Sun, 31 Dec 2017 08:32:08 +0000
By BENNIE MUNDANDO
OPPOSITION political party members have invaded PF social media fora where they are among other things, sending voice messages propagating disaffection against the leadership.
A crack squad made up of Chishimba Kambwili’s National Democratic Congress sympathisers who are still masquerading as PF youths is reportedly engineering the smear campaign with a view to cause discontentment among PF members.
In addition, some frustrated memebers seeking to overthrow the PF secretary-general Davis Mwila are waging a smear campaign.
Yesterday, most PF WhatsApp groups were awash with unprintables both in text and voice notes against Government and Mr. Kampyongo in particular whom they charged was dividing the PF for engaging with opposition MPs after 11 trucks containing Mukula logs were impounded in Shimabala area by suspected PF youths.
The cadres, using pseudo names, took turns in spreading hate speech, falsehood, and discrediting party leaders and Government to create an impression that the ruling party was on a downward spiral.
This has angered PF national youth chairperson Stephen Kampyongo who has described it as an act of ignorance that some cadres could be challenging him to explain why he was engaging with opposition Members of Parliament as a minister when all MP’s belonged to the same arm of Government, the Legislature.
One cadre who identified herself as Thandie Kabali, challenged Mr. Kampyongo to explain what engagements he has been having with Mazabuka lawmaker Garry Nkombo as he (Mr. Nkombo) was allegedly bragging that he had been communicating with him and that he was playing a key role in clearing UPND meetings.
“My name is Thandie Kabali. Mr. Kampyongo, if you are listening, you have divided us. Ask Mr. Nkombo if he has not spoken to Thandie, Kasanda, Elijah or Ethel because he has told us that you have been communicating with him and that you have been clearing their meetings,” Ms. Kabali shouted as others in the background shouted unprintables.
But Mr. Kampyongo reacted angrily to the voice note which was among many others issued from the scene and went viral on social media in the early hours of yesterday in most WhatsApp groups saying those who thought they were more PF than others and bent on tarnishing the image of the party with impunity would be dealt with decisively.
“We can tear ourselves apart politically but at the end of the day, we belong to the same arm of Government which is the Legislature. We sit on the same tables and share the same chamber and so, it is not unusual for the minister of Home Affairs or indeed any other minister to discuss and engage members of the opposition political parties who are MPs. “So, for an unruly cadre, claiming to be our member to go and start challenging that I should come out and explain what I was talking about with Mr. Nkombo simply shows what ignorance can do. Ignorance is very dangerous and if you think you are more PF than those of us, you will be in for a rude shock,” Mr. Kampyongo warned.
He observed that there was a lot of truancy from some sponsored individuals in the party but warned that once he is back from his constituency, the cleansing process to discipline wayward members will start.
“We know what we are trying to do and if you are sponsored, whether by your boyfriends or anyone else, we will catch up with you. You know me. I don’t promise something that I don’t do. I only promise that which I am able to do.
“I must make it very clear that those who are genuine members of PF who have toiled for the party know the procedure to follow when airing grievances but for those people who feel the party owes them anything, it is time to reconsider their positions. There shall be order in the party. Enough is enough,” Mr Kampyongo said
