Opposition parties want to use us, says PeP leader

Sun, 24 Dec 2017 12:16:08 +0000

By BENNIE MUNDANDO

WE have realised that there are a number of opposition political parties who cheer us not because they believe in our vision but because they want to use us as a tool for panel-beating the PF Government, the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) has charged.

The party says it was aware some opposition political parties wanted to use it to ascend to power but this would not happen.

Party president Sean Enock Tembo said some opposition political parties hinged their opposition on their hatred against the ruling party in general and against President Edgar Lungu in particular and that they wanted to influence PeP to also start practicing politics of hatred.

Mr. Tembo said hatred of some political parties’ was evident in their personal attacks against those that they disagree with and that they derived their joy in belittling other people.

“We realised that a significant number of those who cheer us from the opposition actually do so not because they believe in the vision and programmes of PeP, but because they see PeP as a tool for panel-beating the PF Government so as to help those in opposition ascend to power, while they themselves do nothing but watch PeP do the job on their behalf.

“The second aspect is that these opposition political parties base their opposition to the ruling PF Government not on the basis of incompetence and corruption as PeP does, but rather on the basis of hatred. We habour no hatred towards any PF members or indeed Mr. Lungu himself. I don’t think mingling with those that I do not agree with makes me a less effective opposition leader,” Mr. Tembo said.

He noted that there were political parties that literally try to blackmail other politicians into joining them to practice politics of hatred and that those who are weak have fallen prey to their machinations just like a number of small political parties have done and ended up as defacto alliance partners.

“Practicing politics of hatred is actually the only thing that these opposition political parties know how to do.

“They fail abysmally to discharge the two primary mandates of an opposition political party; which is firstly to hold the Government accountable by providing the necessary checks and balances and secondly to provide alternative solutions to national problems,” he said.