UPND defectors warned

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:28:25 +0000

Opposition UPND has warned that it will expel all its members of parliament aligning themselves with the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party, according to party Secretary General Winstone Chibwe.

Mr. Chibwe said that his party was carrying out investigations and  warned that it would not hesitate to expel any members found to be courting the PF.

He said that the UPND has since charged Sinazongwe member of parliament Richwell Siamunene with gross misconduct contrary to the party constitution article 7 (b) of the party disciplinary code of conduct.

Mr. Chibwe said that Mr. Siamunene will appear before the disciplinary committee to exculpate himself before the committee makes a ruling on the allegations leveled against him.

“Reference is made to my minute dated July 5, 2012 in which I leveled charges against you with an instruction for you to respond within seven days from that date. I have since received your response dated June 12, 2012 of which I am not satisfied,” said Mr. Chibwe.

Mr Chibwe also said that  Siamunene’s wife of attacking the party leadership when she knew that her husband was voted on the UPND ticket.

“Your wife further indicated that the president hates you and that he wants to grab the little piece of land you own in Zimba. It was also indicated that you are so popular in the constituency to the extent that even when you stood for elections as an independent candidate, you performed extremely well,” he said.

“Numerous adverse reports have reached my office about your conduct in the constituency. This prompted me to send a team to visit the area. The district had raised some of these issues with you in the minute of March 24, 2012 which you have continued to ignore,” Chibwe stated.

He said any member found wanting on disciplinary charges would be asked to leave the party and join the party of their choice rather than creating acrimony in the opposition party as it prepares to form government in 2016.

Sinazongwe residents have also complained that their law maker of pushing  PF programmes which were not in line with the UPND manifesto.

Mr. Siamunene has also been accused of recruiting members on behalf of the PF in the district as he was preparing to defect and re-contest on the ruling PF in an event that he was expelled from the party.

The MP could not be reached for a comment.