UPND converting MMD structures - Mulusa
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 21 Jan. 2014, 14:00 CAT
THE UPND has now gone flat out to convert MMD structures to itself, says losing Mufumbwe member of parliament Stafford Mulusa.
And Stafford says former Solwezi Central MMD member of parliament Lucky Mulusa should show gratitude to him because he (Stafford) gave up an opportunity to contest the seat in 2011 so that Lucky could be adopted as he had just lost employment.
Lucky revealed that UPND had been blackmailing him into re-contesting the seat on its ticket.
Lucky, who said the UPND had put a gun to his head, said he was shocked that the opposition party had taken advantage of problems in MMD to poach its members, including Stafford, whom it has adopted for the Solwezi Central by-elections after he refused to defect from MMD.
But Stafford, who also contested the Mufumbwe by-election but lost to PF's Steven Masumba in November 2012, said he was the favourite to win the Solwezi Central seat in 2011 but was convinced by party officials to give Lucky a chance and to help market him as he had been in South Africa for some time.
He said time had come for him to contest the Solwezi Central seat and that he was surprised by Lucky's claim that he would ride on his name.
"I have applied to stand because I gave him (Lucky) chance to stand in 2011. A lot of people came to say, 'no, give your brother chance, he has lost employment' and I gave him chance. Because of my name, he won. As you know, I stay in this constituency. I have never stayed in South Africa for a long time like him. I have been in Solwezi, Solwezi Central in particular," Stafford said.
"I am surprised that Lucky Mulusa is actually speaking like that. I gave him chance in 2011 (in the adoption process). His name was nowhere here. We helped him win the election here."
He said Lucky would not retain the seat and that victory in the by-elections was certain for him going by his performance in Mufumbwe where he lost by a small margin when he stood on the MMD ticket.
"I am surprised that he is saying that I am riding on his name because even now if you as The Post come, they will tell you that 'we know Stafford Mulusa, we don't know this Lucky Mulusa'. I don't think he is going to win even if he is standing on a finished party, MMD. Also you see the problem with MPs is when you are chosen as an MP, you run away from your people so the link with the people is not there. The people are saying it is even good his (Lucky) election was nullified because they could have suffered. He has never been with the people and so he has found it difficult to come back to say, 'I am now standing'," Stafford said.
And Stafford explained that he moved from MMD because it was sinking.
He said the UPND was now converting the MMD structures to itself.
"People have realised that MMD is sinking. All the structures of MMD here have moved to UPND, those that haven't are waiting for a time when we start campaigning so that we start demolishing them one by one. Otherwise there will be no MMD here. I don't even think a split of votes can be there even if MMD fields Lucky but should they field a candidate, they will be the least or come third runners-up," said Stafford.
"Us we stand with the people. If the people are saying, 'this thing is finished, you move to another place', we move. Immediately we are done with this constituency, we will go round the districts to convert MMD structures to UPND. That is my job and everyone else in UPND, even at provincial level."
Labels: LUCKY MULUSA, MMD, STAFFORD MULUSA, UPND
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Mulusa urges MMD in government to be professional
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 23 Dec. 2011, 13:40 CAT
MMD provincial youth chairman for North Western Province Stafford Mulusa says MMD members of parliament who have been appointed as deputy ministers should work professionally with all Zambians and not bring shame to the party.
In a statement, Mulusa also reminded the deputy ministers that loyalty was very important to the Republican president and the MMD as a party.
"It is obvious that many people from both the PF and MMD may not be happy about these appointments and this is a great challenge to those taking up government positions. MMD is your father and so get the appointments and be ready for disappointments at any time," Mulusa stated.
He also stated that the youths in the party would work to do away with the corrupt tag that had been tied on the MMD.
Mulusa added that the MMD youths would soon petition the National Executive Committee (NEC) and all the presidential aspirants for their inclusion in the highest organ of the party.
He stated that the party must embrace provincial youth leaders in NEC and re-introduce and advertise the position of vice-president.
"The new party president must unite and reconcile the general membership of the party, especially those ill-treated now and in the past. Hatred of personalities in the party by senior party members will destroy our hope to rebuild the party. Some punishments are very unnecessary as they clearly show arrogance and hatred at the expense of building the party," he stated.
Mulusa stated that many serious members of the party had either left or remained mute on party matters due to poor leadership that was being exhibited by some very senior party officials.
He stated that the challenge now lay on the new leadership of the MMD to clean up the ills by taking everybody on board.
"The candidate who will attract old members back to the party is the best to lead. One who will have the blessings of the founder members of the MMD and uphold the party principles and ideals is surely the leader we need," he stated.
Mulusa further stated that democracy would not excel without the full participation of the MMD as a strong opposition in the country.
He stated that the performance of the PF government would depend on the strength and objectivity of the opposition political parties.
Mulusa also stated that youths must refrain from being used to confuse campaigns or intimidate candidates who may be vulnerable.
"…As youths, we would not entertain corruption during campaigns," stated Mulusa.
Labels: MMD, PARLIAMENT, STAFFORD MULUSA
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Solwezi red card campaign annoys MMD
By David Chongo in Solwezi
Wed 26 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
THE red card campaign has infuriated the MMD in Solwezi and the party has declared the district a no-go area for initiator Fr Frank Bwalya (below). The party is enraged with Fr Bwalya’s distribution of red cards and whistles including sentiments that North Western Province had accepted the red card campaign.
According to a statement by MMD Solwezi district leadership, the party would not allow Fr Bwalya to ‘confuse’ the people in the area.
District chairperson Jackson Kakoma and secretary Chris Wasema warned that Solwezi district should not be the starting base for all those who wanted to aspire to higher office.
And MMD provincial youth chairperson Stafford Mulusa warned Fr Bwalya not to concentrate his red card campaign on President Rupiah Banda or he would not have it easy when he visits again to launch the campaign next weekend.
Last week, MMD youths calling themselves ‘the crack squad’ searched for Fr Bwalya in Solwezi after word went round that he was in town distributing red cards.
And an eyewitness said cadres had planned to beat Bwalya up if they had found him, warning that he should not step back into the province, or they would teach him a lesson.
But Fr Bwalya said no one could stop the red card campaign as it was guaranteed under the constitution of the Republic as a means of expression.
He said it was illegal for any individual to suppress another’s freedom of expression.
Labels: FRANK BWALYA, RED CARD CAMPAIGN, STAFFORD MULUSA
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Rupiah’s Mufumbwe ex-campaign manager fears extinction for MMD
By David Chongo in Solwezi
Mon 24 May 2010, 04:00 CAT
MMD members are dragging the party into oblivion, President Rupiah Banda’s campaign manager in Mufumbwe during the presidential by-election in 2008 has said.
Stafford Mulusa, who also contested the Mufumbwe MMD primaries to choose the candidate for the recent by-election, said party leaders in North Western Province were not familiar with people’s problems.
He said members of parliament from North Western Province were ‘dead weight’ and would struggle to retain their seats in 2011 because they didn’t relate with the people on the ground.
Mulusa said the electorate in the province was fed up with their leaders hence the recent election losses.
“Not all is well with MMD here including our MPs. I am not being malicious; I am talking about the truth. If elections were called today, MMD will recover only 3 parliamentary seats in North Western -maximum. In Solwezi West even if we boast that we have an MP, the relationship between the member of parliament Humphrey Mwanza and the electorate is very sour. Here in North Western Province we have one MP in Kasempa, one in Kabompo, one in Mwinilunga, who might win back their seats. The rest, forget!” he said.
“Maybe also in Chavuma. If the same people were to be maintained we might only retain four parliamentary seats. These MPs have failed the people. Can you imagine during a ward by-election in Solwezi East, at one polling station we got zero! When such things happen, you begin questioning the relationship of the MP with the people.”
Mulusa said during Levy Mwanawasa’s time, the president used to tell the leaders to go and speak to the people about the development projects that the government was doing.
“But here the MPs are not with the people; MPs are not on the ground. In Solwezi and Mufumbwe there could have been victory but there was no communication with the people,” he said.
Mulusa, wondered how the ruling party could go through such electoral losses despite “lots” of government investments in North Western Province.
He expressed optimism regarding the party’s fortunes in the region reiterating that it could still be revived if the Provincial Executive Committee was reorganised.
“If MMD wants to survive in North Western Province, it has to remove the PEC. Losing for this executive has become a habit. Members have got nothing to do with mobilisation; we have people in the organs. But we don’t have leaders to organise the party. There is a weakness with by-elections,” he said.
“Solwezi central and Mufumbwe were mishandled by the NEC. We are lacking the spirit of reconciliation. It’s like MMD is more comfortable with people leaving the party than reconciling. Former MMD provincial chairman James Katoka is bitter, the party knows that but they are not talking about bringing him back. There should be reconciliation. They should listen to dissenting views but it’s like leaders don’t care about the people who have left for the opposition.”
He singled out the ousting of Katoka and the resignation of former youth chairperson Newton Malwa as negative pointers to the state of the party in the province and the need to revamp its provincial leadership.
He said the non-committal leadership style of acting MMD North Western Province chairperson Pinakin Patel and his team was killing the party in the province.
“Look at Patel. Do you believe that Patel can leave his businesses to go into campaigning fulltime? No! We are not being tribal but can Patel speak Kaonde, Lunda or Luvale? How can he explain to the grassroots party plans? He will need a translator everywhere,” said Mulusa.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA, STAFFORD MULUSA
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Rupiah’s Mufumbwe ex-campaign manager fears extinction for MMD
By David Chongo in Solwezi
Mon 24 May 2010, 04:00 CAT
MMD members are dragging the party into oblivion, President Rupiah Banda’s campaign manager in Mufumbwe during the presidential by-election in 2008 has said.
Stafford Mulusa, who also contested the Mufumbwe MMD primaries to choose the candidate for the recent by-election, said party leaders in North Western Province were not familiar with people’s problems.
He said members of parliament from North Western Province were ‘dead weight’ and would struggle to retain their seats in 2011 because they didn’t relate with the people on the ground.
Mulusa said the electorate in the province was fed up with their leaders hence the recent election losses.
“Not all is well with MMD here including our MPs. I am not being malicious; I am talking about the truth. If elections were called today, MMD will recover only 3 parliamentary seats in North Western -maximum. In Solwezi West even if we boast that we have an MP, the relationship between the member of parliament Humphrey Mwanza and the electorate is very sour. Here in North Western Province we have one MP in Kasempa, one in Kabompo, one in Mwinilunga, who might win back their seats. The rest, forget!” he said.
“Maybe also in Chavuma. If the same people were to be maintained we might only retain four parliamentary seats. These MPs have failed the people. Can you imagine during a ward by-election in Solwezi East, at one polling station we got zero! When such things happen, you begin questioning the relationship of the MP with the people.”
Mulusa said during Levy Mwanawasa’s time, the president used to tell the leaders to go and speak to the people about the development projects that the government was doing.
“But here the MPs are not with the people; MPs are not on the ground. In Solwezi and Mufumbwe there could have been victory but there was no communication with the people,” he said.
Mulusa, wondered how the ruling party could go through such electoral losses despite “lots” of government investments in North Western Province.
He expressed optimism regarding the party’s fortunes in the region reiterating that it could still be revived if the Provincial Executive Committee was reorganised.
“If MMD wants to survive in North Western Province, it has to remove the PEC. Losing for this executive has become a habit. Members have got nothing to do with mobilisation; we have people in the organs. But we don’t have leaders to organise the party. There is a weakness with by-elections,” he said.
“Solwezi central and Mufumbwe were mishandled by the NEC. We are lacking the spirit of reconciliation. It’s like MMD is more comfortable with people leaving the party than reconciling. Former MMD provincial chairman James Katoka is bitter, the party knows that but they are not talking about bringing him back. There should be reconciliation. They should listen to dissenting views but it’s like leaders don’t care about the people who have left for the opposition.”
He singled out the ousting of Katoka and the resignation of former youth chairperson Newton Malwa as negative pointers to the state of the party in the province and the need to revamp its provincial leadership.
He said the non-committal leadership style of acting MMD North Western Province chairperson Pinakin Patel and his team was killing the party in the province.
“Look at Patel. Do you believe that Patel can leave his businesses to go into campaigning fulltime? No! We are not being tribal but can Patel speak Kaonde, Lunda or Luvale? How can he explain to the grassroots party plans? He will need a translator everywhere,” said Mulusa.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA, STAFFORD MULUSA
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