Musenge defends Kambwili

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 06:54:22 +0000

By Nation Reporter

ATTEMPTS to discipline Patriotic Front (PF) Roan member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili on trivial charges has caused a lot of anxieties in the party and secretary general, Davis Mwila should urgently consider withdrawing the exculpatory letter against Mr Kambwili in an effort to unite and harmonize the ruling party, former Copperbelt Minister Mwenye Musenga has said.

Mr Musenge claimed that he personally felt that the issues that were being raised against Kambwili were +trivial” which according to him could not have necessitated disciplinary action.

And Mr Musenge has observed that the admission of new members in the PF some of whom have been offered senior positions in the party and government has created a lot of confusion in the ruling party.

He said in an interview yesterday that PF secretary general Davis Mwila should understand that that he was a father figure of the party and should avoid the temptation of rushing to taking disciplinary action such as expulsions or exculpatory against his (Mwila) own members.

Mr Musenge explained that allegations against Mr Kambwili were trivial and would only help raise the political profile of the former minister of Information and Broadcasting Services.

He said the allegations could have been handled in a more civil manner than asking Mr Kambwili to exculpate himself on matters that were of a speculative and gossip in nature, which according to him was normal in a political organisation.

“It is my personal view that the issues being raised against Mr Kambwili are trivial in nature which could not have compelled the secretary general Davis Mwila to write an exculpatory letter. This (attempt) to discipline Mr Kambwili has raised a lot of anxieties and excitement among the general members of the PF in the country. Mr Mwila has the role to harmonise, unite and preach peace and reconciliation in the PF but his current actions and utterances are not building the party. He should understand that whatever action he is taking and if in bad taste, it would be embarrassing the President,” Mr Musenge said.

He explained that while the party was for the principle of accepting and receiving new members, there had been, according to him concerns among old PF members that some of the new members had been awarded with senior party and government positions without orienting them to understand the governing party ideology.

He said the PF should have a deliberate policy that new members joining the party should be given a period to test their loyalty and faith to the party before considering them for positions in the party.

He said it was the role of the general membership of the PF to help President Edgar Lungu to deliver so that the head of State could have an easy and smooth campaign for his re-election in 2021 general elections.

“I wish to remind Mr Mwila that when the PF was in the opposition under president Michael Sata, he (Mwila) made serious comments against Mr Sata and Mumbi Phiri. We were all scared that Mr Mwila was not going to survive but Mr Sata being such a magnanimous leader trashed the comments and we moved on.. Today as I speak, I hold Mr Sata in high esteem,” Mr Musenge said.