Mon, 24 Jul 2017 13:23:12 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
IF you are a man enough and think that you are popular, let’s meet on the political arena in Roan Constituency, the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) has dared expelled PF central committee member Chishimba Kambwili.
PF Secretary General, Davis Mwila said if Mr Kambwili was man enough, he should not challenge his expulsion in court but meet the party in Roan Constituency and test his popularity.
Mr. Mwila said had the PF been scared of Mr Kambwili and his counterparty,Mr Mwenya Musenge’s popularity on the Copperbelt, it would not have expelled them.
“I have said that the party is bigger than individuals, if they are popular, let them face us in Roan. We are geared as a party and we will move in.
“If he (Kambwili) is man enough, he should not even challenge this in court, we should just meet each other in Roan… I challenge Hon. Kambwili, you go and ask him that this is what the party has said that we are ready to face him in Roan, then we will see who is popular between the PF and Kambwili,” Mr. Mwila said.
Speaking at the press briefing yesterday, Mr. Mwila said in line with provisions of the PF constitution, the Central Committee sat on Saturday from 09:30 hours to 19:40 hours and decided to expel Mr Kambwili and Mr Musenge.
He said that it was after extensive debate, that a Central Committee decision was reached to expel the two from the party.
“In line with Article 61 (c) and (d), the meeting was chaired by the party President His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu. During the meeting, various representations were made regarding party unity, internal democracy, channels of communication and the need for party discipline,” he said.
He explained that one of the major issues that emerged was the question of party wrangles in Luanshya, particularly between Mayor Nathan Chanda and Mr Chishimba Kambwili.
Mr Mwila said the committee heard the report by the Vice President, Ms Inonge Wina who had been tasked to reconcile the two on February 4, 2017, adding that it was clear that despite the efforts, reconciliation had not yielded the desired fruits.
“During the central committee meeting, inimical activities involving Hon Kambwili and Musenge came to light where they were reported to be carrying out destabilisation activities against the party particularly in Central and Luapula Provinces, including Luanshya district.
“When he was given an opportunity to further exculpate himself, Hon. Kambwili admitted that a former minister who was an MP from Muchinga Province proposed to him to form a splinter party to undermine PF.
“Hon. Kambwili claimed he declined the idea but this was only after he was challenged to deny whether a meeting took place at his home comprising himself, Hon Musenge and three other former MPs. His response was, I was sick and they came to see me and one of them proposed that idea but I refused,” Mr. Mwila said.
He added that the committee also heard how Mr Musenge went into Luapula Province allegedly carrying K110, 000 given to him by Mr Kambwili to destabilise the party and had just returned from the province less than 24 hours before the central committee meeting.
Mr Mwila said that the duo could not deny the charges either, but accepted visiting chiefs but denied the money issue.
He said Mr Kambwili made matters worse for himself when he stormed out of the meeting shortly after it resolved to reconstitute itself into a disciplinary committee to consider the charges against the two.
Mr Mwila added: “While the meeting was sitting, Hon Kambwili stormed out of the meeting, walking out on the President and the entire central committee in a clear effort to save his ego – a fact he confirmed in his interview to News Diggers.”
Mr. Mwila also warned PF members that the party would not take to any forms of indiscipline and directed all structures and members to watch out for those sowing seeds of discord and ensure they are exposed.
