MMD is failing to manage itself - Sata
By Moses Kuwema
Tue 02 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says the MMD should manage their post-power syndrome carefully if they have to remain relevant to the political process of the country.
Commenting on MMD vice-president for politics, Michael Kaingu's statement that the former ruling party was not surprised with Feira member of parliament Patrick Ngoma's resignation to join the PF, and that the ruling party wanted to create a one-party state by wiping out the opposition, President Sata said the MMD should simply understand that they had a lot of work to do, particularly that they were even having members defecting to other opposition parties.
"Let them manage the post-power syndrome carefully if they have to remain relevant to the political process of this country. The problems MMD is facing are self-inflicted and cannot be blamed on anybody, especially PF. They are just failing to convince the people, they have no message for the Zambian people. Why is it that it is only the MMD which is complaining? Why is it that it is only the MMD which is boycotting elections when other political parties are taking advantage of the space they are leaving?" wondered President Sata through his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.
"And why is Mr Kaingu complaining over Mr Ngoma's defection and not complaining about the defections by Mr Lawrence Zimba and Mr Misheck Mutelo to UPND? Is Mr Kaingu also suggesting that that is creating a one party state? Why are they only complaining on defections to the ruling party and not to other opposition political parties?"
President Sata said he had no intentions of restoring a one-party state but was instead committed to ensuring that democracy in the country flourishes.
"No wonder Mr Kaingu's statement of restoring a one-party state does not hold. What is clear is that MMD is failing to manage itself and this is clearly on account of poor leadership. Therefore, Mr Kaingu's accusation is a cry of desperation. Mr Kaingu needs to understand what multi-partism is and multi-partism is about competition and not allowing your opponents to win. It seems in Mr Kaingu's understanding, multi-partism only exists when they win," he said.
President Sata said in any democracy, there was freedom of association and movement, adding that nobody was restricted.
"The same way Dr Nevers Mumba saw it fit to dissolve his political party and defect to MMD, it is similar principles that are being applied by people like Mr Ngoma. Therefore, these people must not be vilified. Accusations of a one party state do not hold because clearly this government is interested in its development and governance agenda. No amount of mudslinging will reverse that. The Zambian people, who entrusted this government's authority, can clearly see who means well to this country," said President Sata.
Labels: MICHAEL KAINGU, MICHAEL SATA, MMD, PARTIES
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MMD is failing to manage itself - Sata
By Moses Kuwema
Tue 02 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says the MMD should manage their post-power syndrome carefully if they have to remain relevant to the political process of the country.
Commenting on MMD vice-president for politics, Michael Kaingu's statement that the former ruling party was not surprised with Feira member of parliament Patrick Ngoma's resignation to join the PF, and that the ruling party wanted to create a one-party state by wiping out the opposition, President Sata said the MMD should simply understand that they had a lot of work to do, particularly that they were even having members defecting to other opposition parties.
"Let them manage the post-power syndrome carefully if they have to remain relevant to the political process of this country. The problems MMD is facing are self-inflicted and cannot be blamed on anybody, especially PF. They are just failing to convince the people, they have no message for the Zambian people. Why is it that it is only the MMD which is complaining? Why is it that it is only the MMD which is boycotting elections when other political parties are taking advantage of the space they are leaving?" wondered President Sata through his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.
"And why is Mr Kaingu complaining over Mr Ngoma's defection and not complaining about the defections by Mr Lawrence Zimba and Mr Misheck Mutelo to UPND? Is Mr Kaingu also suggesting that that is creating a one party state? Why are they only complaining on defections to the ruling party and not to other opposition political parties?"
President Sata said he had no intentions of restoring a one-party state but was instead committed to ensuring that democracy in the country flourishes.
"No wonder Mr Kaingu's statement of restoring a one-party state does not hold. What is clear is that MMD is failing to manage itself and this is clearly on account of poor leadership. Therefore, Mr Kaingu's accusation is a cry of desperation. Mr Kaingu needs to understand what multi-partism is and multi-partism is about competition and not allowing your opponents to win. It seems in Mr Kaingu's understanding, multi-partism only exists when they win," he said.
President Sata said in any democracy, there was freedom of association and movement, adding that nobody was restricted.
"The same way Dr Nevers Mumba saw it fit to dissolve his political party and defect to MMD, it is similar principles that are being applied by people like Mr Ngoma. Therefore, these people must not be vilified. Accusations of a one party state do not hold because clearly this government is interested in its development and governance agenda. No amount of mudslinging will reverse that. The Zambian people, who entrusted this government's authority, can clearly see who means well to this country," said President Sata.
Labels: MICHAEL KAINGU, MICHAEL SATA, MMD, PARTIES
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Analysts say MDC-T primaries undemocratic
Friday, 21 December 2012 00:00
Hebert Zharare Political Editor
The MDC-T national council’s decision to
impose sitting legislators and
protect them from being subjected to primaries is undemocratic and retrogressive, some observers and party members warned yesterday.
The political observers and MDC-T members said the move tarnished the image of Africa and Zimbabwe in particular in the eyes of the world.
The MDC-T on Wednesday insisted that the sitting legislators would go through a confirmation exercise despite an outcry from aspiring candidates that the process was undemocratic and tantamount to the imposition of candidates.
The party said only sitting legislators who fail to garner a two-thirds majority during the confirmation system would be subjected to primary elections.
Some party insiders who declined to be named for fear of retribution say the confirmation exercise was likely to be manipulated by the sitting legislators some of whom hold powerful positions in the MDC-T and the inclusive Government.
University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Charity Manyeruke said the MDC-T’s move was undemocratic and retrogressive.
She said most African political parties had progressed well in terms of promoting democratic processes.
“It’s now entrenched in our African society that disallowing primaries is tantamount to dictatorship as it takes us backwards. The MDC-T is tarnishing our image as Africans. Taking away someone’s right to participate in the elections is depriving that person of his/her democratic and constitutional right.
“We urge all political parties in the country to allow free and fair democratic processes during the forthcoming elections. The MDC-T officials are afraid of internal competition and what about inter-party democracy,” said Dr Manyeruke.
She said competition in parties was healthy as it helped bring up candidates with good policies and legislative agenda.
Dr Manyeruke said such actions by the MDC-T leadership explained why the inclusive Government for a long time failed to come up with robust policies to empower the people.
“This explains why the inclusive Government brought chaos in this country. We have a government that has no focus on development. The people are just concentrating on amassing material benefits. They do not think about the country that the people want jobs, farmers want some inputs. That support is not coming.”
Another political and social commentator Mr Goodwills Masimirembwa said the current crop of MDC-T legislators felt a mission unaccomplished during their tenure of delivering some promises to their Western handlers.
He said the imposition of the sitting candidates meant the MDC-T was not a democratic party.
“What the party did demonstrates that the leaders are power hungry, dictatorial and above all are not fit to rule this country. This shows that there will be total disaster if these people are allowed to rule this country,” he said.
Mr Masimirembwa said the current crop of MDC-T leaders wanted to cling on to power because they had for a long time, failed to deliver what they promised their handlers.
“What we have here is much deeper than just primary elections. We have people who want to deliver the country to their handlers and they are under pressure. So they are aware that if they go for primaries and a certain crop of candidates are elected, they might not have the same vision they have and might fail to deliver the promise to the handlers.
Midlands State University lecturer in the Media Section Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri, said it was critical to understand why the MDC-T decided to confirm sitting candidates without subjecting them to primaries.
The elections are very expensive at macro level and the Zimbabwe Election Commission recently said it was not carrying out certain tasks due to limited budget.
This also means political parties are also affected financially at micro level.
Dr Mhiripiri said maybe the party had seen the sitting MPs performing well and as a way of cutting costs decided not to subject them to the democratic processes.
“There is no problem if the members in those constituencies agree to that, but if they do not support that it is dictatorial and might lead to disgruntlement. It is not democratic if you do not subject people to periodic elections and endorsements,” he said.
Speaking to journalists after the national council meeting on Wednesday MDC-T secretary-general Mr Biti claimed the confirmation exercise was highly democratic and took a swipe at those branding it undemocratic. He said; “There will be primary elections in every contested position. However, for sitting MPs they have to go through a confirmation process.”
Labels: MDC, PARTIES
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What type of political parties should we have?
By The Post
Fri 19 Oct. 2012, 17:00 CAT
Clement Andeleki, the Chief Registrar of Societies, says political parties that fail to gain political ground within two years will be deregistered. He further warns that political parties that do not actively participate in elections but only endorse others would also be deregistered once the amendment of the societies Act is done.
According to the Chief Registrar of Societies, political parties were supposed to take part in elections instead of just endorsing, ratifying other political parties during elections.
We disagree with chief Registrar of Societies. Direct participation in elections should not be a condition for the continued existence of a political party. It is not necessary for every political party to have its name and candidates on ballot papers at election time. There are many examples in the world of very important political parties that do not directly participate in elections.
In South Africa, the South African Communist Party, which has been in existence since 1921, does not directly field candidates in elections. But its members participate in elections under the African National Congress. Not directly fielding candidates in elections cannot reduce the importance of the South African Communist Party's participation in the politics and governance of that country. This is a party whose members and leaders made gigantic sacrifices in the struggle against Apartheid.
Its members and leaders displayed heroism, an incredible sense of discipline and a capacity for selflessness, as well as a quiet determination not to bend the knee to the dictates of tyrants. This was not done in pursuit of political positions through participation in elections.
This party is a product of, and is propelled by, a willingness to make sacrifices for a loftier purpose than just by participating in elections. There is a recognition, among those who struggle for loftier purposes, of the need for a united front and of the fact that no struggle can be waged effectively in isolation.
And as Nelson Mandela once noted, "For many decades, communists were the only political group in South Africa who were prepared to treat Africans as human beings and their equals; who were prepared to eat with us; talk with us, live with us and work with us".
There are many political parties in other parts of the world that have subordinated themselves to broader movements and do not directly participate in elections, but have continued to legally maintain their independent existence, identity and character. For instance, there may be no need for a green party to directly participate in elections when it can easily support a more broad-based party that is willing to embrace its agenda if elected into power.
Endorsing a candidate of another political party and campaigning for that candidate is, and should be, an acceptable and important form of political participation. In the 2008 presidential elections, FDD under the leadership of Edith Nawakwi and Sakwiba Sikota's United Liberal Party decided to support the candidature of Rupiah Banda and went all over the country campaigning for him. Can one say that was not meaningful political participation on the part of FDD and United Liberal Party?
Political parties do not need to be deregistered or to disband themselves simply because they cannot directly field candidates in an election. There is nothing wrong in a political party identifying itself with another political party that is probably bigger or more popular than itself.
Political parties are not there just to participate in elections. They can participate in elections if they want to, but there are also many other important and necessary political activities that they can engage in outside elections.
Political parties can be as varied as the societies in which they function. And their function, in whichever way they choose to participate, is dead serious: to provide a peaceful and fair method by which the citizens of a democracy can select their leaders and have a meaningful role in determining their own destiny.
We know that democracies make several assumptions about human nature. One is that, given the chance, people are generally capable of governing themselves in a manner that is fair and free. Another is that any society comprises a great diversity of interests and individuals who deserve to have their voices heard and their views respected. As a result, one thing is true of all healthy democracies: they have many political parties or groupings.
And all should be free to raise their voices and participate in the democratic political process. In this way, democratic politics acts as a filter through which the vocal demands of a diverse populace pass on the way to becoming public policy.
Clearly, the right to participation in governance requires participatory democracy. Participatory democracy requires, not only democratic structures, but also the reign of democratic values in the hearts and minds of the people. Democratic structures without the corresponding democratic values in the hearts and minds of the people are rootless. There is need for a democratic culture characterised by the respect for the constitutional rights of the people. Our Constitution gives our people the right to form political parties of their own choice.
And it doesn't say that these political parties have to gain ground within a specified time through participation in elections for them to remain legally in existence. Imposing such a requirement would amount to taking away an important constitutional right of our people. But the question is: for what? What is troubling the Chief Registrar of Societies on this issue? What is really his problem?
We should be more interested in a lively spirit of democracy that will give full meaning to the political rights of our people as provided for in our Constitution and ensure success in fostering the welfare and progress of our country.
In any true democracy, more is needed than political institutions and practices such as voting and representation in Parliament. We must hold on to some values and norms, some expectations and aspirations. This is the environment, the atmosphere, that makes democracy work. This is the so-called "political culture" which we feel is so necessary in Zambia today if multiparty democracy is to succeed.
The fundamental value we must have is a respect for diversity and acceptance of pluralism. Gone are the days when everyone was supposed to think the same way, belong to the same party, and support the same programme.
A fundamental condition for the establishment of democracy is, therefore, the recognition of the rights of the person and social groups without any discrimination. A real democracy has to be built on the basis of justice, moral values and has to look to the common good. Democracy rests upon human rights. And these rights are not endowments of our governments, but the gifts of our Creator, and are enshrined in our Constitution.
There is no perfect form of human government. Abuses can take place in every system, but the fundamental value of democracy is to allow the participation of citizens in the government of their country. In this regard, democracy as a system of government is consonant with human rights and the respect of human dignity and freedom.
In fact, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is explicit in affirming the value of political participation: "Everyone has the right to take part in the government of one's own country, directly or through freely chosen representatives."
Trying to put too many and unnecessary qualifications on the rights of political parties to legally exist violates the political rights of our people as provided for in the Constitution. And this being the case, what the Chief Registrar of Societies is proposing should not be allowed to be taken to Parliament and be made law. It should be opposed rigorously.
And it would seem the Chief Registrar wants to exercise a lot of power over political parties. This shouldn't be allowed. His role should be limited to the orderly facilitation of the work of political parties and not to be prescribing criteria for their existence.
Labels: CLEMENT ANDELEKI, PARTIES
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Andeleki seeks to deregister inactive political parties
By Fridah Nkonde
Fri 19 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
REGISTRAR of Societies chief registrar Clement Andeleki says political parties that fail to gain political ground within two years will be deregistered.
In an interview yesterday, Andeleki said parties that did not actively participate in elections but only endorse others would be deregistered once amendment of the societies Act chapter 119 of the Laws of Zambia was done.
"This is the view that we are going to take after amending the act. We have been consulting with stakeholders and we will even be presenting the amended Act to Parliament very soon," he said.
Andeleki said it was unfortunate that most political parties in Zambia were just there to endorse other parties when it was election time and also gain donor funds.
He said there were 47 political parties in Zambia but only about six participated in elections.
Andeleki said deregistering political parties that did not actively participate in elections would prevent most other parties from using politics as a business.
He said people were supposed to use politics to benefit the whole country and not just to satisfy their desires.
"One thing I know for sure is that when a political party starts, it obviously starts from one town, say Lusaka and later on grow into a fully fledged political party with physical presence in all the provinces. That political party should be able to take part in elections instead of just endorsing other political parties. We are trying to bring sanity in the manner in which societies are being operated in the country," he said.
He said his department would not allow other political parties endorsing and ratifying other political parties during elections because all parties were supposed to take part in elections.
And Andeleki said his department would engage church mother bodies to come up with a code of conduct for all church leaders.
The Council of Churches in Zambia in a Communiqué from the CCZ 29th general conference stated that the church mother body was looking forward to engaging with the Registrar of Societies to iron out problematic issues in the Act.
But Andeleki said the Church in Zambia was facing a lot of problems because the Act did not make provisions for the regulations of church leaders.
He said the Act only concentrated on the Church and not the individual.
"How do we discipline church leaders when the Act does not make provisions for such regulations? These are some of the grey areas that are found in the Act. There are a lot of people who are claiming to be pastors and bishops. Some even go as far as preaching in the buses and collecting offering…it is not right," he said.
Labels: CLEMENT ANDELEKI, PARTIES
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PF seeks to block MMD from polls
By Namatama Mundia
Thu 07 June 2012, 13:23 CAT
A PF member has filed an injunction restraining MMD candidates from filing nominations for the forthcoming Muchinga and Chama North by-elections following the
de-registration of the party by the Registrar of Societies two months ago. And Lusaka High Court judge-in-charge Jane Kabuka has set tomorrow as the date for hearing in the matter.
In a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court yesterday, Maureen Chinkalanga Sense of House No. 1002 Matero compound in Lusaka sued MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as first and second defendants respectively.
Sense asked the court to restrain the first and second defendants whether by themselves or through their agents or servants from filing, sponsoring or allowing candidates of MMD to file nominations for Muchinga and Chama North constituencies.
She also wants the court to order that MMD is an illegal organisation and award any other relief the court may deem fit plus costs.
Sense, who is being represented by Chola Chama Legal Practitioners, averred that the Registrar of Societies on March 14, 2012 cancelled the registration of MMD because of the breach of the statutory society's rules and caused the notification of such cancellation of registration to be made public.
Judge Kabuka has since set June 26, 2012 as the date for judgment in the MMD de-registration case.
Sense also said cancellation of the registration of the defendant means that the MMD had ceased to be a lawful political party in Zambia and could not sponsor any candidates for an election.
She said she had irrefutable evidence to the effect that despite MMD's de-registration and illegal status, the party was in the process of sponsoring candidates to contest the Muchinga and Chama North by-elections which elections were to be conducted and managed by ECZ.
Sense further said she had sufficient interest in the matter as a citizen and the rest of the Zambian public would suffer irreparable damage if MMD in its current illegal status was allowed to file nominations for the two by-elections.
In her affidavit in support of summons for interim order of injunction, Sense said she had been advised by her lawyer and verily believed that the said cancellation of registration of MMD of the defendant meant that it ceased to be a lawful political party in Zambia and could not sponsor any candidates for any election.
ECZ set today as nominations dates while the by-elections are scheduled to take place on July 5.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MMD, PARTIES, PF
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COMMENT - The MMD is obsolete, both ideologically (neoliberalism and corruption) and politically.
MMD's de-registration is legal - state
By Mwala Kalaluka
Thu 31 May 2012, 13:23 CAT
THE Attorney General's chambers says Registrar of Societies Clement Andeleki's action to de-register the MMD was legal and rational as
the former ruling party ignored reminders to comply with statutory obligations for a long time.And Lusaka High Court judge-in-charge Jane Kabuka has set June 26, 2012 as the date for judgment in a matter where the MMD through its national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe applied for judicial review against Andeleki's decision.
When the judicial review application matter came up for hearing of arguments before judge Kabuka yesterday, the MMD's lawyer Hobday Kabwe said Andeleki acted outside his jurisdiction when he de-registered the party.
Kabwe said Andeleki used the law retrospectively when he cancelled the MMD's registration on the basis of non-compliant branches of the party and as such he exhibited unreasonableness.
He said in his exhibits before judge Kabuka, it would appear that Andeleki was trying to evade from the decision he made to the public that his decision of the MMD meant nullifying the party's 53 parliamentary seats.
"This is the decision, which we have had instructions to come and request this court that it must be nullified and must be overruled," said Kabwe.
But in its response, the state through chief state advocate Mwila Chibwe Kombe and assistant senior state advocate Peggy Hlazo, said Andeleki was on firm ground when he de-registered the MMD for failing to comply with statutory obligations.
She said Andeleki communicated to the MMD before the de-registration was effected and the party was given a 21-day notice to make good on the K390 million that it owed the Registrar of Societies.
Kombe said Andeleki's public statement over the nullification of the 53 MMD parliamentary seats was based on the resultant effect of his action to de-register the party and not that he nullified the seats.
She said the state's position was that the MMD had failed to show that Andeleki's decision was illegal, unreasonable and that it did not meet the tenets of natural justice and that there was procedural impropriety.
Kombe said Andeleki had the powers to de-register the MMD pursuant to Section 13 (2)(c) of the societies Act, following the MMD's failure to furnish the Registrar of Societies with the required information and offsetting the statutory debt.
Kombe said the MMD also prematurely took the matter to court because the law provides them another channel of appealing to the Minister of Home Affairs but that they did not exhaust this avenue.
"This is not political harassment as it wants it to appear because even when the MMD was in power, several reminders were sent to them over this but nothing was done. Now that a decision has been made, can that decision be said to be unreasonable for its defiance of logic? Our answer is in the negative," she said.
Kombe asked judge Kabuka to dismiss the MMD's application with costs because Andeleki's decision to de-register the party was within the confines of procedural fairness and that there was nothing exceptional about the MMD case.
Judge Kabuka told Kabwe that she was surprised that the arguments that Kombe had made were the ones that he should have raised during his submission.
"I was expecting that to come from you," judge Kabuka told Kabwe.
"Your colleague was arguing that this was not the first time and she gave a history. This is where I was expecting you to react."
Judge Kabuka ultimately set judgment in the matter for June 26.
Labels: ATTORNEY GENERAL, MMD, PARTIES
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Our political parties and self-reliance
By The Post
Wed 30 May 2012, 13:30 CAT
OUR political parties are not business enterprises. But to survive and prosper, they have to operate in a business-like manner. They need money and lots of it. However, this is not to say that those with money can own or purchase political parties.
Political parties have no owners in the sense of the ownership that we see in business enterprises. Those who start political parties are simply facilitators and not owners of those political parties. They are simply trustees of a dream, a vision, a cause that those political parties are created to pursue.
But today in Zambia, we have politicians who are running political parties as if they own them, as if they have purchased them. Political power that political parties aspire to wield can never be purchased in that way.
The other week, we had Enoch Kavindele urging MMD members to give him the leadership of that party because he had more money than other contenders. MMD members didn't heed his call. They gave the party leadership to a politician without money, without even a house of his own.
This should teach us something about money and politics in our country.
Michael Sata founded the Patriotic Front without money. And those who followed him also had no money. Guy Scott, Michael's first disciple in the cause of the Patriotic Front, was also not a rich man. They didn't have money, but they had something more important than money. They had the commitment and a political message that resonated very well with the great masses of our people.
However, this is not to say that money is not important in the operations and organisation of our political parties. All our political parties need money if they are to survive for a long time. The Patriotic Front cannot continue to operate in the manner it did over the last ten years. To institutionalise itself, the party needs money. But this money is not going to come from one rich individual or a small group of people with very deep pockets.
It will need the financial support of all its members and supporters, of all those who share its vision or goals. And above all, it will need to get into business and make its own money. This will not be an easy undertaking. If our political parties have serious difficulties mobilising support during elections, they will even have more challenges trying to run businesses.
But there is no other sensible alternative to this. For the Patriotic Front, as a party in government, if it doesn't move quickly and start establishing a sound financial base to support its political activities, it will soon start doing what its secretary general, Wynter Kabimba, says they don't want to do.
Desperation may creep in as their hold on power starts to be threatened. And this desperation may make them do desperate things - steal public funds, extort money from desperate and corrupt businessmen.
It is good that the Patriotic Front is fully aware of these challenges and dangers and it is seeking ways to make itself self-reliant. There are many things a political party can do to raise money. Firstly, the members have to make a contribution or cease to be members.
Membership of any organisation gives one rights and obligations or duties. It is the duty of every party member to make a contribution to the well-being of their political party. Reliance on contributions from one rich leader has proved disastrous for some of our political parties that have gone that route.
This does not only endanger the future of the party when that rich leader leaves or ceases to be rich, it also threatens and indeed weakens intra-party democracy. It is said that he who pays the piper calls the tune. In political terms, it can be said that he who finances a party decides its policies and direction.
One can influence a political party without being its sole financier. Look at Michael, no one can deny his influence or mark on the Patriotic Front. But this does not come from money. It is something that comes from having a vision, a commitment, a political skill and the ability to lead. This is the way things should be.
Controlling a party because one is putting in more money doesn't lead the party and its financier anywhere. And we have a few examples now in our country. The political party that led our independence struggle was not a product of money from a few rich individuals. The key leaders of UNIP, including comrade KK, had no money.
But they had something very important in abundance - a revolutionary spirit. With that spirit, they were able to mobilise the masses of our people to make a contribution. The MMD itself was not started with contributions from a few rich men.
Ordinary Zambians put in their own sweat equity to enable MMD mobilise enough support and win the October 1991 multi party elections.
There were other initiatives after the MMD at forming political parties but most of them failed because they were anchored on the financial resources of those who founded them. A good example of this is the National Party under the leadership of Baldwin Nkumbula.
As soon as Baldwin's finances dried up, so was his leadership of that party. We also had ZADECO of Dean Mung'omba. The party appeared to have been doing well when Dean had a lot of money. When that money finished, the political fortunes also disappeared. We have no doubt UPND is headed for a similar experience.
Hakainde Hichilema will not be able to fund this political party for long, even if he wants to, because he simply doesn't have that kind of resources to sustain this party for decades on end. This will also happen to Elias Chipimo's NAREP. As long as these political parties continue to depend on the pockets of those who lead them for survival, they are headed for disappointment, for sad endings.
The initiatives Wynter is talking about deserve the attention of all our political parties. Every one of our political parties need to pay special attention to the establishment of a sound financial base. It is only in this way that we will have strong and long lasting political parties.
We cannot continue with having political parties that die off with the demise of their founders and financiers, or that die off as soon as they leave government because the umbilical cord that enabled them to feed on government resources has been cut.
What is needed and what can guarantee the survival and prosperity of our political parties is self-reliance through business investments. Of course, it is much easier for the political party in power to do this than those in the opposition. A political party in power usually has more supporters, more fathers to look after it.
It is said that defeat is an orphan and victory has many fathers. This being the case, the Patriotic Front stands in a better position today than other political parties when it comes to mobilising financial resources. But it shouldn't do what the MMD did or used to do.
A lot of money used to come the MMD's way from all sorts of sources. But that money was never used in an efficient, effective, orderly and prudent manner. It was actually misused, misapplied, mismanaged and misappropriated.
It went into the pockets of individuals instead of the party coffers. And this may explain why Rupiah Banda, as leader of the MMD, had more money than the party itself. This also may explain why small but influential party functionaries like William Banda were becoming richer when the party was becoming poorer.
Today, the MMD is so broke that it could not even manage to hold an extra-ordinary party convention. But its key leaders have so much money. This is the money that should have been in the coffers of the party. Today, MMD has nothing to give and those who used to receive from it are moving away to greener pastures, to where they think the living is easier.
This reminds us of a Luyana saying; "Sikalamunanga sametu sa waba siliametu sa yumbiwa kale" (meaning, a basket of fruits is only of value when it has fruits in it, immediately the fruits are finished it is thrown away). This is what is happening to the MMD today. And this is what happened to UNIP yesterday. This is what also may happen to the Patriotic Front tomorrow if it doesn't go the path Wynter is suggesting.
However, we have to bear in mind that the Patriotic Front in business may be open to more corruption than it may be outside business. Wynter says the party's business ventures will be competing for government contracts with other enterprises.
Yes, they have every right to do so, they should be entitled to government business like any other business enterprise. But they are not in the same position with any other business as far as government contracts are concerned because they are the ones in control of government. It is their functionaries who are occupying key government institutions that control government business. The challenge for them will be to show that they are not favoured.
It will not be enough for them to say they are getting government business on a level playing field with others, they have to be seen to be doing so. But this shouldn't stop them from getting into business. Moreover, not all business is with the government. This approach to party organisation needs to be supported, not only for the Patriotic Front but for all our political parties.
This will help not only to financially sustain our political parties, it will also help them to improve their organisation and management and to clarify what they stand for in their vision. To be supported financially and otherwise, our political parties have to be seen to stand for something that people can easily identify with and commit themselves to.
This is the only way our political parties can build good pools of genuine supporters who won't desert them in defeats, in setbacks or in declining politicalfortunes. This cannot be achieved through extortion or intimidation or corrupt business deals. It can only come from the freely given support of the people.
Extortions and intimidations breed resentment, hatred and contempt. It is easy for the party in power to extort, intimidate people and start to believe that they are freely supporting them. The real test comes when their hold on power is lost. This is the situation MMD is in today.
And it is good that Wynter knows what path leads to this destination and the Patriotic Front is setting its compass in a direction that tries to avoid such a destination.
Labels: PARTIES, POLITICS
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Political parties that fail to adapt die
By The Post
Fri 20 Apr. 2012, 12:00 CAT
POLITICAL parties have a very important role to play. And a lot of attention needs to be devoted to their organisation and development. For political parties to live long and be of value to society, they need to have objectives that go beyond putting in office, putting in State House their founders.There is something seriously worrying about the nature and organisation of most of our political parties, if not all. It would seem most of our political parties are founded with the sole objective of putting their founders in State House. And when that fails, they disintegrate or go into oblivion.
To avoid this, there is need to institutionalise the operations and organisation of our political parties so that they start to have a life that is beyond and that is separate from their founders.
If this is done, we will have political parties that live for a very short time because they were nothing but special purpose vehicles for getting into office their founders.
There is need to strengthen intra-party democracy so that our political parties are not dominated by one individual with the largest political clout or the deepest pockets. The danger of this is that when the most popular element leading the party loses an election or dies, the party disintegrates because everything was organised and anchored on that person.
There is also the danger of the party being dependent on the finances of one person, the person leading it. When the pockets of that person dry up, the party dies unless there is another financier to take it up and lead it.
This is what has affected the progress of our political parties to varying degrees. UNIP was so dependent for its survival on the prestige and popularity enjoyed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda. After he lost elections in 1991 and could not re-contest in 1996, the party, in electoral terms, went into oblivion.
Despite having relatively more assets than other political parties, 20 years after being kicked out of office, UNIP today doesn't have a single member of parliament. Riding on the prestige of Dr Kaunda, his son, Tilyenji, took over the leadership of the party. But despite continued poor performance in elections, he has continued to hold on to the leadership of the party, come what may.
Tilyenji has decimated the party to a point where it today harbours no hope of a reversal of political fortunes. UNIP survives today because of the assets it has that the leadership is clinging to. UNIP today only exists for those who are enjoying the benefits of its assets.
In the minds and lives of our people, UNIP is dead. What has killed it? In our view, UNIP's poor performance or showing in elections is a result of its poor organisation and lack of adequate intra-party democracy which made it lose its militancy and capacity to mobilise.
Another political party that deserves analysis is the UPND. This was a party that was organised around one capable and popular individual, Anderson Mazoka, with the objective of making him president of the Republic.
When that failed and with his death, UPND started to experience seriously declining political fortunes or popularity. UPND was taken over by a person with no political clout and experience but one who was believed to have more money than his colleagues.
Today, UPND cannot claim to be a national political party; it has been reduced to a regional party supported mainly by members of its leaders' tribe, with very little support elsewhere. UPND is not showing any signs of rejuvenation or revival. This message is the same year after year, with its leader crying about his rights to also govern.
The party doesn't seem to be able to connect with the broad masses as a result of its narrow agenda. In three elections, UPND has been on the defensive, trying to justify why its leader should be president also instead of propagating a clear message that appeals to all Zambians.
Today, UNIP and UPND are joined by MMD. For 20 years, MMD survived on being parasitic to the state. It used government money and resources to buy votes and patronage. It got the support of those who benefitted from it being in power.
But that support base was reducing every year and eventually, things caught up with it. MMD was booted out of office last year by a political party with far much less resources than itself.
The PF won last year's elections on the basis of the popularity of its leader Michael Sata and on the broad support it got from a coalition of all the forces in the country that wanted change. And worse for UPND, it got itself into an electoral alliance with the MMD at its worst.
This was in a clearly stated belief of its leadership that no single opposition political party would defeat the MMD on its own. This demonstrated the political inexperience of the UPND leadership and its inability to read the mood in the nation.
PF won on its own to the total disbelief of the UPND and MMD leadership. And today, the UPND is caught by the MMD virus. If the cure is not found quickly, both of them are headed into oblivion. Changes are needed in both MMD and UPND. They need to reorganise themselves in terms of leadership and in terms of political direction.
Political parties should continue to change, adapt without losing their core values or principles. Political parties that do not change die. We hope this will not be the case for UPND and MMD as it seems to be the case for UNIP today. But there are also lessons for PF in all this.
If PF is not going to quickly move away from total reliance on Michael and his popularity, the party is going to face similar problems soon. It will survive as long as Michael is President of the Republic. But it will not cope with the challenges that will arise as soon as Michael is no longer the party leader.
And there is no need to pretend and behave as if Michael is going to be at the helm of PF forever. At most, Michael can only lead the PF for another nine years - and that is if he continues to be President after the next elections.
If he doesn't continue to be the President in 2016, the PF would have to find another leader before this time who is as popular or even more popular than Michael. The question is: what are the prospects for this? Is PF sufficiently institutionalising itself to survive the departure of Michael from its leadership?
A lot of effort will be required to institutionalise PF and make it less dependent on Michael because this is his party and it represents his vision. It is difficult to imagine how PF will be without Michael and without Guy Scott, one of its co-founders.
It is therefore important for our political parties, their leaders and members to pay special attention to the issues raised by Stefan Liebich, a member of the German parliament, that political parties should learn the art of survival in the opposition after losing elections.
The issues they have raised are important not only for the survival of our political parties but also for the development of our multi-party democracy.
We need experienced political parties. We cannot continue to have new political parties running the country at every turn. Let's pay more attention to the organisation of our political parties. We cannot have a thriving multi-party democracy without thriving political parties.
Labels: OPPOSITION, PARTIES, PF, POLITICS, TILYENJI KAUNDA, UNIP, UPND
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If my action to de-register MMD is found to be improper, I will resign my position-Andeleki
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, March 18, 2012, 11:38 am
CHIEF Registrar of Societies Clement Andeleki says his de-registration of the MMD has nothing to do with politics. Mr Andeleki shot to fame or infamy in the eyes of the MMD when he announced that he had de-registered the former ruling party for failing to meet annual returns amounting to K380 million, an action the opposition party is hotly contesting after obtaining a stay from the High Court.
And MMD acting president Michael Mabenga says the MMD will continue as an opposition party, offering checks and balances to the Patriotic Front government in the hope of bouncing back to power in 2016.
Featuring on Cross Fire Blog Radio monitored on Zambezi Radio in Livingstone yesterday, Mr Andeleki said despite suffering persecution at the hands of the MMD government, his action to de-register the party was purely in the public interest and that he will resign if that is proved to the contrary.
“This action of the MMD in court will give us a better opportunity, especially my office. I have already offered that if my action was improper, like I did at police, I would even quit my position because this is an issue which has gone over and over to the extent that no reasonable person who is paid by the people can accept to continue to serve like that,” he said.
Mr Andeleki said he suffered persecution from the MMD government after giving a permit to an opposition political party while working as officer-in-charge at Matero police station in 2006 to hold a rally at which it was alleged a political leader made defamatory remarks against then President Levy Mwanawasa.
He said despite the persecution, he has no business settling scores with the previous regime as he is a professional civil servant.
Mr Andeleki said he is not a political appointee.
He said though his office has been co-operating with political parties and other organisations, it will not allow its authority to be undermined by impunity.
Mr Andeleki said he is satisfied with other political parties’ compliance with the law governing organisations and that the public is free to visit his office and check their records.
He said he was taken aback by Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president James Banda’s comment in the press recently that his move to de-register the MMD was excessive and improper.
Mr Andeleki said Mr Banda did not have enough details for him to comment the way he did.
“It quite struck me that the LAZ president could comment like that. The issue is that he did not have sufficient details. Whether you’re a journalist, a lawyer or whatever you’re, it’s very important that you gather your facts correctly so that you do not mislead yourself and the people in the country. He missed a lot of things you know,” Mr Andeleki said.
He said his was a well thought-out action as his office had done what it could to engage the former ruling party over the money it owes the government in returns.
Speaking earlier on the programme, Mr Mabenga said the MMD is looking forward to returning into power in 2016.
Mr Mabenga said the opposition party is now putting its house in order.
“We’re discussing matters, thinking hard on how to see to it that the party continues to raise money for the convention and re-organisation of the party,” he said.
Mr Mabenga said the MMD is still trying to establish what could have led to its defeat in the tripartite elections last year and that people outside the party are free to help it in that regard.
He said the purpose of the undertaking is for the party to draw lessons to help it do well in future elections.
Mr Mabenga urged MMD members to be patient and believe in the party’s ideals.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Labels: MMD, PARTIES
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Decision to de-register and nullify MMD parliamentary seats is irresponsible-LAZ
TIME PUBLISHED - Thursday, March 15, 2012, 8:08 pm
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has said that the registrar of societies has no powers to nullify any parliamentary seat. LAZ President, James Banda, said that the decision to deregister and nullify MMD parliamentary seats was rushed, irresponsible and not in the public interest.
Mr. Banda said that the registrar’s decision was excessive. He said that discretionary power granted to the registrar of society does not make it mandatory for him to de-register an erring organization.
Mr. Banda said that such powers must be used in public interest. He noted that MMD is the largest opposition political party with more than fifty parliamentary seats and that de-registering it is not inpublic interest as it undermines democracy.
Mr. Banda added that the registrar could have referred the matter to the Attorney General to treat any alleged amount due from MMD as a debt and commence proceedings for the recovery of the said money owing..
Meanwhile, the former ruling Party has sought legal redress against the de-registration. MMD Secretary General Major Richard Kachingwe through party lawyers Hobday Kabwe and George Kunda has asked the high court to declare its deregistration null and void.
In its application for leave to apply for judicial review against the registrar of societies’ move to de-register it, the MMD through its lawyers is asking the high court to declare as illegal and unreasonable the nullification of its 53 parliamentary seats.
The MMD is seeking judicial review of the Registrar of societies’ move to de-register it, charging that it has duly paid all statutory obligations and has filed the requisite returns and notices as required under the societies act.
They have further asked the high court to quash the said decision and prohibit the registrar of society from levying illegal charges on the party. The MMD has since declared a dispute with the registrar of societies regarding the payment of statutory fees for its branches.
The party further claims that by effecting the cancellation and nullification of the 53 MMD parliamentary seats the registrar of societies amounts to usurping the powers if the high court which is the competent forum to nullify the election of an MP.
The MMD also claims that there is no legal requirement under the societies act for a political party which is registered at national level to register branches separately.
And Movement for Multiparty Democracy-MMD National Chairperson for Women Affairs Catharine Namugala has threatened that women in the beleaguered party countrywide will stage a naked protest on Saturday should the Registrar of Societies fail to heed the party’s call to rescind the decision.
Speaking soon after former President Rupiah Banda’s Press conference held at his residence near State Lodge in Lusaka today, Ms. Namugala told journalist that MMD women will not sit idle and watch willful assault on Zambia’s democracy.
She alleged that Zambia’s democracy was under threat under the Patriotic Front Government and warned that MMD women were ready to go to prison in defense of the former ruling party from de-registration.
Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, JAMES BANDA, LAZ, MMD, PARTIES, POLITICS
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MMD challenges de-registration in court
TIME PUBLISHED - Thursday, March 15, 2012, 8:54 am
The spokesperson for Zambia’s main opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) said the party is legally challenging the government’s Registrar of Societies for what the party insisted was its “unlawful” de-registration.
Dora Siliya said the head of the government agency is an undisciplined government official, who is attempting to obliterate the MMD. Machinations, she said, will not work. Ms Siliya said her party has up-to-date in registration payment receipts.
“We’ve paid our returns of statutory obligations up to 13th January 2012. As such, we are a validly-registered political party. This is why we received with shock and contempt the attempt by the Registrar of Societies stating that he has de-registered the MMD for failure to pay statutory obligations,” said Siliya.
“Our lawyers have taken up this matter to get an execution of stay. However, we know that this is a step to obliterate the MMD.”
The opposition party has notified the police it will embark on a demonstration on Saturday to protest what the MMD says is political harassment by the government.
Yesterday Chief Registrar of Societies, Clement Andeleki de-registered the MMD for non compliance with the Societies Act.
The Registrar of Society maintained that the former ruling party MMD owes them over K390 million in arrears.He explained that the money is from the 42 registered braches of the MMD across the country and dates back to 1991.
He said the former ruling party who registered 43 branches has only been paying for its Headquarters in Lusaka while neglecting other branches.
However Ms.Siliya said that plans to decimate the main opposition will not work insisting that members of the MMD will not allow the party to be bullied into submission.
“We governed this country using the rule of law and we would be the last one not to be able to follow the law. So, we are confident that this attempt will be treated with the contempt it deserves,” said Siliya. “It’s an attempt to mutilate democracy by one person trying to undermine the interests of 13 million Zambians.”
Siliya said the government agency failed to notify her party before announcing its “illegally premature” decision to de-register the MMD. She insists her party has 21 days to appeal the decision following a notice of non-compliance.
“Our bone of contention is, even if the Registrar of Societies felt there was something we hadn’t done, at least he should have notified us. We got no notice at all,” said Siliya.
“All we saw were threats in the paper and finally a copy of a press briefing, not even a letter to the party where this undisciplined government official got as far as saying he has, with immediate effect, declared the MMD 53 seats in parliament vacant.”
Siliya said the MMD cannot be destroyed by what she says is an overzealous government official’s assault on democracy.
Labels: DORA SILIYA, MMD, PARTIES, POLITICS
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Chief Registrar of societies de-registers MMD despite droping the idea last week
TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 2:10 pm
The Movement for Multi Party Democracy-MMD has been de-registered by the Registrar of Societies for non compliance with the Societies Act. Chief Registrar of Societies, Clement Andeleki says
this means the former ruling party ceases to operate as a political party in Zambia and it has lost all the fifty three seats in parliament.Mr. Andeleki says the action arises from the non payment of statutorily fees amounting over three hundred and ninety million Kwacha. He made the announcement at a press briefing at the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters this morning.
Mr. Andeleki says the decision has been taken after several reminders from the time the MMD was in government.
And Mr Andeleki says he will be writing to the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini to inform him about the de-registration of the MMD.
He has warned erring registered organisations, Churches, NGOs and political parties to be legally compliant with the Societies Act if they are to continue operating in Zambia.
Last week the Registrar of Societies rescinded the decision to de-register the MMD in the interest of good governance and democracy.
The MMD had engaged Hobday Kabwe & Company to help resolve the issue of close to K400 million in outstanding arrears from annual returns.
Registrar of Societies, Clement Andeleki, said that Mr Kabwe had requested his office to see how best they could resolve the arrears which have accumulated since 1993.
“I have been approached by several stakeholders involved in good governance and democracy not to deregister the party as this would be an injury to the young democracy and the economy of the country more especially that we recently held elections,” he said.
He said in the interest of good governance and in order to prevent the declaration of 55 parliamentary seats vacant, his office would discuss other ways through which the K390 million could be settled.
“I have been approached by several stakeholders involved in good governance and democracy not to deregister the party as this would be an injury to the young democracy and the economy of the country more especially that we recently held elections,” he said.
He said the move was not politically motivated but was a requirement for the party to remit annual returns.
ZNBC
Labels: MMD, PARTIES, POLITICS
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MMD to protest de-registration
By Kombe Chimpinde and Allan Mulenga
Thu 15 Mar. 2012, 13:00 CAT
OPPOSITION MMD members are this Saturday planning to demonstrate against the de-registration of the party. And Dora Siliya says the de-registration of MMD is an assault to democracy in the country.
But Chief Registrar of Societies Clement Andeleki said the drastic decision had been taken as a great exception by his office to send a strong signal to erring registered societies in Zambia, that non compliance with the societies Act would attract severe punitive measures.
However, Brebner Changala, a Lusaka resident, has questioned Andeleki's credibility.
The Registrar of Societies yesterday de-registered the MMD, a decision which the former ruling party has vowed to contest in the courts of law.
Andeleki's actions means the MMD ceases to operate as a political party in Zambia.
Announcing the de-registration at a briefing at the Ministry of Home Affairs headquarters yesterday, Andeleki said that the cancellation of registration of the 21-year-old party arose from among other reasons, non-payment of statutory fees totalling K390,980,000.
"As Chief Registrar of Societies for the Republic of Zambia, I have this 14th day of March, 2012 in exercise of the powers vested in me by section 13 (2) of the societies Act; Chapter 119 of the Laws of Zambia and regulations therein, cancelled the registration of the Movement of Multi-Party Democracy for non-compliance with the societies Act," Andeleki said.
"By copy of this order signed by my hand this day, the Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) ceases to operate as a political party in the Republic of Zambia."
Andeleki disclosed that the action had also been taken after repeated reminders and warnings served on the party's executive.
"Among the many reminders served on the de-registered political party include notice of annual returns and statutory fees and changes in form of office bearers dated 16th November 1993 signed by then C.M.D. Zulu, Registrar of Societies then," he said.
"If it is a person, it means that is death unless the MMD contests the decision and the court rules otherwise. Other notices of default include that dated 8th May, 2000 signed by Mr. R. Sakala Registrar of Societies then and other reminders of default dated 2nd February, 2007 signed by a Mr. Jones J. Mwelwa, registrar of societies then among many other reminders."
He added that several other reminders including the latest one signed by himself on December 27, 2011 and February 21, 2012 respectively, requesting them to settle the outstanding debt but to no avail.
"Instead of paying the bill, the MMD opted to engage Messrs Hobday Kabwe and Company to receive correspondences on their behalf that have equally not facilitated settlement of the said sum.
Andeleki said the effect of the decision was to nullify 53 seats in Parliament held by members of the party.
"I shall in view of this decision be informing the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini to take note of this development. Further I wish to send a strong warning to erring registered organisations, churches, non-governmental organisations, political parties and other organisations to be legally compliant," said Andeleki.
But the MMD National Executive Council (NEC), whose members were locked up in a meeting at the time of the announcement, vowed that the party would contest the matter.
Nyangu has since written to the Inspector General of Police informing her of the MMD's intention to hold a peaceful countrywide demonstration on Saturday.
He stated in a letter yesterday that the protest was against the decision by the Registrar of Societies to deregister the MMD.
And MMD elections chairperson Gabriel Numulambe said that the party's legal team was studying the matter and that necessary action would be taken.
Most members said the de-registration was illegal and that Andeleki had no powers to nullify parliamentary seats.
Briefing the press at Lusaka's Golf view Hotel yesterday, Siliya said the decision to de-register the party was politically motivated.
"The MMD as you are aware were having the usual NEC meeting, but first on the agenda today and the statement I want to give to the press is that we have been informed today that the Registrar of Societies has de-registered the MMD, citing among other things that the MMD owes close to K400 million. What we want to put on record is that this really is just a political move and it is very saddening that a government official wants to involve themselves in politics and they want to assault democracy in this country by attempting to de-register a big opposition party such as the MMD," she said.
Siliya claimed that there had not been any correspondence between the party secretariat and the Registrar of Societies over the non-payment of K400 million.
"Our records show that as recent as January 13th this year, we paid our statutory obligations. We have the official receipts. So it is very saddening that a government official in the Registrar of Societies wants to assault democracy in this country and go out of his mandate and state that he has nullified the 53 seats that belong to the MMD?" she asked.
Siliya however said the party would seek judicial review over the matter.
"It is a very sad day for Zambia indeed and of course we have taken steps immediately. Our team of lawyers being led by our legal chairperson in the NEC, honourable George Kunda will be filing documents in the courts to ensure that we have the judicial review of this decision which is unprecedented and I believe that it is very shameful to every Zambian that would like to see the growth of democracy in this country, because for democracy to continue to flourish, there must be checks and balances provided to the PF government," she said.
Siliya said the MMD had always stood firm in providing checks and balances to the PF government.
"MMD has always stood ready after losing elections, appreciating that we participated in a game where there would be a winner and a loser and we lost and we have carried forward to be a reasonable opposition, so that we can speak on behalf of the Zambians and provide the checks and balances to the PF government. Truly we are extremely disappointed with the Registrar of Societies because we have no knowledge of some of the issues he had raised. In fact our secretariat kept receiving phone calls from the media that the Registrar of Societies was threatening to de-register MMD," she said.
And Siliya said the MMD would not appeal to the High Court the nullification of the Livingstone Central parliamentary seat.
"The seat where we believe we have able member of parliament honourable Richard Taima and the party together with honourable Taima has made a decision that we are going to appeal this seat. However for the seat in Livingstone, our strategic decision is that actually we should participate in a by-election and we are currently looking for the candidate," she said.
Siliya said the opportunity for the gentleman that just lost had ended and that his support and loyalty to the party was in question.
"And it was for that reason that the party believes and feels that we wish to go for a by-election and we feel very good about the Livingstone seat," said Siliya.
And Changala of Kabwata area claimed that as a civil servant Andeleki was not supposed to make political pronouncements.
"I want to know when he was appointed Registrar. When did he become the Registrar? Where was he before he became the Registrar? Is he the same Andeleki who used to appear before the court of law and as a lawyer when he was a law student? Has he ever worked for NIPA? I am asking those questions. It is the question of credibility. I am asking the credibility of the registrar. If he can clear his name, is he the same one who forged a letter on a headed paper at State House purporting to have been written by late president Levy Mwanawasa in 2006? Is he the same one who was arrested with President Michael Sata?" he asked.
Changala said the deregistration of the MMD was a big blow to democracy.
"It is a blow to democracy and a serious one because this is historic. It has never happened. It is the first time I hear a civil servant addressing a press conference to make major pronouncements, pushing aside the Minister of Home Affairs and all those that are related to his functions. Because the Registrar of Societies is a portfolio under the home affairs directly connected to Cabinet Office. What he has done as a civil servant has got a political tone," said Changala.
And Pastor Nevers Mumba says the action by the PF government to de-register the MMD was an attempt to turn the country into a one-party state.
Pastor Mumba, who is one of the MMD presidential candidates, told journalists yesterday that it had become clear that the PF had embarked on disabling the opposition parties so that Zambia could attain a mono-kind of political system.
"I need to confirm that if they intend to fire democracy with immediate effect, it is not going to work. The Zambian people can't entertain a mono-kind of political system," he said.
Pastor Mumba said even lack of non-payment of statutory obligations by the party could not warrant such an action.
"We are aware that this government has continued to distabilise families, fire people. This is embarrassing to the PF government and paints a bad picture to the international community."
Pastor Mumba said he was aware of the PF's manoeuvres to disable the opposition political parties with a view of creating a one-party state.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DORA SILIYA, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA, PARTIES
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How democratic are our political parties?
By The Post
Sat 30 Oct. 2010, 08:50 CAT
The observations made by Fr Patrick Chibuye, of Mpika Catholic Diocese, on the state of democracy within our political parties deserve favourable considerations.
Our political parties have a fundamental and indispensable role in the governance of our country. There are, however, a number of institutional guarantees that our political parties will have to fulfill if they are to effectively meet our expectations from them. And one such institutional requirement is intra or inner-party democracy.
Our political parties are said to be the building blocks of our democracy. And indeed if they are truly the building blocks of our democracy, then they cannot afford not to be democratic themselves for to do so will be a contradiction both in terms and in values. This very important institutional dimension is, however, lacking in most of, if not all, our political parties. As such, any initiative to address this democratic deficit will be both noble and pertinent.
Our political parties have a fundamental and indispensable niche in the governance of our country. Indeed, so fundamental are our political parties to the operation of our politics that their role and significance are often taken for granted. As a matter of fact, our democracy is inconceivable without political parties, hence we talk of multi-party democracy.
Internal democracy within our political parties enhances a necessary viable democratic culture within our political parties as well as society at large. Furthermore, democratic procedures may have positive effects on the representation of ideas of the electorate and may strengthen our political parties by attracting new members and creating space for fresh ideas. And democratic internal procedures may provide necessary vertical linkages between different deliberating spheres, as well as a horizontal linkage between competing issues within our political parties.
Of course in advocating for increased intra-party democracy, we are not calling for uniformity within all our political parties. This will be wrong because no one-size-fits-all approach should be adopted. We say this because the benefits of intra-party democratisation depend on many things and as such different methods may be appropriate for different parties. And if wrong methods are used by a political party to pursue intra-party democracy, internal unity within our political parties may be threatened.
But whatever methods are used, they must result in more improved and acceptable ways of choosing leaders for the party in a more free and fair way. And they should also increase the participation of all members in the affairs of the party. Internal democracy should reduce the dominance of elites, non-competitive leadership elections, discriminatory selection of candidates and clientelism.
We see increased participation of all members to be the central element of intra-party democracy. Representation of ideas of various groups within a political party can often be better guaranteed by stimulating participation than by the sheer organisation of party elections. We say this because this participation involves the influence of rank and file members on the party’s policies, as well as representation at party activities and in party bodies. In most of our political parties, if not all, continuous or at least regular consultation of grassroot members is not present, which poses major threats to the representative relations between party leaders and members. Democratic policy making should involve a participative process of policy development in forums, debates, consultation meetings and other platforms and should decentralize the mandate of decision making to the rank and file of the political party.
Clearly, a proper measure of democracy should be put into effect in all our political parties. Once this is done, unity will be achieved in our political parties and the militancy will be greatly increased. If this is done, our political parties will be able to achieve more even with their poor or very limited financial resources. Members should be free to hold meetings and to speak out; trivial formalities should be done away with; and the party accounts should be open for all to inspect. Our political parties need democracy just as much as the whole nation needs it.
With the present challenges and problems facing our country, all leading bodies, members and cadres of all our political parties should give the fullest expression to their initiatives. These initiatives must be demonstrated concretely in the ability of the leading bodies, the cadres and the party rank and file to work creatively, in their readiness to assume responsibility, in the exuberant vigour they show in their work, in their courage and ability to raise questions, voice opinions and criticise defects, and in the comradely supervision that should be maintained over the leading bodies and the leading cadres.
But the exercise of such initiative depends on the spread of democracy in party life. It cannot be brought into play if there is not enough democracy in party life. Only in an atmosphere of democracy can large numbers of people be brought forward.
Anyone should be allowed to speak out, whoever he may be, so long as he does not make malicious attacks, and it does not matter if he says something wrong. Leaders at all levels have the duty to listen to others. Here, two principles must be observed: say all you know and say it without reserve; don’t blame the speaker but take his words as a warning. Unless the principle of “don’t blame the speaker” is observed genuinely and not falsely, the result will not be “say all you know and say it without reserve”.
Education in democracy must be carried on within all our political parties so that their members can understand the meaning of democratic life and the way in which democracy should be put into practice. Only in this way can we really extend democracy within our political parties and at the same time avoid ultra-democracy and the laissez-faire which destroys discipline. Inner-party democracy is meant to strengthen discipline and increase militancy, not to weaken them.
Arrogance, the airs of a self-styled hero usually creep into our political parties after some electoral victories. Flattery of the leaders starts to grow within the party. There is need to guard against such a situation.
Many things may become baggage, may become encumbrances, if we cling to them blindly and uncritically. Having made mistakes, you may feel that, come what may, you are saddled with them and so become dispirited: if you have not made mistakes, you may feel that you are free from error and so become conceited. All such things become encumbrances or baggage if there is no critical awareness.
Some party leaders have become arrogant and high handed in their behaviour towards the members and cadres of their political parties, always blaming others but never themselves, always seeing their own achievements but never their shortcomings and always welcoming flattery but never criticism. Our political parties must endeavour to eradicate these defects.
There is need for the leadership of our political parties to be fair and kind to other members of their parties, especially those who are competing with them for leadership positions within the party. Rough handling and marginalisation of other outstanding members will always leave a strong legacy of bitterness and resentment - the walking wounded. This will cultivate tendencies towards extensive defensivism, and also to habits of counterfactionalism in some cases, with party cadres running the danger of falling excessively into the same factional politics - of palace manoeuvres and electoral putsches. There are also some worrying signs in almost all our political parties of the dangers of disciplinary measures being used to settle political differences. The principal cause of all this is careerism, patronage and ambition. And this is much more so in the ruling party. But this is not to say the opposition political parties are immune from it. All need to be extremely vigilant about the grave dangers of abuse of their parties and their resources for careerist and patronage purposes.
And as we have repeatedly stated, experience has repeatedly shown that a political party divided into hostile groups loses its militancy. Protracted inner-party strife inevitably results in party members’ concentration on discords. The party becomes distracted from political struggle and day-to-day work among the masses and loses its influence. The cure for all this is effective intra or inner party democracy.
Labels: DEMOCRACY, PARTIES, PATRICK CHIBUYE
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ANC stalls over public funding of parties
JUDITH FEBRUARY & RICHARD CALLAND - May 14 2010 16:48
Certain addictions are hard to beat. The ANC looks no closer to exiting the Chancellor House deal now than it did a few weeks ago. At least two years have passed since then-secretary general of the ruling party, Kgalema Motlanthe, publicly conceded that Chancellor House is a "front company" used by the ANC to raise money.
Chancellor House has benefited, through its stake in Hitachi Africa, from the contracts to supply boilers to the new Medupi and Khusile power stations. Although Barbara Hogan, the minister of public enterprises, called for a quick exit in a recent speech to the National Assembly, there is no unanimity within the party on how to deal with the thorny issue.
If it is genuinely concerned about the ethics of the ruling party gaining millions indirectly from a World Bank loan, why does it not simply sell its shares? Instead, ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa seems unable to get past opposition from the craven right wing of the ANC and from individuals such as Chancellor House chairperson Popo Molefe.
South Africa's democracy is suffering from the absence of transparency and a complete lack of regulation of private funding, despite being a signatory to the African Union convention on corruption, which includes a provision requiring national regulation based on the principle of transparency.
Given the ruling party's intransigence, it seems time to contextualise the problem yet again and try to map solutions. There seem to be three main dimensions to the challenge.
First, the demand side: political parties need money to operate.
Strong democracies require healthy political parties. In turn political parties require resources to sustain and operate a basic party structure, to contest elections and to contribute to policy debate. Therefore it is probably unrealistic to suggest an outright ban on private donations.
But limits on expenditure may be desirable. Many donors are tired of seeing their donations spent on the poster "arms race" that precedes every election. They would rather see their money being spent on creating real capacity in political parties. In the Netherlands, for instance, half the public funding must go towards policy institutes attached to each party.
Second, there is the supply side. Corporate donors in particular are increasingly vexed by the choice they face. Some have fled from the scene, concerned that the funding environment is a minefield in which their reputations can only be harmed.
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Others have taken the opposite view, pumping secret donations to the ruling party to oil the tender wheels. In between, a small minority of companies have taken the open road, declaring their donations, but invariably making them on the basis of the current proportional representation within the National Assembly — which only really serves to cement the status quo.
The third dimension is the public one: there is already substantial public funding of political parties — about R70-million in the current financial year. There have been hesitant calls for an increase in this figure from across the political spectrum. Some believe that it will result in less dependence on either corporate or dodgy donors. Minority parties hope that it will increase the overall envelope and therefore heighten their ability to compete.
Five years ago Idasa decided against appealing the decision of the Cape High Court that political parties are entirely private associations, whose sources of funding are not subject to disclosure in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act. We did so on the basis of the ruling by the court that legislation initiated in Parliament, rather than litigation, was a more appropriate mechanism to address the issue of regulating political donations.
Idasa also took the ANC at its word when it stated in court papers that it was committed to the initiation and passage of such legislation in Parliament. We had underestimated the depth of the ANC's addiction to secret, dodgy funding and the inability and unwillingness of its leadership to take any steps to clean up its act.
Subsequent to that, at the ANC's Polokwane conference in 2007, the party resolved to "champion the introduction of a comprehensive system of public funding of representative political parties … as part of strengthening the tenets of our new democracy. This should include putting in place an effective regulatory architecture for private funding of political parties … The incoming NEC must urgently develop guidelines and policy on public and private funding, including how to regulate investment vehicles."
Yet, since then, nothing. Despite the Independent Democrats' Lance Greyling leading a brave charge, Parliament as an institution has shown itself to be deaf to his requests for a debate on the issue, despite parliamentary rule 103, which states that a member "may request the Speaker to place a matter of public importance on the Order paper for discussion".
Furthermore, Greyling's requests for an ad hoc committee have also fallen on fallow ground despite there being precedent for Parliament setting up ad hoc committees on, for example, the question of "service-delivery protests".
The Democratic Alliance has submitted a private members' Bill that tries to tackle a few of the challenges of regulation, though its focus is far too narrow.
The ANC under Jacob Zuma has promised that it will do things differently. If it is serious about curbing the corrosive impact of money on our political system, it will start by introducing legislation in Parliament that regulates private funding to political parties.
Although legislation alone can never be a panacea for all ills, unless a start is made to creating an environment for transparency in political party fundraising, we will have no guarantee that the public interest has not been eclipsed by the interests of political parties eagerly lining their coffers.
Judith February heads Idasa's Political Information and Monitoring Service. Richard Calland is associate professor of public law at UCT
Labels: ANC, ELECTIONS, PARTIES
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Formation of new political party doesn’t make sense, UNZA lecturer
By Namatama Mundia
Sat 06 Mar. 2010, 03:10 CAT
IT does not make any political sense to form another political party at this point in time, University of Zambia political and administrative studies lecturer Phineas Bbaala has said.
Commenting on the newly-founded National Restoration Party (NAREP) yesterday, Bbaala said forming a political party at this time did not make sense but that the new party should have studied the ideologies of already-existing parties to see where they fit in.
“The problem is we don’t have serious ideological divide between and among political players because if we had a clear ideological divide, it could have been clear for a person who wants to start a new political party,” he said.
Bbaala said the founders of NAREP should have studied the positives of existing ideologies before forming a new party.
“If those parties don’t represent your ideologies, that’s the only time you can form a political party,” he said.
Bbaala however, said Zambians should not expect any surprises from NAREP.
He added that if NAREP’s aim was to form government next year, then they have not done a right thing.
“And they NAREP will not go anywhere if they have been sponsored by another political party because the sponsor will not want a new party to become popular than them,” Bbaala said.
He added that NAREP was not going anywhere when the pendulum was between the PF-UPND pact and the MMD.
“I don’t think there is another political party or group that can perform better than the MMD and the PF-UPND pact, those colleagues should have studied the manifestos of MMD, PF or UPND and they could have found where they fit in,” he said.
Bbaala advised the NAREP founders to dissolve the party and join any of the existing parties.
Bbaala said he does not see NAREP winning any election and that they are just wasting their resources, time and energy.
“I don’t think they have resources, time and energy to go for campaigns and trail their political manifestos. The mood in the country is on MMD, PF and UPND and no other party can get that support,” said Bbaala.
Labels: PARTIES, PHINEAS BBAALA, POLITICS, UNZA
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Power hunger crippling MDC-T
Danai Mapuranga - Power hunger crippling MDC-T
Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:06:00 +0000
THE level of discontent displayed by members of the MDC-T’s UK and Ireland province is an eye opener. Distance and technology has enabled them to do what their counterparts in Zimbabwe fail to do;
voice their objections at continued victimization, flouting of democratic tenets, and other abuses by their party leadership.
The MDC-T UK and Ireland Province is an interesting case study of the power dynamics in the MDC-T party. The province has served as a focal point for many different individuals with different needs.
There are the asylum seekers for who having a membership card and referral letters is a sure way to legally reside in the UK, they are the criminals who escaped Zimbabwe and claimed persecution by the Mugabe government, they are the economic migrants, genuine members and of course the hanger-ons and relatives of prominent MDC-T officials back home. All these people have served different purposes for the MDC-T in its goal of regime change in Zimbabwe.
The problems in the Province are caused by greed and factional fighting among top officials in Zimbabwe who seek to control it as a way of gaining a foothold on the MDC-T Presidency. Time and again Executives are suspended for issues to do with financial unaccountability, insubordination, lack of leadership qualities and divisiveness and yet the true reason behind all these charges is never looked into.
MDC-T UK and Ireland Province Executives are given a free rein as long as they remit funds to Harvest House timeously and not oppose any undemocratic decisions the party back home might take.
The Tapa led executive was suspended for insubordination and bring the party into disrepute at the instigation of a rival faction. This of course was just after the Lucia Matibenga saga where the UK Province stood up against what it called “fraud by Tsvangirai and his kitchen cabinet”.
Secretary General Tendai Biti has just suspended an Executive, which was put in place by MDC-T National Chairman Lovemore Moyo led so called Tsvangirai loyalists from the Tapa led Executive who chose not to oppose the party President and petitioned to have the Tapa Executive dissolved.
Dissolving the Tapa Executive, Lovemore Moyo said, “I am saying that if you have a difference with your national leadership and if you are a disciplined cadre and you have a respect of the leadership, obviously there are channels to express your dissatisfaction, but certainly media is not the appropriate channel to attack your leadership”.
What is interesting is that the MDC-T leadership has perfected the “run and cry in front of the media tactic”. It is hypocritical of Moyo and company to fire people for the one thing they have been doing themselves.
Not only that but Moyo signaled that the MDC-T top leadership is not tolerant to anyone who opposes the way they run things and will not hesitate bring the axe on those who do. For their entire democratic stance the MDC-T top hierarchy is a cesspool of self-serving power hungry individuals.
The recent deposed Chawora Executive committed the unpardonable sin. They supported the wrong faction and seem to have been deeping their hands into the cookie jar dishing out party funds to selected MDC top officials who are in their faction and this has not gone well with the other faction back home.
Zimbabwean lawyer Julius Mutyambidzi who was a senior member in the deposed Tapa Executive said that DPM Thokozani Khupe, Parlimentary Speaker Lovemore Moyo and Ambassador designate Hebson Makuvise all received ‘gifts” from the Chawora executive out of party funds.
According to Mutyambidzi “regardless of political affiliation, the recipients of the gifts are all in public office and people of Zimbabwe would want to hear why their Speaker, Ambassador designate, etc received money where there was a clear procedural impropriety.
A short while ago, MDC-T Senator Gutu was huffing and puffing that government officials should declare their assets, incomes and gifts they receive outside their official capacities as a way of ensuring transparency. While it was obvious that Senator Gutu’s rhetoric was aimed at Zanu PF members in government, it would have been prudent if he had first swept his house before trying to clean his neighbor’s house.
The problem with MDC-T leadership is that it uses its membership to further its own political gains under the auspices of democratic behaviour.
In 2005 the National Executive Council took a decision that the party would take part in the Senatorial Elections only to have Party President undemocratically veto that decision. This led to the split of the MDC-T.
In a letter to the Zimbabwe Independent Tiny Murefu wrote that the MDC-T President had taken a dictatorial path and urged the paper to make a critical deeper analysis of what was going on in the MDC-T instead of “naively tribalizing the whole issue”.
Many in the MDC-T top hierarchy chose to look the other way as their leader disregarded provisions in his own party’s constitution and made a mockery of the notion of checks and balances that prevent wanton abuse of power. That was only the beginning of the descent of the power from a “people driven initiative” to a party with a totem.
The battle of control over the MDC-T Women’s Assembly in 2007 drew attention to the power Tsvangirai’s kitchen cabinet held.
The role of women in the MDC-T was narrowed down to rubber stampers of Tsvangirai and his cabinet. While women make up the greater number of his supporters and one would think they deserve a voice in party affairs they were denied that chance to make their own choices but were given choices.
According to Africanews’ Precious Shumba, a committee led by home affairs secretary Sam Sipepa Nkomo to enquire into the allegations was formed and it recommended that the Women’s Assembly should not be disbanded. Of course, Tsvangirai disregarded these recommendations and proceeded to fire Matibenga’s executive.
Tsvangirai has a propensity to reward those with financial muscle, lack of constitutional respect and unfair distribution of party resources to the structures. This was obvious to many before the October 2005.
Transparency and accountability are only used when its time to fire or suspend an individual or when the party leadership wants to take cheap shots at Zanu PF.
In an article titled “Blame it on the woman” Priscilla Misihairabwi – Mushonga and Trudy Stevenson wrote that “lack of consultation, lack of communication and indeed total absence of collective decision making “ were the reasons behind the original MDC split.
The two women enlightened Zimbabwe of the ordeal they suffered at the hands of fellow MDC members because of standing up to Tsvangirai and his inner circle whom they accused of turning disagreements into acts of violence.
“We were called bitches, whores, sell outs. We must be CIO or Zanu PF or involved in some Ndebele plot to overthrow the Shona,” they wrote describing what they faced for standing up to Tsvangirai’s dictatorial habits.
It is a shame when grown men sink so low as to use violence, abusive language in order to coerce women to do their bidding. It really puts things into perspective where the MDC-T is concerned when it comes to respecting the masses right to making decisions and framing public discourse on issues.
The behaviour of the MDC-T in the inclusive Government has also called into question their sincererity into making the government work.
Creating posts for relatives and cronies is just the tip of the iceberg. The party’s membership in the UK, many of whom are asylum seekers who were religiously keeping up to date with their membership and subscription in order to get letters from the MDC-T leadership that support their asylum claims have been left empty handed after their representative Hebson Makuvise flew the cope after his nephew PM Tsvangirai advised him he would be getting a diplomatic posting.
Makuvise surrendered his refugee status claiming it was now safe to return to Zimbabwe. It is because of this that PM Tsvangirai was heckled and booed by Zimbabweans in London as they felt cheated of not only their hard earned money, but because they are tired of the party leadership awarding posts to their relatives through undemocratic processes.
The allegations of the secret extension of tenure by MDC-T party President leveled against Tsvangirai in October are not the first. In 2006, Newzimbabwe, flighted a story that Tsvangirai and his advisors had published a draft constitution that gave him an unlimited term of office. The draft stated that a term limit would only be imposed on the Presidency once it assumed governing power of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
While this time the PM and his inner circle went a step further by deleting sections form their party’s constitution without following the provisions given in their party constitution it can be only accepted as a norm for these individuals.
Political analyst Eldred Masunungure commented that this move was “totally out of sync with the thrust of the MDC-T and its advocacy for good governance”.
The laughable move that the MDC-T took of attempting to consult its membership over whether or not it should stay in the inclusive Government, then when getting feedback albeit from a web poll, disregarded it and partially disengaged shows not only the immaturity of the party leadership but indicated that the leadership has no real link with its members and as such fails to make the appropriate decisions instead taking those that suit it as an elite.
As portfolio holders continue to jostle for posts in Zimbabwe they expose their inadequacies to their membership abroad and within.
The saying goes, "You cannot fool all the people all the time." It looks like the MDC-T leadership has fooled some people one too many times.
Labels: MDC, PARTIES, POLITICS
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