ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has criticised the Patriotic Front (PF) for expelling Matero member of Parliament Faustina Sinyangwe, saying the action will cost the nation huge sums in by-elections.
Mr Hikaumba said in an interview yesterday that political parties must desist from making decisions that would negatively impact on the country’s economy.
He appealed to all political parties in Zambia to seek amicable solutions to their differences rather than resort to punitive expulsions.
“We are not saying that political parties cannot discipline their members, but they must be careful because some of these decisions end up having a negative impact on the economy,” Mr Hikaumba said.
“Let us avoid having unnecessary by-elections because we need to spend money on developing Zambia.”
Mr Hikaumba said resources that were spent on unnecessary by-elections could be channelled to development projects.
“We have always insisted on dialogue as the best way of resolving issues. It is important that political parties resolve their differences through dialogue rather than creating by-elections through expulsions which are costly to the country,” he said.
Mr Hikaumba, Mrs Sinyangwe and Katomobora MP Regina Musokotwane are the three deputy chairpersons of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).
He said the labour movement would always condemn political parties that create unnecessary by-elections.
“Some roads in the country are not in good shape;
therefore, we need to use money on such projects instead of spending huge sums of money on unnecessary by-elections that can easily be avoided through dialogue,” he said.
Meanwhile, PF president Michael Sata says the party did not breach any court orders by expelling “erring” members of Parliament (MPs) because the High Court injunction related to their participation in the NCC was not a blanket immunity for them to disregard party rules.
Mr Sata said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday the PF was ready to meet the MPs in court over decisions passed by the Central Committee meeting at Blue Nile lodge in Lusaka on Saturday.
The PF full central committee meeting resolved to expel Matero MP, Faustina Sinyangwe and reprimanded Chawama MP, Violet Sampa-Bredt, for refusal to obey official instructions from senior leaders.
The committee accepted the “resignation” of four others following their withdrawal of monthly contributions to the party.
The four MPs said to have resigned are: Saviour Chishimba (Kasama Central), Marjorie Masiye (Mufulira), Barnabas Chella (Wusakile), and Percy Chanda (Kankoyo).
The MPs have threatened to commence contempt proceedings against the party for allegedly going against a Lusaka High Court order restraining the PF from punishing those attending NCC.
Mr Sata said disciplinary measures taken against the MPs had nothing to do with their participation in the NCC. He urged the MPs not to hide in the NCC.
He said Mrs Sinyangwe insulted him before the issue of the NCC came up and therefore the matter had noting to do with it.
He said the court injunction did not give the MPs immunity from disciplinary measures set out by the party.
“Mrs Sinyangwe called me a thug, and when she was asked to apologise by my lawyers, she refused to do so,” he said.
In a separate interview yesterday, Mrs Sinyangwe said she was not worried about the decision taken by the party.
“This does not worry me. I am very comfortable and calm right now. I have a past, I am coming from somewhere, so, my life is not stuck with the PF,” she said.
She said she was waiting for the expulsion letter to understand the reasons for the action against her.
[Zambia Daily mail]
The only disciplinary action Sata knows is expulsion – especially for those in the NCC. Believe me, this may not be the last one. He is trying to find cases against the MPs participating in the NCC coz there is an injuction in court to prevent him expelling them for their participation.
It is also a way of disturbing the NCC coz he (Sata) strongly believes they want to put a close in the constitution to bar him from contesting. He is so paranoid becoz of the trick he and Chiluba played to bar KK. Now he scared even of shadows.
“He is so paranoid becoz of the trick he and Chiluba played to bar KK. Now he is scared even of shadows” Yeah right & straight to the point
Who is Hikaumba to critize his exellce president sata,sleeping trade unionist….
Iwe Chi HikHik just concetrate on sweeping your house as unionist dont pop in other pipo’s house. Workers have had no increment for years and you done nothing, your busy talking about things which does concern your and the pipo you represent.
I feel Hikaumba has overstepped his mark. Just like in his union, he has stuck to being president at the expence of the workers. He has bought his way through all elections in both ZCTU and CSAWU. He has no right to preach to others about democracy and later on resources. He currently is sitting on the NCC for the benefit of his pocket. I want to understand if at all he at once thought about the roads that would have been repaired with the money he is getting as a delegate of the NCC. What makes him so sure that what the NCC is doing will not be undone by an unsatified Zambian who will become president. What then will he say about the money that he is getting now. democracy is not cheap.
THANK GOD SATA WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA. I AM BEMBA BUT I CAN NEVER SACRIFICE THE PEACE WE HAVE ENJOYED FOR A DICTATOR. PEOPLE NEED TO OPEN THEIR EYES FOR THIS RUTHLESS TYRANE. DEMOCRACY WILL NEVER SUCCED IF PEOPLE DON’T RESPECT OTHER PEOPLES OPINIONS. ALL THOSE MPs ARE INNOCENT THEY HAVE ARIGHT TO EXPRESS THERE VIEWS WITHOUT FEAR OF A DICTATOR(SATA).
MAY PEACE REIN FOR EVER IN ZAMBIA.
You people who like to complain shoul learn to lead along the lines.How can you say it is wrong to punish someone for doing something wrong. Relate Teta’s statement and the way they are behaving, it simply meant someone promised to adopt them once they rebel agaist their party. You can not dael away with certain type of punishment like expelling them if one has the guts to insult his/her president.HIKAUMBA has failed to represent us and now wants to be a champion of educating others of how to run an organisation. The chap is getting money participating in the NCC and does not want to talk about his allowance but instead condemn the discipline we desire to seein our leaders
Hikaumba has failed to deliver? he keeps bargaining with a government that does not even take time to listen. you are just another fortune seeker trying to earn a living.
Typical of PF cadres! Personal attacks are all they know. They refuse to see sense in what hikaumba is saying. Very shallow minded!
Ba MASSES#6 and Ba Tom#9; I question what you’re try to say.
Where are your constructive ideas. Rules are rules and every Political Party has ethics, rules and regulations! Would LPM spare you if you insulted him? Would your Land lord Spare you if you didn’t pay your rentals?
Read between the Lines and then CONDEM! The entire PF leadership is NOT Sata, and SATA is NOT PF. Neither are they mad. The Decision was arrived at after intra Party Consultations and Scruitny. The best place to hide something is in Plain site: the expelled ones deserved it!
Politicians want to come out clean and so, they want your simpathy over it.Remember, they came in through PF claiming they’d uphold PF.