Mon, 24 Jul 2017 13:27:02 +0000
THE decision by the members of the Central Committee of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) to expel Chishimba Kambwili and Mwenya Musenge from the party when it convened last Saturday was not
surprising. In fact, this decision was long overdue.
For a long time, the two characters chose to be antagonistic and pandered to populism at the expense of the party cohesion. They presented themselves as being larger than the PF, hence posing an existential threat to its fortunes.
They made themselves into demi-gods with seemingly hallowed status on the mistaken belief they could not be disciplined for being so-called founder members of the PF. This mentality is wrong!
It is public knowledge that Mr Kambwili and Mr Musenge planned to cause havoc in the party on the Copperbelt, Central and Luapula Provinces. Their continued revolt to recognise the established party structures was clearly meant to undermine the party leadership.
On many occasions, Mr Kambwili has been known to have engaged in wrangles in the province particularly with Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda and Copperbelt Province Minister Bowman Lusambo. He demeaned the party officials by calling them all sorts of names, thereby indirectly undermining the appointing authority – President Edgar Lungu.
Latest evidence which points to the fact that both Mr Kambwili and Mr Musenge held meetings with some disgruntled former minister and MP from Muchinga Province at Mr Kambwili’s residence with a view to form a splinter party to undermine the PF only exposes their evil schemes to fan chaos in the party structures.
Further revelations of Mr Musenge visiting three places in Luapula Province on a mission not only to distribute money but also to spread falsehood about the PF is an assault on the party and its officials.
What is interesting is that Mr Musenge could not deny allegations levelled against him to have barely returned from Luapula Province where he had gone to visit some chiefs carrying K110, 000 given to him by Mr Kambwili.
Mr Kambwili and Mr Musenge to have admitted having held a meeting and visited some chiefs in Luapula Province, let alone failure to defend themselves is proof enough that the two musketeers have been committing acts which in the opinion of the Central Committee are not in the interest of the PF.
Why did Mr Kambwili and Mr Musenge not inform the PF leadership about the purpose for visiting chiefs in Luapula Province? Why were the visits secret? Are Mr Kambwili and Mr Musenge not party renegades?
Previously, in a show of unison, Mr Musenge vehemently condemned PF secretary general Davis Mwila for instituting disciplinary proceedings against Mr Kambwili for bringing the name of the party into ridicule.
Despite such sheer acts of insubordination, the party leadership tolerated them hoping they would heed to advice to foster unity of purpose.
On several occasions, both Mr Kambwili and Mr Musenge were summoned to appear before the disciplinary committee of the party to exculpate themselves against varied allegations of indiscipline.
Therefore, it is rather shocking that Mr Kambwili can choose to mislead the public by calling his expulsion illegal. If he failed to defend himself on a myriad of allegations that flouted the party constitution, why should he not be disciplined?
Abiding by dictates of intra-party democracy, entails the PF should not mete out punishment on erring party members premised on their position or financial standing: one set of rules for the subservient members and another for the senior members.
However, the impudence exhibited by the two leaves all well-meaning citizens convinced that their preoccupation was purely to save their ego despite several warnings to desist from such conduct.
Under the circumstances, former Mr Kambwili can exercise his constitutional right to challenge his expulsion in the courts of law under Article 72 (5).
“Where a Member of Parliament is expelled as provided in clause (2) (e), the member shall not lose the seat until the expulsion is confirmed by a court, except that where the member does not challenge the expulsion in court and the period prescribed for challenge lapses, the member shall vacate the seat in the National Assembly.”
If Mr Kambwili is convinced that his expulsion is illegal, let him challenge the resolution of the Central Committee meeting accordingly unlike organising an illegal meeting without notifying the police as
required under the Public Order Act.
Is soliciting support from chiefs through bribery to destabilise the PF not what is illegal? Is this not corruption?
It is certain that the two have been daring the party for too long and their expulsion is something they asked for. They certainly had it coming!
