Sata must deal with current plunderers - APNAC
By Allan Mulenga
Fri 06 Dec. 2013, 14:01 CAT
CORNELIUS Mweetwa says President Michael Sata should deal with plunderers in the PF for people to take him seriously on his commitment to fight corruption.
Commenting on President Sata's statement that his government will ensure the efficient functioning of all anti-corruption structures and systems, including forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth and blacklisting of individuals involved in the plunder of public resources, Mweetwa, who is African Parliamentarians' Network Against Corruption Zambia chapter president, accused President Sata of remaining "mute" on the current plunderers in the government.
"You cannot take Mr Sata serious for what he says because I was actually wondering what things he was talking about when he said he wants to up the fight against corruption. His own secretary general Wynter Kabimba has come out in the open. I believe that what honourable Wynter Kabimba has done is an honourable thing to come out in the open and say here where we are in PF, we are entrenched in corruption," he said. "There are corrupt elements; ministers and leaders are preoccupied with registering companies and corruptly awarding themselves tenders or contracts, and also they are spending a lot of tax payers' money flying around."
Mweetwa said President Sata could only be taken serious if he deals with senior government officials allegedly being involved in corrupt practices.
"To date, President Sata has remained mute on those issues. So, how can he talk about plunderers when he is mute about the current plunderers? Which plunderers is he talking about, if he cannot comment about the plunderers that the Minister of Justice has been saying are in PF? So, until he deals with the question of his plunderers who are in PF that honourable Kabimba is talking about, we are not going to take him serious," said Mweetwa.
Labels: APNAC, CORNELIUS MWEETWA, MICHAEL SATA
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Don't use Sata's call for unity to escape corruption - APNAC
By Tilyenji Mwanza
Sat 02 Nov. 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata's call for unity should not be used as a window of opportunity to escape corruption charges, says APNAC chairperson Cornelius Mweetwa.
Recently, MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya said the MMD had heeded President Sata's call for unity and wanted to continue to engage the PF on various issues to better the lives of Zambians.
Siliya said the former ruling party could not afford to be irresponsible not to heed President Sata's call for unity.
But Mweetwa, who is also UPND deputy spokesperson, said the call for unity by the president was highly welcome but should not be used as an attempt to get private advantage by people to immunise themselves against corruption charges in court.
"The call for unity should not mean abandoning the corruption charges; corruption charges should not be part and parcel of the unity," Mweetwa said.
"Everybody has the right to accept the call for unity and reconciliation but they should not fraudulently use this as an attempt to gain private advantage or immunising themselves from the corrupt charges they are facing. It is not a window of opportunity for them to escape the wrath of the law," Mweetwa said.
He also said the corruption charge highlighted by PF party secretary general Wynter Kabimba should not be swept under the carpet in the name of unity.
Mweetwa said the call for unity should be extended to all sectors in the country, including proper application of the public order Act and equal opportunity to economic funds such as the disbursement of Constituency Development Funds.
"The call for unity is noted but I am treating it with a caveat. What we expect is proper application of the public order Act as this would bring about good governance. The call should address a long-lasting solution of the Barotseland Agreement and those charged not to be discriminated against," said Mweetwa.
Labels: APNAC, CORNELIUS MWEETWA, CORRUPTION, DORA SILIYA, MICHAEL SATA
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Kabimba being ostracised for defending truth - Mweetwa
By Roy Habaalu
Tue 22 Oct. 2013, 14:01 CAT
WYNTER Kabimba is being ostracised in his party for exposing corruption and standing for the truth, says UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa.
And Mweetwa said Mandevu PF member of parliament Jean Kapata will pay for pioneering calls to hound Kabimba out of the Patriotic Front. Mweetwa said the corruption and tribal elements exposed by Kabimba needed to be stopped by all well-meaning Zambians.
"The tribal hegemony exhibited in PF is extremely worrying and dangerous, and those pioneering it, those funding this hegemony to grow, I don't think they are supported by any pedestal of morality. What Wynter Kabimba revealed is extremely serious and needs attention by all Zambians and not to take Wynter Kabimba crying foul. He's simply stating facts as seen obtaining," he said.
Mweetwa said Kabimba should be commended for exposing tribalism in PF, which had connoting levels of nepotism and favouritism.
He said Kabimba had shown bravery and encouraged him to be firm.
"Such courage is rare on the political scene of this country. Wynter Kabimba is brave and should be commended for his commando-like courage. When he talks about tribalism, he's the champion of unity in PF and in the nation because when a problem is identified, people have to own up to the public. There is no need to sweep dirt under the carpet, and Wynter has lifted the carpet, exposing the dirt so that it's swept out," he said.
Mweetwa said it was unfortunate that tribalism had engulfed the PF to an extent of almost alienating and consuming any credibility for them to continue holding together as a united group.
He said the opposition demanded unity of purpose in the governance of the country.
Mweetwa said those sponsoring others to rise against Kabimba should know that they were not acceptable to the people of Zambia.
He said some senior PF members branded former president Rupiah Banda Kamwendo Munjila, yet they too were now on endless foreign trips.
Mweetwa said Kabimba had been consistent on abuse of taxpayers' money spent on government officials that were travelling abroad frequently.
"Wynter Kabimba has discovered that some of the ministers are engulfed in corruption, that they are using their offices to award themselves contracts and tenders. Wynter Kabimba is a fortune teller, he's simply giving timely advice to the PF that people out there are suffering and you are busy plundering national resources. That is Wynter Kabimba's worry. All those that mean well should stand with Kabimba; there is no need to isolate him," Mweetwa said.
Mweetwa said this was not time for tribalists and the corrupt to sharpen their spears to finish off Kabimba.
He said if they had anything against him, they should wait for an opportune time.
"He (Kabimba) has taken a risk that only very few can take. He has declared that within the PF, there are elements of corruption that to me as MP, as APNAC (African Parliamentarians against Corruption) I commend and ask him to remain steadfast. Even if he's being ostracised, we will stand with him in the fight against corruption. Even if they manage to hound him out, he will be written in the books of history as a conqueror of corruption," Mweetwa said.
And Mweetwa said he was disappointed with Kapata's continued calls to expel Kabimba from the party.
Mweetwa said what Kapata should have done was to write Kabimba, commending him for exposing tribalism because she may be a victim in future.
"Instead of sponsoring another person to petition the person, she should have written a letter commending Wynter Kabimba because she should know that the same way they are mistreating Kabimba, she will also be a victim. Jean Kapata should not think she's wearing a gown against tribal hegemony. I expected Jean Kapata to write Wynter Kabimba to commend him for his level of bravery. Wynter Kabimba is brave and should be commended," said Mweetwa.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Parliamentary by-elections
By Editor
Wed 15 May 2013, 14:00 CAT
It is difficult to understand why Cornelius Mweetwa, the UNPD deputy spokesman, thinks dissolving Parliament and calling fresh elections will put an end to parliamentary by-elections.
You can hold early or fresh elections today and three months later, you may be holding parliamentary by-elections. This is so because the factors that give rise to parliamentary by-elections will not be taken away by the holding of early or fresh elections.
We have been holding elections over the last 23 years every five years or so, but these have not taken away parliamentary by-elections. If Cornelius just wants his party to have another go at power, let him simply say so. It seems 2016 is too far for them.
But if one is against parliamentary by-elections because they cost money, they should be more concerned about general elections that are even more expensive and complicated to manage. Clearly, it is not the cost Cornelius and his friends are concerned about. If they were in a position to win every parliamentary by-election that arises, they would not complain at all. They would actually encourage more by-elections so that they quickly alter the balance of power in the country and call the shots. And theirs is a political party that has always been fighting with whoever they are in an alliance with over fielding candidates in parliamentary by-elections.
They seem to be so eager to contest seats they think they can win in the same parliamentary by-elections they claim not to like. How is this possible? Moreover, one highly doubts if they themselves would refuse to be joined by a ruling party member of parliament who resigns to join them and thereby causing a parliamentary by-election!
If one is really concerned about the cost of parliamentary by-elections and is seeking ways to end them, the starting point should be to look critically at their causes.
We have parliamentary by-elections because the Constitution of our country allows them. It is a constitutional right of every member of parliament to decide which political formation he or she wants to associate with and change that whenever they find it desirable or expedient to do so. If parliamentary by-elections have to be ended, the starting point is to change the Constitution and outlaw them.
As long as they remain a constitutional right of every member of parliament from time to time, some will choose to exercise that right.
Of course, the drafters of our constitution didn't provide for parliamentary by-elections to encourage members of parliament to jump from one political party to another the way monkeys jump from one branch of a tree to another. But to achieve some stability in this regard, an enabling political culture is required. And this culture should encourage tolerance within members of a political party and among members of political parties. And there must be an equally high level of intra-party democracy so that members of a political party can freely express their views without being thrown out for holding views that are contrary to those of the party president and other dominant elements within a party.
Equally, there must be reasonable interaction between opposition members and those of the ruling party. Today, some of our politicians are in trouble for simply associating themselves with members of the ruling party or for agreeing with and supporting some government programmes. They are required by their political parties to have no co-operation at all with the government of the day. They are required not to support government programmes because this will strengthen the ruling party and perpetuate its stay in power.
It will be very difficult to avoid parliamentary by-elections under a political culture that does not recognise and accept the principle of loyal opposition.
The principle of loyal opposition encourages both the ruling and opposition politicians to co-operate, to work together in solving the problems of the nation. But those who are opposed to this principle seem to believe that the opposition has nothing to do with the ruling party when it comes to solving the problems of society. If the ruling party comes to them to seek co-operation, then it has failed to govern and it should call for fresh elections.
And looking at the behaviour of our opposition, is this really an opposition whose objectivity one can rely on and trust? Let's not forget that this is the opposition that supported Richard Kapita against judge Dr Patrick Matibini for the position of Speaker and fell short of it by one vote. Can Kapita really be chosen over Dr Matibini where merit is the criterion? Can a true patriot choose Kapita over Matibini for the position of Speaker? Imagine what Parliament would be like if they had gotten their way and made Kapita Speaker?
Members of parliament leave their political parties to join another party because the glue that is supposed to hold them to their party is weak or has become weak. And what is it that is supposed to bind members of a political party? The issue of political outlook or ideology. Most of our political parties don't have a declared political outlook or ideology.
For some, their political outlook seems to be that of tribe or region. Even their recruitment drive is all the time influenced by that. Certain politicians in their political parties are given senior political positions which they do not in any away deserve, or have not in any way earned, purely on account of their tribe.
A fellow who failed to win a parliamentary seat and has no meaningful political background, constituency or experience is appointed vice-president of a party on his day of joining simply because he hails from a certain tribe or province. That's the ideology that guides the decisions of some political parties like the one Cornelius belongs to. This is the glue that binds them. How strong and enduring can this glue be? Whenever it weakens, parliamentary by-elections are held.
And the decisions to cross or not to cross the floor are made by individual members of parliament belonging to such parties. Are they telling us that they have within their opposition ranks, bad and unprincipled members? Who adopted these members of parliament as candidates in the first place? Were they adopting candidates they don't know?
There is much more that needs to be done to end parliamentary by-elections than Cornelius seems to be suggesting.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, CORNELIUS MWEETWA, UPND
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UPND dares Sata to dissolve Parliament
By Moses Kuwema
Mon 13 May 2013, 14:01 CAT
THE UPND has challenged President Michael Sata to dissolve Parliament and call for an early election as a way of curtailing the parliamentary by-elections. And the UPND says the PF's popularity is melting like wax.
UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa urged President Sata to ivoke his constitutional powers and dissolve Parliament so that all the members of Parliament who stood on either MMD or UPND tickets but are desirous of being in PF could be given a platform to do so.
"President Sata has a noble duty to call for an early election so that we can all be subjected to scrutiny by the electorate. We as UPND members of parliament are willing to go for an early election so that we subject ourselves to the mandate of the people once more and see what people are going to say. As UPND, we would really be grateful if President Sata did that," he said.
Mweetwa said the dissolution of Parliament would help to restore normalcy on the Zambian political scene.
He said the PF, as a private club, was abusing public funds for its own gain.
"This is gross abuse of public resources for private gain and a private club called PF is gaining. To end this colossal abuse of public funds and to bring to an end these unprecedented resignations, President Sata can do one noble thing to the people of this country - dissolve Parliament," Mweetwa said.
He said the PF was abusing public office and taxpayer's money in order to extend their presence.
"They want to use taxpayers' money through these by-elections and cause PF to be present in areas which they lost during the 2011 general elections so that in 2016, they will be present in many constituencies they lost in 2011," Mweetwa said.
He said President Sata should dissolve Parliament if sincerely believed that PF was not inducing by-elections.
"We suspect that President Sata might not even heed this well-intended, timely and friendly advice. He knows that PF's popularity is melting like wax exposed to heat and, therefore, he knows that if he calls for early elections, the people of this country will teach PF is a lesson," said Mweetwa.
And MMD Die-Hard youth coordinator Bowman Lusambo said if President Sata wanted numbers in Parliament, the best thing for him to do was to dissolve Parliament.
He said it was unfortunate that President Sata had concentrated much on political fights at the expense of development.
Lusambo said President Sata risked being "the worst president that Zambia has ever had if he continued on the same path".
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, MICHAEL SATA, UPND
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Brace for hunger disaster, Mweetwa urges govt
By Moses Kuwema and Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Thu 04 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
Choma Central UPND member of parliament Cornelius Mweetwa says the government should brace and prepare for a national disaster in terms of hunger.
And Mweetwa says Choma is likely to be the true economic hub of Southern Province if the developments that have been earmarked are implemented.
Meanwhile, the tourist capital has been hit with varying prices of mealie-meal as traders are transporting the commodity into Zimbabwe.
In an interview, Mweetwa said it was important for the government to prepare before hand for a national disaster and declare Zambia a disaster zone.
"This is a timely caution to our colleagues now as they begin to appropriate resources, those that were not budgeted for in the budget not to start allocating them unnecessary. The trail of destruction the rainy season has left is something else. The maize crop for 2012-2013 has terribly failed as a result of the erratic rain. This is also as a result of failure to deliver agro inputs on time because the few farmers who have a little food are those who had personal money and bought inputs," he said.
Mweetwa said quick intervention measures needed to be put in place and the little maize that the country had in terms of stock should be taken care of.
"All these exports should be halted otherwise the country will be in a terrible crisis. We are not prepared to eat yellow maize again," he said.
And Mweetwa said the Choma Municipal Council had received overwhelming response from people who applied for plots and that the response was triggered by the town's new status of provincial capital.
"They want to come and invest in Choma. I am very happy with the response from the people of this country. Choma is likely to become the true economic hub of the province as it is already centrally located. I want to appeal to businesses, especially those that are Zambian owned that the people of Choma are calling for industries in order to promote job creation and to promote value addition. Choma being an agriculture area produces a lot of crops and a lot of beef, pork and other animal related products are found here in Choma," he said.
Mweetwa said this would help in turning Choma into a city and not a mere provincial capital.
And a check around Livingstone's main business trading area revealed a glaring supply inadequacy with town centre Shoprite outlet having no 25 kilogramme bags of both breakfast and roller meal as at 10:20 hours on Tuesday while a check at Spar revealed only breakfast meal in stock.
The mealie meal prices although up to the recommended K55 for a 25 kilogramme of breakfast meal varied with Shoprite town centre outlet displaying a price tag of K49.99 while roller meal was pegged at K44.49.
A merchandising officer for Shoprite town centre outlet found near the mealie-meal stand who preferred anonymity said the two bags of roller meal which were displayed were damaged ones and that he was not sure when the shop was to receive new supplies.
The Shoprite outlet had in stock 2.5 kilograms of breakfast mealie-meal pegged at K6.68 5 kilogramme bags of breakfast meal at K12.48 and roller meal at K7.78.
At Spar near Mazhandu bus station a merchandising officer said the outlet had just increased the prices of the commodity to K55 for breakfast mealie-meal.
Asked about roller mea, the merchandising officer said there was a track offloading the commodity and was yet to be briefed on the new price.
At Falls Supermarket formerly Associated Stores, breakfast and roller meal from National Milling and Munsanza Milling were available all pegged at K55 and K49 for breakfast and roller meal respectively.
A check at the Victoria Falls border revealed a hand full of cyclists who had mealie-meal and charcoal bags covered in black plastics so as to cross over into neighbouring Zimbabwe with ease.
And when contacted for a comment, Livingstone district commissioner, Omar Munsanje said he was in Choma and would assess the situation upon his return to Livingstone.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, HUNGER, UPND
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Kabimba gives Mweetwa seven-day ultimatum
By Kombe Chimpinde
Fri 29 Mar. 2013, 14:01 CAT
JUSTICE minister Wynter Kabimba has given Choma UPND member of parliament Cornelius Mweetwa a seven-day ultimatum in which to apologise to him for alleging that he is still facing corruption charges.
This follows Mweetwa's statement in The Post of March 22 that one of the reasons that had divided African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC) members on political lines was that Kabimba, who presented the motion to lift the immunity of the former president Rupiah Banda, was himself facing corruption allegations.
Mweetwa had said that although he supported the lifting of Banda's immunity to pave way for his prosecution, members of APNAC were still divided on the matter on party lines because of some moral issues.
"For instance, how can the Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba who is facing corruption, be the one to bring the motion in the House to lift the immunity of another?" Mweetwa remarked.
But Kabimba stated in a letter to Mweetwa that he knew as he was making the statement that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) had made an official statement on the issue.
"I expect you as president of the African Parliamentarian Network Against Corruption (APNAC), Zambia Chapter to verify such information with ACC before making such a defamatory statement against me," the letter read in part.
"Consequently, I am left with no doubt in my mind that your statement does not represent the position of APNAC but your personal views as an individual who is attempting to apportion blame to innocent persons like me for your failure to cultivate a successful legal career. In view of the above, I want you to confirm the following: That the said statement attributed to you was indeed uttered by yourself; that you still believe the same to be correct in substance and material facts as stated. In the absence of a written apology from you within seven days from the date hereof over the same, I shall be left with no option but to commence legal proceedings against you in the High Court for libel."
But Mweetwa said he did not owe Kabimba any apology.
Mweetwa accused Kabimba of adopting a style of threatening anyone objectively opposed to him with legal action.
"He can go ahead with the legal suit. I don't owe him any apology. I was speaking according to the information I had at that time. It is his name which is left with corruption allegations that he should clear. I am not responsible, it is him to clear his name," Mweetwa said.
He said that as an advocate against corruption, it was his duty to comment on corruption-related issues.
Mweetwa said Kabimba's intended legal action was meant to silence him and others.
"Wynter has introduced a governance style where everyone who questions him is threatened with legal action. That office (justice minister) is meant for people who want to be held accountable. What Kabimba must do is ask ACC to publically clear him, not secretly," said Mweetwa.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, WYNTER KABIMBA
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No brains
Fri 01 Mar. 2013, 09:30 CAT
Hakainde Hichilema says Michael Sata has no brains. But did a man without brains defeat him in three consecutive elections? A man without brains started a political party from the scratch, from nothing and without money and ten years later, that political party was in power. Is it really possible for a man without brains to achieve that feat?
Hakainde has never defeated the man he says has no brains in any political contest. So the question is: who is really without brains between Hakainde and Michael? How can someone without brains start a political party, mobilise the whole country and win an election in less than a decade?
Certainly, one has to be a political genius to achieve that. And Michael, whether one likes him or not, is a political genius. Those who think, those who thought Michael had no brains are today swallowed by envy, frustration and anger at his political achievements.
It is not good for one to be full of oneself, belittle and underrate others. There is a price to be paid for belittling and underrating others. And Hakainde is paying the price for that. But he doesn't seem to learn. If there is anyone without brains between Michael and Hakainde, it will certainly be Hakainde without brains. We say this because Hakainde has nothing to show politically. What has Hakainde achieved since he took over the leadership of a party that was well run, better organised in 2006? All the achievements of UPND Hakainde has brought them down. Hakainde has never taken UPND to the higher heights achieved by its founding leaders. Anderson Mazoka and his colleagues took UPND to higher heights and Hakainde and his minions have brought it down.
All that Hakainde seems to have achieved is increased intolerance and violence in the ranks of UPND. UPND was not such a violent political party as we see it today. Whatever problems or deficiencies UPND might have had under the leadership of Mazoka, no honest person can accuse its leadership of violence. What we see today is a violent, arrogant, pompous, intolerant, tribalistic and regionalistic clique at the helm of UPND. What we see today is a bitter, frustrated, angry and desperate Hakainde jumping around like a headless chicken trying to do all sorts of desperate things. Soon the country will fully know who Hakainde is and what propels him. What seem to propel Hakainde today is a desire to be president, an unbridled tribal and regionalism and frustration with Michael's election victory. Hakainde doesn't even seem to have the patience to wait until 2016 to have another attempt at the presidency. He thinks by joining hands with failed and crooked politicians like Rupiah Banda, William Banda and their league he can manage to cut short Michael's term of office.
In their little minds, and in their ignorance, they deceived themselves that Michael would never win an election on his own and that they were more popular than him. Today Michael, the man Hakainde is saying has no brains, is the President of the Republic of Zambia. Michael won through a clean election campaign. He never boasted about being this or that, having this or that. They boasted about being this and that, having this and that but they lost. The people of Zambia saw through them and did not believe them, could not trust them.
Hakainde is saying Michael has no brains! Is this surely the best language to use against a political competitor who has defeated you in three elections and is now head of state and President of the Republic? If Hakainde can talk about Michael, the President of our country in such terms, what does he himself expect from the Zambian people? What respect does he deserve from others? At that level of political leadership there has to be a certain level of decency and civility. Hakainde has neither decency nor civility in his reference to others. We have not forgotten that Hakainde a few months ago described the editor of this newspaper as "a little creature". What type of a presidential aspirant is this? It is understandable why the Zambian people did not vote for him. And if Hakainde continues on this path, he will never make it to State House.
Hakainde's language is increasingly becoming insurrectional, combative. For what? We will never go back to the bush again and we will never allow bush politics to come back to us. The increasing defiance of UPND member of parliament should teach Hakainde and his colleagues something. It is certainly a sign that something is seriously wrong in UPND and in his leadership. There is a limit to how far intimidation can go in achieving a certain level of compliance. An increasing number of UPND members of parliament can't take his style of leadership and politics. The politics of confrontation, violent militancy, of continually taunting the police to arrest him will not take Hakainde and UPND anywhere. And an increasing number of UPND members are starting to be uncomfortable with his type of militancy, tribal and regional politics.
And in a word, this is what Greyford Monde and Richwell Siamunene are expressing in their reasons for joining hands with those in government to push the country forward. They are refusing to put partisan, tribal, regional considerations above national unity and the interests of all the Zambian people. There is a realisation that this country will not be good for any of us if it is not good for all of us.
Politicians and other citizens of goodwill and with a conscience are starting to be uncomfortable with Hakainde's type of politics.
Of course, Hakainde thinks he is a genius, he knows it all, but in truth, the man knows very little about politics and that's why his political performance is near disaster.
And in spite of all his verbal pugnacity, his boastful phrases and display of self-confidence, Hakainde is politically not that wise. We say this because a wise politician would not be taking the decisions and actions Hakainde is taking, would not be making the alliances Hakainde is making.
If Hakainde was a prudent politician, he wouldn't be making some of the careless and reckless statements he has been making - statements that are not only politically unacceptable but are also in violation of the law. It seems Hakainde thinks he is above the law. Anyway, that is not strange because Hakainde lives in a dream world, in a world which he thinks he dominates, in which he sees himself as the most superior, the most prosperous and the most intelligent.
But we all know that this country knows no single genius, there can only be a collective genius. More and more of his colleagues will continue to defy him. They can expel them. But how many people are they going to expel? They will expel this one and that one, but there will be more coming up to do the same thing for the same reasons. They will expel people from their party until they have no people, until they are left only with their own heads.
Clearly, the solution to Hakainde and UPND's problems lie in accepting reality and in humbling themselves. Thinking they are clever than everybody else and that only they themselves have brains will take them nowhere. This is not only an insult on others, but it is also a fallacy on their part because it is not true that their political opponents have no brains.
It is time Hakainde starts to learn how to respect others if he has to win the respect of others and indeed of the Zambian people. Without this, Hakainde and UPND are going nowhere.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, CORRUPTION, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA, RICHWELL SIAMUNENE
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Sata says he has 'no brains' because he's 'not a thief'
By Moses Kuwema and Kombe Chimpinde
Thu 28 Feb. 2013, 13:05 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says he has "no brains" because he is "not a thief". And newly-appointed commerce deputy minister, Richwell Siamunene, who is also Sinazongwe UPND member of parliament says he would have been dead by now because some UPND officials threatened him for taking a minister to his constituency last week.
But UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has described Siamunene's action to join government as political misconduct.
Speaking at State House yesterday when he swore in Dr Effron Lungu as foreign affairs minister, Dr Rowland Msiska as Secretary to the Cabinet, Robert Kamalata as senior private secretary in the office of the Vice-President and Siamunene, President Sata said even his record showed that he had not been to prison for stealing but for defending people's rights.
"Gentlemen, you started from somewhere, they call you names and if what they are calling you is not something for you to worry, continue with what you are doing. They call you, that you have 'no brains', yes you accept I have 'no brains' because I am 'not a thief'. When they call you that you have 'no brains', you say yes I have 'no brains' because I started from an organ. I didn't come from nowhere and come and be head of an organisation. My record, I have worked. You can check my record, I have been to prison not for stealing. I have been to prison for defending your rights," President Sata said.
On Tuesday, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema said President Sata had no brains and had failed to run the country.
This was after he was asked on the killing of Monze district PF vice-chairman Harrison Chanda in Livingstone by UPND officials.
And President Sata said stones would not convince people to vote for a particular party, but that only talking would.
"Why kill each other? When the blood is the same, you cannot tell that this blood is from this part of the country. We are all the same people. Why should we kill each other? Why are you fighting? In 2008, when we knew that they had robbed us the elections, I pleaded to the nation. The boys wanted to walk from Copperbelt to come and sort you out in Lusaka. I told them, please don't come. Zambia is very precious.We have just come and we will go. In this country, there used to be violence between Congress and UNIP. It had to take Kaunda and Nkumbula to go to Choma for the Choma Declaration. That's what brought one-party state but I don't want to bring one-party state," he said.
President Sata said the late Chanda was a human being just like anyone else.
"Let us do politics without violence. If you cannot convince people by talking, stones will not convince them. Stones will scare them away," said President Sata.
And speaking to journalists after being sworn in, Siamunene said President Sata had responded to people's calls for him to have voices from all over the country in his administration.
He said in order for the country to realise its goals, there was need to unite and work towards the people's aspirations.
"Whatever I am doing is for my people. I want my people to be served adequately. I was victimised for taking the minister just to see the bridge. There are even threats on my life and I thank the President for prevailing, I would have been dead by now," Siamunene said.
Siamunene said he became member of parliament for Sinazongwe in order to bring change in the people of his constituency and that was what every leader was supposed to do.
He said he did not expect his relationship with his party to be good following his appointment into government but that he needed the freedom to operate freely and initiate development in his constituency.
When asked about the possibility of being expelled, Siamunene said it he would rather be expelled for good reasons than to continue drawing a salary from Parliament when he was doing nothing on the ground.
"It is the people that matter. It is not about myself. If I am expelled and the people say it is okay, so be it. But I am convinced that whatever I am doing, I am not doing it for myself. It is better to be out of Parliament than see people suffering," he said.
Siamunene, however, said the expulsion of UPND members of parliament who join government would not help the party win the 2016 general elections.
"In my view, I don't think it will help in that we want more members. In order to win any election, you need more members. If you remove others, then it means you are losing the members and how are you going to win then?" he wondered.
Meanwhile, Mweetwa said Siamunene had defied UPND's position of going to Livingstone to campaign and opting to go to State House.
"This is political misconduct. Siamunene was allocated to go and campaign in the Livingstone by-elections. He decided to defy a party position to go and campaign. Instead, he has chosen to go and wine and dine at State House, with the same people who are persecuting the president of a party that took Siamunene to Parliament!" he said.
Mweetwa, however, said UPND was not surprised by Siamunene's appointment, saying it was long overdue.
He said it was regrettable for his party to have some young members of parliament who were leading a rebellion against party positions.
Mweetwa said young members of parliament were leading breakaway views, defiant and political impunity, something he said was not good for Zambia's politics.
Asked if the party would expel Siamunene, Mweetwa said there was no immediate action that would be taken against the parliamentarian.
"Siamunene has been facing a number of charges. It is not like UPND will cook up something because of this appointment. No! He has been a subject of disciplinary proceedings. It is something that the party will sit to look at.
We are not interested in a by-election, we think that these by elections that are induced arising from greed are totally unnecessary," said Mweetwa.
And members of parliament on the right side of Parliament yesterday jubilated when Siamunene entered the House.
Siamunene, who entered Parliament around 14:55 hours, was ushered in amid cheers and jubilation from members of parliament on the right, interrupting education minister Dr John Phiri who was on the floor. After the house paused for two minutes, Dr Phiri took advantage of his time on the floor to welcome Simunene.
"Pray that the 'Mapatizya formula' will not follow you," said Dr Phiri.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, CORRUPTION, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA, RICHWELL SIAMUNENE
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UPND plans to block Monde at Parliament
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 26 Feb. 2013, 14:00 CAT
OPPOSITION UPND is planning to prevent its expelled Itezi-Tezhi member of parliament Greyford Monde, from entering Parliament today. UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa yesterday said his party was not expecting Monde to be anywhere near the Parliament buildings today.
According to some UPND members of parliament, some members had been delegated by the party to make sure Monde does not enter the House.
And Mweetwa said the party had written to the Speaker of National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini concerning Monde's expulsion and that they were expecting him to declare Monde's seat vacant yesterday.
And Monde said he received his expulsion yesterday around 10:00 hours and that he would wait for official communication from the Speaker on the matter.
Monde was suspended and eventually expelled by the party days after President Michael Sata appointed him deputy agriculture minister.
Mweetwa, who described Monde as shameless and myopic, warned that Monde would receive political baptism for electing impunity against the party.
"That will make him grow as a young politician. I think self recommendation, evaluation and elevation should be discouraged," Mweetwa said.
"We are wondering what he means when he says he would rather lose a seat than be an ineffective member of parliament. First of all, to draw a parallel of what he has said, we as UPND would rather lose a seat of parliament than have an undisciplined member of parliament who does not know why he was voted to go to Parliament."
Mweetwa said he expected all members in UPND to know that it was time for the party to be in the opposition and not to serve in government.
"We expect that our members of parliament are well informed to know that this is PF's time to be the ruling party and this is UPND's time to be in the opposition to provide credible checks and balances. So each of us should respect this mandate and responsibility placed upon. If you are in opposition, you have to hold the ruling party to account on its promise in the manifesto and rule of law. This is our job," he said.
"Those who were in PF, who thought they were bigger and cleverer than the party, and decided to take a position different from the party… all those people today are wishing they did not do that. Some of them could have been ministers. I think every day they wake up, they reminisce over their wrong decisions and regret."
Mweetwa said Monde lacked knowledge of his role as a member of parliament in a democratic dispensation.
"The idea behind democracy is we should not sing one song. To have a figmentation in one's mind that you can only serve at the level of minister or deputy minister is myopic and shameful," he said.
Mweetwa also accused Monde of compromising some district and council officials to defect to the PF with him.
"Like those who are supporting him in Itezhi-Tezhi. We don't know, maybe he has bought them bags of fertiliser or seed or even a cow. That is expected," said Mweetwa.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, DEMONSTRATION, GREYFORD MONDE, UPND
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Chief urges UPND not to lie about Monde's suspension
By Brina Siwale in Livingstone and Moses Kuwema in Lusaka
Wed 20 Feb. 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE UPND leadership has started backtracking on the expulsion of its Itezhi-tezhi member of parliament Greyford Monde from the party based on his appointment as agriculture deputy minister.
And chief Sinazongwe of the Tonga-speaking people of Sinazongwe district has advised the UPND not to lie to the nation that they had suspended Monde because of other charges other than his acceptance to serve in government.
UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa yesterday claimed the party would have no problem with its members of parliament working with government as long as they remained loyal to the party.
Mweetwa, who was among those that called for Monde's expulsion, said that the PF was welcome to appoint UPND members of parliament as long as they consulted the party before the appointment.
"We are not saying that our MPs should not be appointed by the PF. If PF or indeed any government wants to appoint a UPND MP as minister, they should first formally approach the party so that when such a person is appointed, they will have the blessings of the party," said Mweetwa.
However, last week, Mweetwa together with party president Hakainde Hichilema, said Monde would be expelled from the UPND.
Hichilema told Breeze FM that Monde knew the consequences of accepting a ministerial position in the PF government.
Hichilema said that the UPND had a strict policy that stated that no member of parliament would accept to work with the PF government as minister or deputy minister.
And Mweetwa last week said the party would soon set the course for disciplinary action against Monde.
"Speaking in my own capacity as Mweetwa and not UPND, I can say Monde will be expelled because a precedence has been set before where the people that have joined government against the UPND's policies and guidelines have been expelled. Examples are there for people like late Ben Tetamashimba and others," he said.
Mweetwa advised Monde to resign from the UPND and join the PF, saying that would be the moral decision to make.
He said Monde had shown that he was a very weak soldier who had failed to manage waging a war from the opposition battlefront.
"Opposition politics is for strong individuals because temptations are so grave. It is also embarrassing for people in political nursery to begin their careers with fragile stance. Monde has shown that young people are not going to parliament to serve the people but to serve their own interests. This is political treachery and an act of cowardice," Mweetwa said then.
And party deputy secretary general Kuchunga Simusamba last week also said it was sad that Monde would spend his 'political robes with the greedy and Judas Iscariot for a few pieces of silver'.
Simusamba said Monde had betrayed the cause of the party and that of his constituents.
"He (Monde) has always been treacherous and he's one of those members of parliament who failed to file for his councillors in his constituency. We have been watching his dealings with the PF and today is a great day for us because his sins have been exposed and this is where he says goodbye," said Simusamba.
"He has expelled himself and we accept his decision. We will replace him with a more trustworthy member of parliament. It's obvious that we are winning that seat so let him enjoy those pieces of silver hoping he doesn't end up hanging himself like Judas Iscariot," said Simusamba last week.
However last week, the UPND avoided suspending Monde over accepting the ministerial position but instead slapped him with different charges.
In a letter dated February 15, 2013 and signed by party secretary general Winstone Chibwe, UPND stated that it had been brought to its attention that Monde had on numerous occasions failed to avail himself for party programmes and had failed to work effectively with the constituency and the general membership of the party.
Chibwe stated that specifically the party had charged him with destabilising the party, bringing the party name into disrepute and public odium by issuing unauthorised statements, failure to obey or carryout party instructions and activities and failure to maintain a cordial working relationship with local party officials in Itezhi-tezhi.
"The aforesaid is a testimony that your membership is questionable and that your motive is malicious and with intent to destabilise and injure the good image and reputation of UPND, as a well-organised party," he stated. "By virtue of the powers vested in me, under Article 8 (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), you are hereby charged with the offence of gross misconduct and therefore suspended with immediate effect from the party as your actions are in breach of Article 8 of our party's constitution. You are given three days from date hereof, to exculpate yourself."
However Mweetwa has suddenly made a u-turn on his expulsion statement and said in an interview that the party had no problem with its members of parliament being appointed as ministers in government.
"We find it extremely disappointing that many people are failing to draw a distinction between working with government and working with the PF. Working with PF is where you begin to indulge yourself in political activities that undermine our party," Mweetwa said.
He cited himself as an example of how an MP in the opposition should work with government.
"All of us work with government. I am the MP for Choma, I work with government but no one has complained about me because I only work with government and I am loyal to my party. I don't work with PF, what we don't allow is working with PF," he said.
"That way their loyalty will still remain to the party that sent them to Parliament. So this issue of cutting deals behind is what UPND is saying no to. We are not saying UPND MPs should not be appointed or work with government; it is as simple as that."
President Sata appointed Monde as deputy minister.
Meanwhile, chief Sinazongwe says the UPND should understand that Monde was in government to serve Zambians and not his interest.
Commenting on the suspension of Monde from the UPND, chief Sinazongwe also advised the UPND not to lie to the nation that they had suspended Monde because of other charges other than his acceptance to serve in the PF government.
"It is not true. They should not lie to Zambians because we know that Monde has been suspended because he was appointed into government. …The fact is that Monde has been appointed into government and has been charged because of that. They just want to mix things," chief Sinazongwe said.
And chief Sinazongwe said the President had a right to appoint any member of parliament into government regardless of the political party they belonged to as long as they were serving the nation.
"As long as someone is obedient to his party, he can be loyal to his party but serving the nation. He is not serving that opposition party. He is serving the country, the people of Zambia. That's what we must understand. Anyone who is appointed to any position, whether he is in opposition; MMD, UPND, he is supposed to be let free not to be suspended but to look at what activities he is going to do for the nation. Is he going to serve the people of Zambia or the party? This is what we must understand; the government does not belong to the ruling party only. It belongs to everybody, every Zambian, whether opposition or not," he said.
Chief Sinazongwe said he saw no reason why opposition political parties should always have difficulties appreciating the appointment of their members of parliament into government.
"I think it must be enshrined in the Constitution, to protect the opposition members who are appointed in the government. The opposition must learn to support the government in power," he said.
Labels: CHIEF SINAZONGWE, CHIEFS, CORNELIUS MWEETWA, GREYFORD MONDE, UPND
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UPND ready for showdown with police
By Moses Kuwema and Kombe Chimpinde
Fri 25 Jan. 2013, 13:20 CAT
UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says the party is ready for a showdown with the police this Sunday for being denied permission to hold a rally. But the Ministry of Home Affairs has warned the UPND that they will have themselves to blame if they go ahead with a public rally slated for this Sunday in Kabwata.
In a statement, Ministry of Home Affairs public relations officer, Moses Suwali, said that if UPND went ahead with their planned rally with or without police approval, they would be breaking the law because they would conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace.
But Mweetwa insisted that the UPND's planned rally would go ahead and
that the police should be ready for a New Year's present if they
decided to stop the rally.
"For the police, this Sunday if they want, they should come and try to
stop the rally the way they did in Kanyama. We are ready to give them
a New Year present," he said.
Asked what he meant exactly by New Year present, Mweetwa responded:
"we are going to give them a new present. We have the law on our side
and we expect them to come and protect us and not to export anarchy to
a peaceful rally."
Mweetwa said rallies for the UPND as a political party were a life
blood of their existence because they provided a market place for them
to merchandise their ideas.
And Mweetwa said the police should apologise to his party for stating
that the UPND was incapable of holding violent free events, failure to
which the party would commence legal action.
He said the police should also apologise for tarnishing the image of the party.
"If the police fail to do this, we intend to commence very serious
legal action against them. The basis for this contemplation is as
follows; we find the statement by the police highly insulting and
defamatory to the integrity, persona and character of the UPND
leadership, to an extent that this statement has not only tarnished
the good image of our party but they have brought the image of the
UPND into public ridicule and hatred because the people of this
country abhor violence, detest it, they are allergic to violence,"
Mweetwa said.
Mweetwa said it was extremely intrusive for the police to brand UPND a
violent party.
He said the position of the police on the UPND, had served to act as
confirmation to what he termed as the fears of people that under the
PF, Zambia was now a police state.
But Suwali stated: "the UPND after being informed not to go ahead, they will have themselves to blame for the consequences of their acts and they should not claim that they were not forewarned."
Suwali urged the UPND to go by what the police had advised
adding that the ministry was aware of Lusaka Province police
Commissioner, Joyce Kasosa's, gesture to dialogue with the UPND.
"We therefore encourage the UPND to respond positively and dialogue
with police and come up with an amicable solution. We therefore
implore UPND to dialogue with police unlike taking a confrontational
approach towards the issue as police are not willing to be at variance
with UPND but instead promote a spirit of dialogue as stakeholders,"
stated Suwali.
Lusaka police have denied the UPND a permit to hold its planned rally
in Kabwata, saying the opposition political party could be trusted to
hold a violence-free event.
Kasosa stated that police did not trust UPND to hold a violence-free rally due to what happened at Woodlands Police Station, where suspected UPND cadres, who escorted their president Hakainde Hichilema, caused commotion, and assaulted a police officer.
Meanwhile, Mike Mulongoti has described as unfair the continued refusal by the police to allow the opposition to hold political rallies.
Mulongoti, a former works and supply minister, said the refusal by police to approve of the latest notification by the UPND to hold a public rally in Kabwata was creating frustration and suspicions among political parties and the electorate.
"What is unfortunate is that those who can't hold rallies themselves, for whatever fears, are the ones who are stopping those capable of doing it. The conversation with the public must continue and more so for the government itself. People are hungry for conversation with their leadership but what is happening now is that they are keeping that pressure in a bottle," Mulongoti said.
He said that it was not fair for the government to sit idle while police had continued to deny the opposition space to hold political rallies, because the latter held rallies while in the opposition with ease.
"…It's blatant disregard of the freedoms of association and the law. When you monitor them, the police are saying the UPND has no capacity to hold the rally peacefully? They have not even allowed one rally so that they can see what happens; they are just stopping and stopping (the opposition), creating anger and frustration," Mulongoti said.
"It's nonsensical because the constitution provides for freedom of movement, assembly. How harmful can visiting a market or chief be? I think they are extending this intolerance to ridiculous levels. They had an opportunity to do that when they were in the opposition, I think they cannot stop others from doing it."
Mulongoti said this when he featured on UNZA radio yesterday.
He said the existence of political parties would be irrelevant if its leaders were not given chance to interact with the electorate.
"How many people are they going to stop? Suppose all parties decided to visit markets, do they think they can contain that? What is important is to promote cooperation with the opposition," said Mulongoti.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, MOSES SUWALI, UPND
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Copperbelt UPND labels Ntundu a mole
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 20 Jan. 2013, 10:30 CAT
THE UPND says it has not stopped any of its members of parliament from working with the government. But the party leadership on the Copperbelt has labeled its Gwembe member of parliament, Brian Ntundu, a mole for urging his colleagues to work with the government for development.
Reacting to Ntundu's call for his fellow party members to remove politics and work with the government, party deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the leadership only forbade its members from working with the ruling PF.
"As UPND we have not stopped our members of parliament from working with government. That must be very clear on the minds of all well meaning Zambians. What we have stopped our members from doing is to work with PF. A clear distinction must be made between a government and a party," he said.
"Working with government is different from working with the party. However, the silver lining between government and the party running government is extremely thin that sometimes it is very difficult to figure it out where it ends because you find that the same people who are running a party are the ones in government. However, what is important in my view is to recognise when a member of parliament is interacting with government at the level of a government function. And a government function is blind to political parties. Now if a member of parliament is going to collaborate with government for government functions there is nothing really wrong that one can point at."
Mweetwa said there were so many issues on which UPND members of parliament had worked together with the government.
He said UPND members of parliament had many times voted together in parliament with the government on what he termed progressive policies.
Asked if he agreed with everything that Ntundu said, Mweetwa answered in the negative.
"I respect the fact that honourable Ntundu is entitled to hold an opinion that is constituted by himself. And I will defend his right to form and hold an opinion, but I do not agree with what has been attributed to him; some of the things that have been attributed to him," he said.
"For instance I don't agree with him when he says this budget is the best so far. He knows that the budget contains some of the things that we have disputed, so how can he brand such a calamitous budget as best? And I also disagree with what has been reported that he was speaking highly of President Sata. He must show evidence of what it is that Sata has done to deserve ululation and accolade in a meeting such as CDF meeting."
Asked if the party would discipline Ntundu based on what he said at the meeting, Mweetwa answered in the negative.
But Copperbelt Province UPND chairman Elisha Matambo said Ntundu was contradicting the stance of the party.
"We are asking honourable Ntundu to resign on moral grounds. He is a mole in the party who has an appetite for a ministerial position. So, we are asking him to leave quietly and look for a job from the PF government," said Matambo. "He is praising the budget which we refused as UPND. He is also speaking highly of the President who is harassing our president Hakainde Hichilema. Is that the government he says we should work with? He is putting salt on the injuries which we have. As an opposition party we are there to tell PF to create jobs for the people. In short we are working with government already by providing checks and balances."
Meanwhile, Mweetwa described the appointment of justice Minister Wynter Kabimba to the ZAWA board as a scandal.
"It defies all forms of reasonable logic, it is anomalous and scandalous. He is a very senior minister who by virtue of being on the ZAWA board should not be reporting to a junior minister Sylvia Masebo. It is like reporting to himself, and his presence in board meetings will intrinsically entail intimidation to the others. So, we urge President Sata to intervene and revoke that appointment," said Mweetwa.
Labels: BRIAN NTUNDU, CORNELIUS MWEETWA, ELISHA MATAMBO, UPND
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Sikwela under death threats from UPND
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Mon 07 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
FORMER Livingstone UPND member of parliament Howard Sikwela says he faced death threats from some members of the opposition party's national management committee.
Reacting to demands by some UPND members for him to pay back money they donated for his election campaign, Reverend Sikwela said in a statement in Livingstone yesterday that, "Much as I apologise to the people of Livingstone over my resignation as MP, people must be made aware that I had faced death threats.
There is even a suspect from the national management committee of the UPND."
He said those threats were discussed in Parliament and even a police docket regarding the same threats was opened.
Rev Sikwela stated that at no time did he ever apply for a loan from UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa and he urged him to stop making malicious statements.
Rev Sikwela stated that Mweetwa should provide proof of such an agreement for financial assistance during the last Livingstone by-election.
"The ignorant young politician Mweetwa needs to be told to avoid making malicious statements such as those to The Post and Muvi TV because at no time did I apply for a loan from Cornelius Mweetwa.
If I did, proof of such must be produced in court. I further demand from Cornelius Mweetwa a well signed payment voucher on which I signed for the securing of the loan from him," Rev Sikwela stated.
He reminded Mweetwa that donations are never paid back.
Rev Sikwela wondered why the claim for monies was coming with insults after he had resigned from the UPND.
He said the UPND had exhibited hostility against him and the PF government, which forced him to resign.
"I did not handle any cash since I was a candidate. Let Mweetwa claim for whatever money from the office he paid such amounts," he stated.
Rev Sikwela added that other people who donated money to the UPND had not demanded repayment such as a K2.5 million donated by Bernard Muleya, who was chairman for election operations last year as he knew that he was donating and did not expect repayment.
Mweetwa on Saturday claimed that Sikwela's campaign cost K500 million (KR500,000) which was all contributions from the party and individual members.
He said he, in particular contributed K15 million (KR15,000) and wanted it back.
"But take this very seriously. I am demanding that Rev Sikwela gives me back not less than K15 million. I am looking for Sikwela but his phones are off and he is playing hide and seek. I am here (Livingstone) just to ask him nicely 'please the money I spent give it back to me'..." Mweetwa said.
And Rev Sikwela said his resignation would help other UPND members of parliament to reflect on working with the PF government for developmental purposes instead of just sitting and getting allowances in Parliament while the electorate had no access clean drinking water.
He recounted how he was violently treated by UPND cadres on the morning of September 26, 2012 at National Assembly Motel.
"They can call my resignation baseless but it would help reflect on the need for development in constituencies," Rev Sikwela said. "They say I have caused an unnecessary by-election but of what use is an MP who just sits in Parliament and gets a salary and yet the people who voted for him don't get clean drinking water and can't pay for school fees. It is raining now and the only clean water some people are able to get is from the roof top."
Rev Sikwela said the UPND should not think of 2016 but work closely with the PF government to develop even areas which were under the opposition.
"There is a time for politicking but when elections and by-elections are over, it is better to look at development," he said. "It's not good to just condemn the PF. Yes, the government has its mistakes but we should not condemn the good things being done just for the sake of politicking."
Rev Sikwela said he was new in the parliamentary circle of the UPND and did not know much about the underhand dealings by Hakainde Hichilema towards members of parliament.
He said the party seemed not to have been ready to support his close links with the PF on developmental issues.
Rev Sikwela said the UPND cadres who abducted him out of National Assembly Motel last September had seemingly been cleared by some UPND members of parliament.
"One cannot just walk into Parliament Motel and start hurling insults without clearance by security," he said. "The youths must have been cleared by some UPND MPs. They abducted me from Parliament Motel and whisked me to the party secretariat in a Jeep, where I was forced to denounce my presence at President Michael Sata's Link Zambia 8,000 road project and later received death threats on my mobile phone, which I reported to the police."
On the other hand, Mweetwa says Livingstone should always be in opposition hands as the UPND and MMD differ over which party should contest the seat vacated by Rev Sikwela.
But MMD vice-president Michael Kaingu asked the UPND to give the former ruling party a chance to contest the seat it had won in the 2011 general elections. The MMD lost the seat after an electoral petition.
Kaingu said the MMD met on Saturday at Victoria Hall to discuss the vacant seat.
He said the MMD was requesting UPND to give a chance to an MMD candidate.
"We discussed with my party officials over the forthcoming by-election and we have resolved that we field a candidate and our party officials are asking the UPND to help us this time around. What is important is that the seat was an MMD seat after the general elections… and their UPND member of parliament has let them down," Kaingu said.
He said if the UPND decided to contest, it was their fundamental right to participate in elections.
"Fundamentally, all political parties are supposed to participate in elections," Kaingu said. "Winning is a bonus. That is the beauty of democracy but at the end of the day, it is only one party that will win."
But Mweetwa said his party was poised to reclaim the seat.
"We stand very ready to reclaim the seat and we are poised to win. We want Livingstone to be always in the hands of the opposition," Mweetwa said.
He said it would be shocking to enter into discourse with the MMD over Livingstone.
Mweetwa asked Kaingu to be sincere over the matter.
"Ask him Kaingu because he waved at me yesterday and I know he is here in Livingstone… ask him about the mood of the people if he is sincere and I know him to be one. Ask him if he is for the preservation of the opposition. The mood of the people of Livingstone is that of anger," he said.
"We as UPND are more than ready to contest the seat even if the elections were held tomorrow because we started preparing a long time ago and we already have a candidate."
He also challenged the PF to field Rev Sikwela in the forthcoming by-election if he had a political muscle to flex.
"We dare the PF to field Sikwela," Mweetwa said.
However, he said the UPND had not yet met to discuss the vacant seat.
Mweetwa said the MMD should make its own internal decisions and not drag the UPND into their internal matters.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, DEATH THREATS, HOWARD SIKWELA, MICHAEL KAINGU, UPND
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Lubinda relates well with us - UPND
By Allan Mulenga, Mukosha Funga and Roy Habaalu
Sun 16 Dec. 2012, 14:00 CAT
UPND members of parliament will continue enjoying a cordial relationship with Given Lubinda, says party deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa.
In an interview, Mweetwa, who is also Choma Central UPND member of parliament, said there was no way the PF could halt the long standing relationship with their fellow member of parliament.
"In terms of our relationship as members of parliament with Honourable Lubinda, this issue will not change our relationship because, for goodness sake, Given Lubinda and many of us share personal relationship that we cultivated way before even PF came into existence," he said.
"So, there is no way that we are going to stop because honourable Lubinda has been accused of collaborating with us and we start running away from him or he must be running away from us!"
Mweetwa said it was not a secret that Lubinda related well with UPND members of parliament.
"For the people like me, we are very close with Lubinda and it is not a secret. I went as far as telling people in my maiden speech that honourable Lubinda is the one who paid K400,000 nomination fees for me to contest as UPND deputy spokesperson three days after I left university.
So how can I change my personal relationship with him? No, we will not change," said Mweetwa.
And Kalomo Central member of parliament Request Muntanga dismissed as nonsense reports that he has been collaborating with Lubinda in discrediting the government.
Patriotic Front members of parliament have accused foreign affairs minister Lubinda of collaborating with the opposition to discredit the government.
Muntanga said he does not need Lubinda to effectively debate national matters in Parliament.
In an interview from Tanzania, Muntanga said he had nothing to do with Lubinda, whatsoever.
Muntanga said in Parliament he queried why the ZAWA board which was recently dissolved by tourism minister Sylvia Masebo, was constituted.
"The law says that the board will be the one running the day-to-day business on behalf of Zawa and that was the line I was questioning, period! The next time I questioned was the allocation of K1.5 billion to the office of the first lady. Again, it has nothing to do with Lubinda, it was from a newspaper cutting where the first lady said the money she received was for salaries.
I was questioning how come because the people she's working with are already taken care of by State House. Do you think something like that I need to be pumped brains by somebody?" he said. "It's total rubbish, total nonsense. If they are scared of Lubinda for something else that's their problem, it has nothing to do with me."
Muntanga said he raised points of order because he believed in something, not that he was being used by anyone.
The PF has accused Lubinda of treachery and has given him seven days within which to exculpate himself over the allegations that he had been collaborating with opposition members of parliament to discredit the government.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, GIVEN LUBINDA, PF, REQUEST MUNTANGA, UPND
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UPND should avoid being selfish - Nyangu
By Allan Mulenga and Tilyenji Mwanza
Thu 18 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
UPND members must avoid advancing selfish interests, says MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu. Reacting to UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa's statement that UPND will no longer deliberate with the former ruling party in future elections because there was no pact between the two opposition parties, Nyangu urged the UPND not to be emotional about the decision by the MMD to defy an agreement not to contest nine local government elections.
"But going by what our colleagues are saying, that 'it is the last time we are going together', we will not take that as a final decision. I think they were talking out of emotions," he said.
"They UPND are being emotional. Let them think twice and look at the bigger picture and not looking at just smaller picture. Let them look at the bigger picture. If they look at themselves, they will see the real things. They shouldn't be emotional. They should look at issues that will benefit the greater opposition, not just looking at themselves. There was no proper planning; let's plan well next time."
Nyangu said the UPND had faced "rejection" at the grassroot in some areas.
"It was a rejection at their UPND grassroot. It became difficult for us to reverse those decisions except in a few wards like Mukaika, Chavuma and Chibombo. They dragged us and we said, 'okay fine, let us leave it to our colleagues, since we are in a working relationship,'" he said.
"That was not our problem, it was the problem with our colleagues the UPND because the decision for them not to contest in Mufumbwe came too late. Then an afterthought of saying, 'no okay if that is the case (MMD contesting in Mufumbwe) then give us all the wards'. It was too late.
We did not do it deliberately, but that is the situation; it was too late and our organs had already made their own arrangements and it was difficult to reverse."
Nyangu blamed the confusion which ensued between the two opposition parties on improper planning.
But MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe said the former ruling party would not use the media to discuss its relationship with UPND.
Major Kachingwe said the party had strict principles not to discuss its relationship in the media but would instead address their matters using indoor discussions.
"I can say please when you are in relationship you don't go out broadcasting. It's like in a marriage, you do not go out broadcasting who was doing what in the bedroom. You sort out the problems in the bedroom," he said.
Major Kachingwe admitted that there had never been a pact between MMD and UPND, but said they were cooperating partners who had a good working relationship despite being different entities with different manifestos.
"Yes, there has never been a pact but we have a very good working relationship and we meet in round table conferences, we discuss and move forward and we like the way we go.
"And it's true we are different entities, with different manifestos but we come for a common purpose of providing checks and balances to the ruling party," Maj Kahingwe said.
He said he had good relationships with both UPND secretary general Winstone Chibwe and UPND president Hakainde Hichilema.
"Yes we will still work closely together, yes, I have no problem with what is in the papers. If the secretary general wants to talk to me he merely just picks up a phone and talks to me, and even the president. For me it's just you newspapers wanting to sell," Maj Kachingwe said.
Asked to appeal to UPND to stop issuing statements, Maj Kachingwe said he was not a dictator and doing so would be over-stepping his boundaries.
Maj Kachingwe said he had issued strict instructions to his party not to give any statements pertaining to their relationship with UPND.
He added that he did not know the implications the statements in the media would have on the two parties' relationship.
Mweetwa on Monday said UPND will no longer deliberate with the former ruling party in future elections because there was no pact between the two opposition parties and that the Mufumbwe case was a unique circumstance.
Labels: CHEMBE NYANGU, CORNELIUS MWEETWA, UPND
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UPND raises eyebrows over PF setting up company
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 18 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says the decision by the PF to form a company is strange.
Commenting on the decision by the ruling Patriotic Front to form a limited liability company called Ilunda Chalo Investments, Mweetwa said setting up a company in itself was not a bad idea, but that for the PF, this raised serious concerns.
"Why didn't they form a company when they were in opposition? They were in opposition for a very long period of time and in the opposition it is very difficult to sustain yourself. If that company was going to operate for the same objective for which it is now being formed, why didn't they form it that time?" Mweetwa said.
Mweetwa said the PF wanted to abuse public authority and opportunities through the formation of a company.
He said the only way that the PF could legalise the abuse of these opportunities was through the creation of an entity which would have the legal right to be able to extend its arm into these public opportunities and resources.
"The company has come at a very strange opportunity because PF has been in existence for about a decade. What has prompted them now to form a company now that they are in government? There is a very strong temptation for one looking at it because they have now seen that they are in the saddles of leadership and they have to legalise mechanisms to siphon public opportunities and resources," he said.
Mweetwa said the formation of a company would amount to a synthetic form of corruption which would be soft in nature. "It does not appear to be corruption per se because it is hidden into the legalising of the existence of the company as an entity, yet the authorities are to grant the life of that company in terms of it being commercially viable," he said.
He said public perception would be highly against the PF because those who were in public offices would deliberately accord opportunities to the PF company and ensure that it makes money for the party.
"In this country there are two forms of courts, the legal court and also a supreme court called social court of justice. This is the one which tries people based on morality of their actions. Morality must become an integral part of leadership, if we have to move our country forward. The morality of forming a company one year after forming government cannot be justified, it raises eyebrows," he said.
Mweetwa said the PF did not go into government to make money for the party and themselves but to serve the people of Zambia within their given mandate.
PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba on Monday announced that the PF had incorporated a limited liability company called Ilunda Chalo Investment and President Michael Sata had since appointed James Matale as acting general manager.
Kabimba said the party had taken a position that it would not abuse any public resources to finance its activities.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, PF, UPND
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UPND raises eyebrows over PF setting up company
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 18 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says the decision by the PF to form a company is strange.
Commenting on the decision by the ruling Patriotic Front to form a limited liability company called Ilunda Chalo Investments, Mweetwa said setting up a company in itself was not a bad idea, but that for the PF, this raised serious concerns.
"Why didn't they form a company when they were in opposition? They were in opposition for a very long period of time and in the opposition it is very difficult to sustain yourself. If that company was going to operate for the same objective for which it is now being formed, why didn't they form it that time?" Mweetwa said.
Mweetwa said the PF wanted to abuse public authority and opportunities through the formation of a company.
He said the only way that the PF could legalise the abuse of these opportunities was through the creation of an entity which would have the legal right to be able to extend its arm into these public opportunities and resources.
"The company has come at a very strange opportunity because PF has been in existence for about a decade. What has prompted them now to form a company now that they are in government? There is a very strong temptation for one looking at it because they have now seen that they are in the saddles of leadership and they have to legalise mechanisms to siphon public opportunities and resources," he said.
Mweetwa said the formation of a company would amount to a synthetic form of corruption which would be soft in nature. "It does not appear to be corruption per se because it is hidden into the legalising of the existence of the company as an entity, yet the authorities are to grant the life of that company in terms of it being commercially viable," he said.
He said public perception would be highly against the PF because those who were in public offices would deliberately accord opportunities to the PF company and ensure that it makes money for the party.
"In this country there are two forms of courts, the legal court and also a supreme court called social court of justice. This is the one which tries people based on morality of their actions. Morality must become an integral part of leadership, if we have to move our country forward. The morality of forming a company one year after forming government cannot be justified, it raises eyebrows," he said.
Mweetwa said the PF did not go into government to make money for the party and themselves but to serve the people of Zambia within their given mandate.
PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba on Monday announced that the PF had incorporated a limited liability company called Ilunda Chalo Investment and President Michael Sata had since appointed James Matale as acting general manager.
Kabimba said the party had taken a position that it would not abuse any public resources to finance its activities.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, PF, UPND
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No party can work with HH - Nawakwi 'Hichilema is selfish and has an ego...'
By Henry Sinyangwe
Wed 12 Sep. 2012, 10:10 CAT
FDD leader Edith Nawakwi says it is impossible for any political party to work with UPND under the leadership of Hakainde Hichilema because the man is selfish and has an ego. But UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has advised Nawakwi to concentrate on building what he called 'the declining FDD' instead of attacking Hichilema. Nawakwi (right) said Hichilema had a singular belief that he was better than anyone else for the leadership of the country.
She revealed that Hichilema's ego dated back to 2006, where he wanted to field all the 150 candidates across the country even though they were in an alliance of a tripartite nature, where it was agreed that FDD, UPND and UNIP should field 50 candidates each.
"But by the time I turned around, they even attempted to take seats where we were even most popular, like you remember Nkana. You remember, Mr Kazabu was very popular. He should have been in Parliament way back in 2006. They even wanted to get rid of a candidate like for Chasefu, the vice-president of FDD. Some of our councillors had to go out and stand on United Liberal Party. That is how self-opinionated and selfish the young man is. He is a highly self- constituted, self-opinionated and selfish individual. He does not look at the broader picture of the common good; he looks at his symbol. What drives him is his status and his ego to be big, if ego is not a big word itself," she said.
Nawakwi advised MMD to go ahead and field their candidate in Mufumbwe because Hichilema was not someone who was considerate of other people's opinion.
"His ego is bigger than his courage, it stems from his singular belief that he is better than anyone else in the leadership of this country as far as his leadership concerned. Hakainde believes that, and its correct maybe to believe that maybe one day he will be President, but his ego is larger than the office he is seeking. This issue about fielding candidates in Mufumbwe, MMD should just go ahead, if they want to field a candidate. If they wait for Hakainde, they will be disappointed," she said.
She advised MMD leader Nevers Mumba to seek advice from people that had worked with Hichilema in the past so that he could have a clear picture of the individual he was dealing with.
"So, Dr Nevers Mumba, for all I care let me advise my brother, he should ask me. I will advise him that a lion can't go in the same den with a hyena, they are both jungle animals. They can't sleep in the same den, a lion has its own den and even the birds have their own nests. But to think that he has won an alliance with Hakainde! He should ask us who have been in alliance with Hakainde. It's not a new story and we are fed up of this story about alliances. Alliances with Hakainde! It will never work. Can't people learn from the past?" asked Nawakwi.
She also advised Mumba to consult former president Rupiah Banda on the behaviour of Hichilema.
"Maybe he (Mumba) should even consult Tilyenji Kaunda. He was very close to Hakainde during the alliance," said Nawakwi. "So when I read stories from my elder brother Pastor Nevers Mumba urging HH to do the rightful thing over Mufumbwe, I say to myself, 'what a joke'," said Nawakwi.
Nawakwi was commenting on the differences between MMD and UPND on who should field a parliamentary candidate in Mufumbwe.
But Mweetwa said many Zambians did not take Nawakwi seriously on the political front because she was just one of the ordinary citizens who was trying to continue to drink from the cup of past glory.
"Instead of her continuing to talk about HH, we would like her to explain how she managed to auction a party that was big with a lot of members of parliament and reduced that party to only one MP now. The people are interested to know. She has been attacking HH on depleting UPND. What about herself," Mweetwa said UPND had not yet made a decision on the Mufumbwe seat as they were still consulting with stakeholders.
"For now she lacks the moral higher ground. In the time when we had an alliance with the FDD, the moment the campaign flagged off, she went underground. She was undermining HH. That is why HH performed badly. For Mufumbwe we haven't sat with our various stakeholders. The only clear picture from the last elections is that UPND is firm on the ground,'' said Mweetwa.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, EDITH NAWAKWI, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, UPND
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HH will be taught to avoid lies - GBM
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 14 June 2012, 13:25 CAT
Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba says Hakainde Hichilema had pressed a wrong button and will be taught to avoid telling lies. And UPND leader Hichilema is today expected to appear at Zambia Police headquarters for
questioning over his statement that the PF government plans to send youths to Sudan to train as militias.Police have so far issued two call outs against Hichilema on two separate days.
Police first issued a call out on Tuesday, but officers tasked to deliver it could not locate Hichilema.
Police yesterday issued another call out which they managed to deliver to the UPND secretariat on Lagos Road in Lusaka's Rhodes Park.
UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the UPND's legal team and Hichilema's lawyers had to be informed before they could appear before police.
The call out from Zambia Police headquarters stated: "Sir, I have to inform you that Mr Hakainde Hichilema said to be in your employment is, required to attend interviews at Zambia Police HQs on 13/06/2012 for the purpose stated above at 10:00 hrs in the conference room."
Police acting spokesperson Munganga Chanda confirmed yesterday that Hichilema communicated through his secretary general Winston Chibwe that he would avail himself this afternoon.
"Our official position is that Mr Hichilema is appearing tomorrow today at 14:00 hours at Force Headquarters. He communicated to us through the UPND secretary general Mr Winston Chibwe," said Chanda.
And Mwamba has vowed to ensure that Hichilema and other people issuing unsubstantiated statements are taught a lesson.
He said it was clear that even though Hichilema was challenging law enforcement agencies to arrest him, he was in fact not a courageous man.
"Anyway, we'll sort him out this time around, I think he has pressed a wrong button. I'll make sure that the law takes its course now. I know where he got the courage from; it's from people like Edward Mumbi. But even Edward Mumbi if he's man enough, let him utter similar sentiments; he will find that we will lock him up as well. Nshabaleke ine iyo (I'll not spare them), I'll teach them a lesson," the defence minister said.
"You can't just come up with such kind of a story without the truth. How do you do that. Because he knows that, that's a very serious offence. You see also, that borders on our relationship with that other country. You know what he should have done, he should have not mentioned at least the other country. Now he has mentioned that other country, so the whole world thinks that this is what Zambia is doing. So, we shall not leave him at all until the law takes its course."
[Perhaps the police shouldn't stop at HH, and call in Robert Amsterdam as well, because if his activities in Russia and Thailand are a clue, this is their tactic - internationalising local transfer of power. - MrK]
Mwamba said the only contingent the Zambian government had in Sudan were the soldiers on a UN peacekeeping mission.
"What I want is, even would-be offenders should learn a leaf from this now, so that whatever utterances they are going to make they should be authentic. He knows that he has committed an offence definitely; he can come and check our records, we have not sent a single youth to Sudan. Even the 17 soldiers who are still there, these are only winding up now our operations. And this is a normal exercise ending UN peacekeeping troops. This has nothing to do with training or what have you, not at all; they're trained locally," said Mwamba.
This week, Mwamba ordered police to investigate Hichilema's revelations so that the public could know the source of his information.
Labels: CORNELIUS MWEETWA, GBM, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, SUDAN, UPND
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