Shut up, MMD tells NGOCC

Sat, 14 Jan 2017 12:31:39 +0000

By CHARLES MUSONDA

THE MMD has told off Sarah Longwe to stop pleasing donors through sarcasm against President Lungu over his intention to stand in 2021.

In an interview with the Daily Nation in Lusaka yesterday, MMD National Secretary Raphael Nakachinda said Ms Longwe, and the Non-Governmental Organising Coordination Council (NGOCC) must not use the debate on Mr Lungu’s eligibility to contest in 2021 to please their donors.

Ms Longwe was yesterday quoted in some sections of the media as having told President Lungu and the Patriotic Front (PF) to sober up and stop wasting people’s time by bringing up the ‘third term’ debate when Zambia is facing serious problems.

But Nakachinda said: “All of us, as citizens, must stop antagonism for whatever reason whether political and making a grade to donors that you are working. The subject of President Lungu’s eligibility is simple and we don’t want this sarcasm. President Lungu just expressed himself and he is only in office for three months.”

He said those with contrary views to Mr Lungu’s stance on the matter must just interpret the law and articulate its provisions on his eligibility to contest the 2021 elections as opposed to becoming sarcastic like Ms Longwe.

Mr Nakachinda said instead of concentrating on debating a simple issue, political players, civil society organisations and all Zambians must focus their energies on providing checks and balances and critique the economic recovery path Minister of Finance Felix Mutati has put in place.

He said people must debate the economic recovery programme dubbed ‘Zambia Plus’ and see whether it is capable of getting Zambia out of the current economic challenges being faced.

“Let’s debate the economy and see whether the economic recovery programme is working. The next four years must focus on development,” Mr Nakachinda said.

And Mr Nakachinda said the MMD would continue its alliance with the PF because the two parties’ union was aimed at finding and implementing solutions to Zambia’s economic development agenda.

He said while the MMD was working with the PF, the former ruling party was also reorganising itself through mobilising its structures “and for now the strategy we are using is not for public consumption.”