Expelled the United Party for National Development (UPND) Sinazongwe MP Richwell Siamunene has said that he will consult the people of Sinazongwe on his next political move.
Reacting to news of his expulsion on grounds of gross misconduct, Mr. Siamunene said he the people who voted for him in 2011 will be the ones to decide his political future.
He said he is not disappointed with the party’s decision to expel him but maintained that he did not go against the party’s constitution.
“By accepting a job in the PF government, I did not bring the name of the UPND in disrepute. I was doing something in line with the constitution,” Mr. Siamunene said.
He said it will be up to the people of Sinazongwe to decide whether he should recontest seat in the parliamentary bye election.
“It is not for me to decide, I will leave it to the people of Sinazongwe to decide for me. I consulted them before accepting this job and I will again go back and ask them about my future political life.”
Mr. Siamunene becomes the second UPND MP to be expelled after Itezhi Tezhi’s Greyford Monde for going against the party’s guidelines on not accepting ministerial appointments in the PF government.
And UPND has advised the Speaker of the National Assembly to declare Sinazongwe parliamentary seat vacant.
The advice comes after the party’s decision to expel its Sinazongwe Member of Parliament Richwell Siamunene for alleged gross misconduct.
Speaking to media in a telephone interview this afternoon UPND Deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the statement issued by party Secretary General Winstone Chibwe, over the decision to expel Mr Siamunene who is currently serving in government as Deputy Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry was arrived at after a party hearing which met today.
Mr Mweetwa said the UPND had taken note of the excuse by Mr Siamunene not to appear for the hearing suggesting that he was working out of town but added that this excuse came as an afterthought after alleging that the disciplinary hearing was going to talk about his gross misconduct.
He further said the possession of not attending the hearing was earlier communicated by Mr Siamunene himself through the media.
Mr Siamunene is one of the three members from opposition UPND who have agreed to work with the ruling party and serving as deputy minister.
Mr Siamunene was today scheduled to appear before the UPND disciplinary committee to exculpate himself on charges of his alleged misconduct but could not attend as he was attending to national duties on the Copperbelt.
And you want to accuse the PF of causing bye elections ? Come on ,working for the government is for the good of the nation.Why not put national interests before part interests ? No wonder i say that we lack issue based opposition parties in Zambia.
GOOD Riddance this guy is power and money hungry, he is so pompous , serial womaniser
if pf was sincere about the so called inclusiveness why not offer this guy a full ministerial position….. then i would agree with your argument sir
If pf didn’t offer him a job this wouldn’t have happened, so it s pf induced.how many deputy minsiters are in his ministry? There other ways of working with the government. Being appointed a deputy minister isn’t the only way. Come on zebige its called thinking And reasoning. Yes you may hate upnd or may just like pf but its not to be blind to some facts. So in your mind and reasoning you think itS morally right for someone to serve as a 3rd deputy minister?
PF shouldn’t adopt him as an MP if the are sincEre about not inducing by-elections
Working with the opposition is a two-way process. Didn’t the PF discipline Lubinda for corporating with the opposition?
Opposition MPs have a strong democratic duty to play in any political dispensation. Their first allegiance is to the party they represent, to show people that they have altenative policies as a party which voters should choose. UPND is not in a coalition with PF, they have different manifestos and visions. If the party you represent does not allow yiu to enter into a personal coalition, then you must not, otherwise you must leave and contest under the party you want to join in government. This is just simple common sense. Sata was crying about thus and even expelled his MPs not too long ago and now he is doing the same at a faster rate. Well done UPND, the tribal haters on this site just comment without their thinking caps but with tribal caps on.
My friend know politic and understand what opposition is ……. read books on politics and the role of opposition in governance …… it is not to be given position in government ….. you mean Siamunene can oppose any thing to the govt that put a flag on vehicle and a messenger to salute as he open a door for him as he enter and come out of the vehicle because that’s all Siamunene didn’t have when saving as MP
@zebige you must have a short memory, do u remember that this govt expelled 21 mps and named them rebels???? find out why this happened before u condemn…
GOOD Riddance this guy is power and money hungry, he is so pompous , serial womaniser
Be honest fellow Zambians, the opposition political parties are responsible for the never ending by-elections.
The opposition must bear responsibility for the unnecessary expenses for holding these elections. The opposition must also see that they are wasting valuable time for development. One hopes that when we end up with ruling party only MPs, they will not be crying the tired “one party state” song.
Stupid MP! Moron!!!
If you are in the opposition, the serve the people from the opposition. There is nothing wrong with that. Fool!
Let him go. Politics of the belly theory.
UPND made it very clear that they do not want their MPs to serve in government positions because as MPs they are already working for the government. Why worst tax payers money to be appointed as 4th or is it 3rd D/minister?
When they are appointed by the govt ,they become disloyal to their parties, they even sale information about their party strategies.
Siamunene was given enough time to decide his political future. We are waiting for you in maamba. In areas where Pf has the majority lyk in Luapula, Northern and CB, there’s political peace. They want to antagonise the opposition in other areas. And you are being used a dividing tool. You won’t be allowed bwana. See u at the ballots.p
Lusaka Times this story needed some proof reading to eliminate some typos. You are a respected online news feed please maintain your credibility!
I wish you bad luck Siamunene, i hope you will lose so that the would-be defectors learn a lesson that accepting PF jobs is not the way to go.
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision”
That quote by Helen Keller aptly describes the ineptitude in leadership of this guy Richwell Siamunene and M.C. Sata.
Politics of the belly and politically expedient decision makers like this guy and Sata never ever have principles or doctrine to live by.Thats why you find Sata will condemn things done by R.Banda then have no conscience whatsover in doing the same things as president that he vilified R.B for.
Yes It is the same Sata-N that expelled his MPs for working with MMD Govt and Now doing the same the man has no principles
No, he should have consulted before he accepted the ministerial job. Too late, people have got no time to waste with traitors.
Thats what opportunists do.They go for what is conducive to advantage or interest, as opposed to what is right.
Ati “I did something in line with the constitution”. Atase! Oh, so you are “I”? Not “We”? Then you should have been an Independent. There’s “I” in the word Independent.UPND Party has a philosophy and vision different from PF. This will be reflected by their voting pattern in the National Assembly in which you are an MP. This “pattern” qualifies you to be a member of the club.
Do you think a PF MP can vote out of line with his Party in Parliament? He would do that at his own peril because PF has a certain path and vision they wish to attain in line with their philosophy. Same with UPND, MMD and NAREP. So go to H.E.L.L. Siamunene!
Too bad for him. He could have just availed himself before the disciplinary committee rather than eluding it. Good bye sir, we already know the outcome of that impending by-election. This will surely be a good lesson for all the opposition MPs.
Another bye Election….
A UPND INDUCED BY ELECTION.
THIS IS ANOTHER FREE SEAT FOR THE PF. IN ANY CASE IT BELONGED TO THE PF IN PRACTICE, EVEN IF ON PAPER IT BELONGED TO UPND.
WE NEED ANOTHER BY ELECTION IN ITEZHI TEZHI SO THAT UPND IS TAUGHT A LESSON. LET THEM KNOW THAT APART FROM GRABBING LIVINGSTONE, THE PF IS UNSTOPABLE.
It is ironic that all the Chisengas I know are “dull as usual,” gives the name a bad feel. I want to meet just one who articulates intelligently.
I know of a number of Deputy Ministers who just report to the office to read newspapers and sing about how well the government is doing- reporting to read newspapers Monday to Friday and you are given a big pay check, allowances etc and you say you are saving the common person who can’t even sell a cob of maize to make it through the day. And a Chisenga has the audacity to say that opposition is inducing by-elections. Ask the government to give us the job responsibilities of the deputy ministers in each Ministry so that clever people can decide on whether it is worthy it to have three in a Ministry. Pf shouldnt him/ whoever has left their…
another by election !! waste of resources … useless .
PF here we come.Ithezi Ithezi yesu for grabbing
let that chap go..he’s so arrogant..
I thought govt working with the opposition was an act of inclusiveness and did share notes with UPND. But to my surprise I was rebelled as treacherous and finally dropped as minister.
The chap is trying to put a brave face with his rantings and sleepless nights will now haunt him! Who does he want to cheat about consulting the people of Sinazongwe? He means his close circle of friends and Chief Sinazongwe! Why do many MP’s choose this line of deceit that they consulted their electorates when in fact not? Siamunene is not his normal self right now and he knows it. It would not surprise me to hear he has run to the courts! He also knows for a fact how the voting blocks in Sinazongwe chiefdoms operate and that his success was because of the sponsoring party! If I were him I would keep my mouth shut.