Former Inter African Network for Human Rights and Development (Afronet) executive director Ngande Mwanajiti has advised opposition political parties to desist from promoting regionalism.
And United Liberal Party (ULP) secretary general Langton Sichone has said Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata and Lusaka lawyer Rodger Chongwe are courting trouble by supporting the Baroste Agreement (BA).
Mr Mwanajiti said Zambia had recorded massive developments under the leadership of President Rupiah Banda.
Speaking in an interview yesterday from Mwinilunga, Mr Mwanajiti said Zambia needed a leadership with a broader and bigger mindset to sustain the economic development the country was currently experiencing under the leadership of President Banda.
He said Zambia is currently on the right track under the current leadership of President Banda.
“I am calling upon every Zambian to ensure that Zambia remains a unitary State. Regionalism will not help the country in any way.
“It is literally impossible for any one region in Zambia to dominate any one region or regions,” he said.
Mr Mwanajiti advised people and groupings that were using regionalism to desist from that kind of politicking.
He said Zambians should put into practice the words in the national anthem and in the national motto of ‘one Zambia one nation’.
[pullquote]“I am calling upon every Zambian to ensure that Zambia remains a unitary State. Regionalism will not help the country in any way.
“It is literally impossible for any one region in Zambia to dominate any one region or regions,” he said.[/pullquote]
Mr Mwanajiti, a governance and human rights expert, said he would not join and be part of any entity or organisation that promoted a narrow agenda.
“My responsibility as Ngande lies in ensuring that I add value to whatever is happening in the country.
“I want to state categorically that I shall not join any organisation or entity which seeks to expound or propound ideas which are narrow and not contributing in establishing Zambia,” he said.
He said the people of Southern Province had been held captive by the opposition for a long time.
“It is not only my observation that Zambia is on the right track. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank have also confirmed that the country is well on track,” he said.
And Mr Sichone said in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Sata and Dr Chongwe, as senior citizens, should advise knowledgeably about the BA instead of seeking to gain political mileage out of the matter.
“Mr Sata is courting trouble by stating that the BA is real. He is just politicking over this matter and it will make him fail to govern Zambia if at all he wins next year’s general elections. Dr Chongwe, also as a lawyer, is supposed to advise correctly over this matter instead of misleading the nation about it,” Mr Sichone said.
He said the BA matter should not be taken lightly and Mr Sata and other politicians using it to gain political mileage should be condemned.
“ULP is alarmed that many politicians, including Mr Sata, have made the issue of the BA as material enough to use for the 2011 general elections, which should not be the case,” Mr Sichone said.
Mr Sichone said in as much as his party agreed that the agreement had not been resolved, those that were expressing their views should do so with care.
“Zambia is a unitary State and people should not lose focus regardless of their political affiliation, as doing so could compromise our sovereignty,” he said.
He said most of the countries that had decided to take the tribalism stance in politics had ended up in violence and bloodshed.
Mr Sichone said the stand by his party over the matter was that the agreement, in its current state, was not different from the way the Government was advancing development in all the nine provinces of Zambia.
“ULP stands by the Zambian Constitution which does not provide for the dividing of the country into regions, kingdoms or separate states.
“As Zambians, we need to look at development, social engagement, culture and all the things that can help Zambia progress,” he said.
[ Times Zambia ]
i hope this is coming from deep down your heart not from your empty and rumbling stomach. its a good statement and truthful but when I consider not too long ago you sejani and madyenkuku said only a tonga could lead UPND. have you crossed over to MMD now you welcome feel at home ngande
“It is not only my observation that Zambia is on the right track. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank have also confirmed that the country is well on track,” Mwanajiti said.
You are not alone,I am with you and I just love your sincerity.Yes, a lot need to be done but the good news is we are moving there and we dont have to risk our country to a leader who will move us backwards in long strides!!
Where has Mwanajiti been?.”He said the people of Southern Province had been held captive by the opposition for a long time”.What about the people of Eastern province, which grouping has held them captive for a long time!!Speaking in an interview yesterday from Mwinilunga, where he probably went to witness the commissioning of the catholic hospital and government generator.
Mwanajiti another boot licking or should i say a.ss licking MMD cadre.Um let us wait and see.
mwananjiti should be the last person to talk about regionalism cause he was in the forefront of wanting a tonga to lead upnd when mazoka died. he is a tribalist and thats why i cant for vote for upnd coz of characters like mwananjiti
Eeeh expert in governance and human rights? What a joke! Comedy in Zambia is abundant! We can really earn some forex here by exporting to western countries. I thought this Mwanajiti died with his NGI AFRONET! How on earth can he possibly say ” I Rupiah Kamwendo Sininkala_pansi Banda” has brought development to Zambia when half of my tenure I have been on honeymoon globe-trotting in my challenger? I’ve instructed the IG Kabonde to arrest this chap for bribery! Has he seen any development in Mwinilunga or anywhere in this country worth talking about? Who took development there?
Mwananjiti called for aTonga president now what can he tell us after UPND dicarded him because of the same uterances. shame on him let him just join MMD in peace.
Has Mwananjiti now recovered from AIDS or it the one making him say such nonsense
On “Speaking in an interview yesterday from Mwinilunga, Mr [Ngande] Mwanajiti said Zambia needed a leadership with a broader and bigger mindset to sustain the economic development the country was currently experiencing under the leadership of President Banda… He said the people of Southern Province had been held captive by the opposition for a long time” this is not making sense because not one Zambian people province must be insulted or promoted above others since each individual Zambian is equal to another.
I hope Mr N. Mwananjiti after being chased from the mighty UPND because of his alleged tribalism there will refrain and reform seriously from that as he takes his past uselessness to MMD.
As for PF’s Sata and R. Chongwe, please spare me the nonsense.
Be blest…
Didn’t know this waffler is now MMD, CHIMBWI NO PLAN.
Ngande..you are just hungry and broke..too bad..MMD is regional..just like PF..
I wish Jesus Christ was in Zambia to solve the Barotse Agreement issue, considering that Zambia is a Christian Nation. President Banda and The Litunga of Barotseland, I love you guys and I understand the difficult you are in at a moment like this. But ask yourselves, what would Jesus do, at this point in time? Its not what has Ngande said? But what is justy and biblical to save a people under pressure and a nation at cross-roads. Though emotive as the BA appears, there is a solution and if you dialogue with God and men you will be given a solution. Ngande the so called governance expert does not appear to have conflict resolution skills and dialogue is not in his vocabulary. Ignore him.
INSALA IBI! NGANDE IS VERY HUNGRY!!Kekekekekekekekeke
I wish Jesus Christ was in Zambia to solve the Barotse Agreement issue, considering that Zambia is a Christian Nation. President Banda and the Litunga of Barotseland I love you guys and I understand the difficult you are in at a moment like this. Ask yourselves, what would Jesus do, at this point in time? Its not what has Ngande said? But what is justy and biblical to save a people and a nation at cross-roads. Though emotive as the BA appears, there is a solution and if you dialogue with God and men you will be given a solution. Ngande the so called governance expert does not appear to have conflict resolution skills and dialogue is not in his vocabulary.