The four Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament, who have been stripped of their positions in the party’s Central Committee, have pledged to remain loyal and serve the party in their capacities as ordinary MPs.
The four suspended MP’s yesterday said the party president Mr. Micheal Sata, being the appointing authority, had the power to appoint and revoke any appointment.
The suspended MP’s are Dr. Peter Machungwa , who is chairperson for Transport and Communications and his counterpart in charge of elections Ernest Mwansa.
Others are Elizabeth Mulobeka Chitiksa and Alfreda Mwamba who held the positions of chairperson for Women’s league and chairperson for Lands and Natural Resources respectively.
The four MPs are among the 27 PF Members of Parliament who are taking part in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), have since obtained an injunction restringing their party president and any PF agent from interfering with their rights as MPs.
In an interview with journalists, Dr. Machungwa, who had not received his suspension letter, thanked Mr. Sata for giving him an opportunity to serve as chair on the committee for Transport.
He however stated that problems arising in the party are as a result of appointments which, he said, the party should embark on having elective positions.
Dr. Machungwa, who is Luapula Member of Parliament, said any party as a democratic institution should elect leaders as opposed to appointments.
He said members in the party were looking forward to holding the general conference which was agreed upon during the Central Committee (CC) meeting that was held early this year.
He said it is during such a meeting to be convened when resource are available that a party constitution would be adopted.
Asked if the current impasse would not affect his relationship with Mr. Sata, Mr. Muchungwa said that in any party, there are disagreements which should be handled within the party.
He said party members who have taken a bold decision to participate in the NCC were ready to dialogue over the differences.
Dr. Machungwa however refused to comment on whether his group has taken the initiative to seek audience with other Central Commitee members saying the issue is an internal matter that would be resolved within the party.
And Mrs. Chitika-Mulombeka confirmed receiving two letters of suspension from the party president.
She said one suspension letter was from the Central Committee and the other one was that of Parliament Whip, which was copied to the Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa.
Meanwhile, Police on the Copperbelt have arrested and charged Patriotic Front (PF) Chipili Member of Parliament Davis Mwila for proposing violence and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.
Zambia Police Service spokesperson Bonny Kapeso, who confirmed the arrest of Mr. Mwila to ZANIS in Lusaka today, said Mr. Mwila is in police custody and would appeal in court soon to answer charges leveled against him.
Mr. Mwila is quoted to have instructed cadres to beat PF MPs who have decided to take part in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).
The police are politically motivated, If he was MMD nothing could have been done.Luapula deputy minister assulted PF cadres did they arrest him no. Shame
Political prostitutes!!
nutters
yes indeed?
Just hold internal party elections as Machungwa has rightly pointed out kwasila! nichani chavuta? how can 1 person shamelessly bulldoze his way.ENERMIES OF DEMOCRACY
THE REBELIOUS PF MP’S DESERVES A DISPLINARY ACTION AND THEY SHOULD LEARN TO RESPECT THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY AND RESPRESENT
THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED THEM.MACHUNGWA CAN’T SAY TODAY THAT THE PF MUST5 RESORT TO ELECTING POSITIONS AND YET HE DID’T REFUSE THE POSITION WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED.GOING TO COURT IS NOT THE SOLUTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY SHOWN US WHAT TYPE OF LEADERS THEY ARE AND ABOVE ALL THEIR LOVE FOR MONEY.WHAT IS HONOURABLE ABOUT WHAT THESE MP’S HAVE DONE?
To be resolved within the party- this is maturity