archaic leadership in the country.
Moonga said her expulsion was an indication of how bogus the MMD leadership had become.
"I have time and again been saying that tribalism and nepotism in Zambia is the worst cancer than corruption. So, for MMD to base their decision to expel me on the truth is a wonderful blessing to me. I can tell you that no political demon powers... will stop me from this fight. With MMD's action, I believe the people of Zambia will judge whether what I said about the growing tribalism in the party was wrong or not," she said.
Moonga maintained that there was too much tribalism in the MMD and that it should be uprooted if the party was to win the lost trust and confidence from majority Zambians.
She said the ruling party's leadership was intolerant and thrived on silencing its members.
Moonga said it was imperative to understand that for any country to unite and have equal distribution of wealth, the President of the country should treat its citizens as equal, regardless of tribe or blood relationship.
Asked whether she would challenge her expulsion, Moonga said she would not although her case had been handled with a lot of impunity, as she was not even given a chance to appear before the party's disciplinary committee.
"I have said it all, so let the will of God be done," she said.
Moonga said she would rather concentrate on God's ministry than politics.
"But I may bounce back in 2011 because I cannot stop the battle I have started half way. I have to accomplish it. For now, I have put everything in the hands of God and it is only the Lord who will direct me on my next move. But for now I wish MMD well in its endeavours. If anything, the issue of tribalism in their party has made me stronger than ever and it has to be conquered at all cost," said Moonga.
And Findlay said he would watch the interim Copperbelt executive committee's work with great interest.
He said the suspension had rather given him more opportunities to revive his business, which was being affected by political activities.
"I was spending a lot of time on party programmes but now I am able to spend more time on my company and I think this suspension had given me more advantages on my business," Findlay said.
Asked whether he would re-contest the seat since the provincial executive committee had been dissolved, Findlay said he would decide when the time comes.
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda said his party had been vindicated for expelling some of its members who committed more grave offences than Moonga.
Lubinda charged that MMD was being led by hypocrites who were against divergent views.
Lubinda said when PF expelled some of its members participating in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), MMD party spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba and defence minister George Mpombo called the party all sorts of names.
"So, what is it that MMD has done to an innocent member Moonga who told the nation the truth? Mrs. Moonga has been expelled not because she talked about Jonas Shakafuswa finance deputy minister but because she touched 'King' Levy Mwanawasa whom MMD leadership think is untouchable. PF has been vindicated and it is clear now that there is too much dictatorship in MMD than any other party," said Lubinda.
On Tuesday, MMD NEC expelled Moonga for saying that President Levy Mwanawasa was practicing tribalism openly by not disciplining Shakafuswa who she said was fond of insulting other members and other people as well as disobeying party regulations.
Labels: CHRISTINE MOONGA, MMD, NEC, TRIBALISM
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MMD NEC to decide Findlay, Moonga's fate
By Noel Sichalwe
Monday April 21, 2008 [04:00]
MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kande yesterday said the party was satisfied that it has genuine disciplinary cases against suspended National Executive Committee (NEC) member Christine Moonga and Copperbelt provincial chairman Terence Findlay. Kande said the final decision on the two disciplinary cases would be made on May 6, when the NEC sits to review organisational matters of the party.
He said Moonga's case had been referred to an ad hoc committee, which would submit a report to NEC before the scheduled meeting.
Kande said Findlay's disciplinary matter related to his statement that MMD was not a party for President Mwanawasa's relatives while Moonga's case was based on her statement that President Mwanawasa was practicing nepotism.
"So far, we are satisfied that they are genuine cases," he said.
Kande said the party leadership was forced to take disciplinary cases against the duo in accordance with party regulations.
He refuted insinuations that the MMD was protecting President Mwanawasa by disciplining whoever spoke against nepotism in the party.
"President Mwanawasa is not interested in disciplining people but there are regulations that require us to enforce discipline," he said. "It is just like in a home, when your child is insulting you, you should discipline that child," said Kande
The MMD's NEC suspended Findlay late last year while Moonga was suspended early this month.
Labels: CHRISTINE MOONGA, MMD, NEC, TERRENCE FINDLAY
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Mpombo accuses suspended Moonga of dragging MMD into petty politics
By Patson Chilemba and Lambwe Kachali
Monday April 07, 2008 [04:01]
EFENCE minister George Mpombo yesterday accused suspended National Executive Committee (NEC) member Christine Moonga of dragging the MMD into petty politics that threaten the party’s unity. And MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba blamed party national secretary Katele Kalumba for failing to defend President Levy Mwanawasa from the attacks by Moonga.
Commenting on the suspension of Moonga following her remarks that President Mwanawasa was practising tribalism openly, Mpombo, who spoke in his capacity as NEC member in charge of energy, said it was correct for the MMD to suspend her.
"Every member has a right to comment on party issues but when one assumes a very arrogant and cantankerous attitude towards the party leadership then there is more than what the ordinary eye sees," Mpombo said. "My own worry is that the lady is engaging in senseless political canibalism, eating each other to create a very disruptive political culture in the party."
Mpombo said Moonga, being a NEC member, should have followed the right procedure to express her grievances.
He said Moonga had 'destroyed bridges of communication' by creating an impression that there was dictatorship and turbulence in the MMD.
Mpombo said Moonga had made serious allegations of open tribalism against President Mwanawasa.
He said the attacks would expose the President to ridicule and undermine his standing in society.
"As a senior party official at NEC level, she's got several areas of raising this particular issue with the leadership. What I mean is to wash dirty linen, where you start going at the President, because that is not helping the situation," he said.
Mpombo said MMD as a party stood on the principles of democracy but that it was not democracy when party members went out to attack the President in a vicious manner.
When asked to comment on Moonga's question as to who had brought the party's image into disrepute between herself and finance deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa, Mpombo said two wrongs would never make a right.
"If what was reported about Honourable Shakafuswa is correct, then that is morally and politically unacceptable, but she should have raised the issue within the party leadership," he said.
Mpombo said the MMD decided to suspend Moonga to enable her explain what she had done.
"As a fellow NEC member, I feel the decision taken by Mr. Jeff Kande was meant to protect the party. In my view, as a first step, the decision was correct," said Mpombo.
Last Tuesday, Moonga in a statement expressed disappointment over the manner in which Shakafuswaí' statements at Parliament were being handled.
Moonga stated that there was nothing to investigate about Shakafuswa's insults because the truth was plain and clear as evidenced by his wife and son's apology on his behalf.
A day later, the MMD suspended Moonga for her remarks.
And Tetamashimba said it was not true that President Mwanawasa was a tribalist.
He blamed Kalumba for failing to defend the President from the attacks.
"I'm surprised that Katele has not come out to defend the President. Katele was told to punish Shakafuswa for his previous utterances. That was even before Moonga raised that letter you published," Tetamashimba said. "Ìt's wrong to blame President Mwanawasa for tribalism. The person who must come out to defend the President is Katele."
Tetamashimba said Kalumba told President Mwanawasa that he was going to talk to Shakafuswa because he was still young.
Labels: CHRISTINE MOONGA, GEORGE MPOMBO, MMD, NEC
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NEC member accuses levy of open tribalism
By Patson Chilemba
Wednesday April 02, 2008 [04:00]
PRESIDENT Mwanawasa is practising tribalism openly, an MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) member Christine Moonga charged yesterday. Moonga, in a statement released on Monday, expressed disappointment over the manner in which finance deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa's statements at Parliament were being handled.
"This is not the first time Hon Shaka has insulted. I am on record as having written a letter to His Excellency Dr P. Mwanawasa SC over Shakas’ insults but this seems to have fallen on a deaf ear," she stated.
Moonga stated that there was nothing to investigate about Shakafuswa's insults because the truth was plain and clear as evidenced by his wife and son's apologies on his behalf. She stated that Shakafuswa himself agreed that he insulted Chikankata UPND member of parliament Munji Habeenzu.
Moonga wondered why the nation was wasting time to probe a well known issue simply because Shakafuswa is President Mwanawasa's nephew. She stated that it was sad that the party had remained quiet on Shakafuswa's insults which had brought the name of the party into ridicule.
"Surely, Parliament should now probe insults instead of real issues. I want to give an example of former Ambassador to Libya, Amb. Mbita Chitala. He was fired unceremoniously, without probing on an issue that I regard was very personal and important. Now Parliament should probe an issue, which is straightforward. Shaka has insulted, period," Moonga stated. "This is the same man who has insulted Provincial Chairmen even within State House grounds, former Heads of State, and he has been tolerated, simply because he is the President's nephew."
Moonga stated that a lot of things were wrong in the MMD but that people were afraid to comment for fear of losing their jobs.
"Even people so close to him can't cough. This party is in the state it is all because of the kind of leadership that we have. The President should be the last person to comment on tribalism because he has managed to practice it well and openly," she stated.
Moonga stated that people do not hate the MMD but its leadership.
"MPs members of parliament in Lusaka lost because the person they wanted to fix was the President," she stated.
"The President should not ask other people to do introspection. He must be the first one to do introspection, and bring unity to the MMD as a party and the country at large which is experiencing so much division and hatred."
Moonga wondered why President Mwanawasa had failed to act on Shakafuswa when he single-handedly dissolved a party organ in Eastern Province.
"This makes me agree with The Post Editorial comment No. 4183 dated 31st March 2008, that Political Parties are run like tuntembas and MMD is not exceptional," Moonga stated.
And in her earlier letter to President Mwanawasa dated October 1, 2007, Moonga expressed displeasure with the use of some unrespectful words like 'stupid', 'foolish', 'demagogue' and 'minions' in newspapers.
Moonga also cited Shakafuswa's previous remarks on some national leaders and the party.
"Mr President allow me to make special reference to Hon. Shakafuswa Post Newspaper No. 3990 dated 20th September, 2007 and I quote 'General Miyanda should shut up and stop being stupid' and he went on to say 'General Miyanda, Sata, Kaunda and Chiluba are wrong people to speak on the Constitution, they are a bunch of empty tins'," she quoted.
"Hon Shakafuswa is also on record to have denounced the party, stating that it is dead and that most provincial chairmen are of low calibre. This is the man who declared wanting to assume the position of deputy national secretary. With this kind of language can he build the image of the party?"
Moonga stated that she believed former presidents, eminent and elderly persons deserved respect in society.
She stated that sooner or later President Mwanawasa would be called a former head of state and that it would be sad to hear disrespectful words used against him.
"I believe each member must exercise self-discipline, respect authority, respect eminent and elderly persons in our society even if they hold different views, which we may disagree," Moonga stated.
She stated that this was the hallmark of political maturity, which seems to be making dishonourable exit from society. Moonga stated that the former leaders could have made mistakes, but that no one does all things right or wrong.
"So how careful are we with words? What can we do to make sure that we don't do and say things that we will regret later and bring suffering upon ourselves and others? How open are we to good advice even when it comes from unexpected sources?" she asked. Moonga stated that she was one person who had been insulted before by lower members of the party but that she never rushed to the press to say there was no respect in the party.
She stated that she complained through the party structures and appropriate action was taken and two district women leaders have since been suspended as there is no sacred person in the party.
Moonga stated that politics was about dialogue and persuasion.
"We cannot change what the former leaders did and keep on mourning about it. But we can shape and change the future by doing the right things. Not only looking where they fell, but looking where they slipped, so we do not slip too," stated Moonga.
On Monday during the swearing in of Deputy Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima and Puisne Judge Albert Mark Wood, President Mwanawasa said he would not take any action against Shakafuswa until Parliament concludes its investigation.
The President said much as he did not agree with what Shakafuswa said at Parliament building, he would not succumb to people's demands and pressure.
President Mwanawasa said Shakafuswa was appointed minister not because he was his nephew but on merit.
Labels: CHRISTINE MOONGA, MWANAWASA, NEC, SHAKAFUSWA, TRIBALISM
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