Canisius bids farewell to UPND

Thu, 29 Sep 2016 09:42:48 +0000

OPPOSITION United Party for National Development (UPND) has continued suffering from resignations with the latest being that of its vice-president for political affairs Canisius Banda.

Dr. Banda, in a solemn but poetic tone, said in his resignation letter that there was evil in the UPND, that the party had become ‘‘unattractive, desecrated, blemished and invaded by wolves’’ and had hence become a toxic political organisation.

“Farewell, my friend. Farewell. It is time to say goodbye. I sincerely wish you well, pilgrim,” read Dr. Banda’s resignation letter addressed to Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

Yesterday, Dr. Banda officially announced his resignation from the UPND as vice-president for politics and also immediately ceased to be a member of the party. On Tuesday, Mr Hichilema’s presidential spokesperson Edward Mumbi resigned, the second senior official to quit the opposition political party following its defeat by the Patriotic Front (PF) in the last general elections.

The first to resign from the UPND was the party’s deputy spokesperson  Edwin Lifwekelo who left earlier this month.

In a letter addressed to Mr Hichilema, Dr. Banda recited a King Solomon biblical poem of seasons, saying, the season for him to move on had come because the environment in the UPND had become toxic.

Dr. Banda said there were evil-laden creatures in the UPND only hell-bent at devouring him.

Dr. Banda said his departure would open the floodgates in the UPND as several other senior members had hinted to him that they would also resign.

“Your party has changed, Sir. It is no longer as attractive as before. It has been desecrated. It is now blemished. Wolves are now in your midst. There is malice and ill will in it and now it has become toxic,’’ Dr Banda told Mr Hichilema. “Its environment is no longer conducive for me to work in. If I stayed, this would be detrimental not only to you but to me as well. Thank you for rejecting me. May the demons I know lurk in your midst now and do their diabolical dance,” Dr. Banda said.

Dr. Banda said he was liberated that he had been rejected by the man he loyally and faithfully served, stating that he had given his all to the UPND.

“There is a season for everything, a purpose for everything. The season for me to move has come. My purpose in your environs has now been served. Thank you. I am a pilgrim on a journey. I have to go now. My purpose in your life is now over. I am a pilgrim on a journey. The assignment God gave me to help you has now been accomplished. It is finished,” Dr. Banda said.

He said his prayer for Mr Hichilema was that he finds a worthier person to occupy the portfolio of a vice-president for politics in the UPND.

Asked what was his next port of call, Dr. Banda said he would now be reflecting on who else to help and what else to do.