MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya says the MMD is not short of aspirants to contest the Chongwe parliamentary seat.
Ms Siliya said in an interview yesterday that the MMD cannot compel anyone to contest the seat.
“We cannot force anyone to contest a position they do not want. The process is ongoing and the sitting MP Sylvia Masebo may still apply. Let us wait until the adoption of candidates is closed,” Ms Siliya said.
Ms Siliya was commenting on insinuations that Ms Masebo has declined to re-contest the seat on the MMD ticket.
She said should Ms Masebo officially declare to the MMD that she is not contesting the Chongwe seat, the party will pick a candidate from other applicants.
Ms Siliya, who is also Minister of Education, said the MMD has a vision for development and that there are many people in Chongwe who share the same vision and can carry the party agenda forward as MPs.
She said Ms Masebo is still a member of the party until she officially indicates that she has ceased to belong to MMD.
“Ms Masebo has not written to the ruling party and is therefore considered a senior member of the MMD.”
Ms Siliya said that the fact that Ms Masebo has not applied to be adopted to re-contest her seat on the MMD ticket is not an indication that she has ceased to be a member of the party.
She said if Ms Masebo, who is also MMD national chairperson for women’s affairs, decides not to re-contest her seat, she can still remain an ordinary member of the party.
Ms Siliya said members of the public should not hold on to the thinking and notion that an MP is the only person who represents the party.
Meanwhile, CHARLES CHISALA reports that Lusaka lawyer Hobday Kabwe has urged MMD members in Chiengi Constituency in Luapula Province to remain united and heed their member of Parliament Katele Kalumba’s advice to ensure that President Banda wins this year’s poll.
Mr Kabwe, who was recently in Chiengi to file his application for adoption as parliamentary candidate on the MMD ticket, said the party leadership and rank and file in the constituency must take Dr Kalumba’s advice seriously.
“We need to be united as a party to deliver victory to President Banda as Dr Kalumba has advised us. All members must heed Dr Kalumba’s advice,” he said.
Mr Kabwe said he is confident that the problems the party is currently experiencing in Chiengi will be resolved as soon as possible so that mobilisation is not derailed.
“I do not believe that the problems the party is experiencing in the constituency are insurmountable. I have a lot of confidence in the constituency, district and provincial leadership’s ability to resolve the issues,” Mr Kabwe said.
He advised members to discuss MMD matters internally instead of issuing negative statements in the media because that can divide the party.
Mr Kabwe said it is important for leaders and ordinary members to refrain from activities that are inimical to the interests of the ruling party because that will only benefit its enemies.
“The negative statements and activities that are contrary to the advice of the member of Parliament, the provincial and national leadership will only give the enemies of the party an advantage. We must always be united to strengthen our party,” he said.
Lately, there have been stories in the media suggesting problems around the adoption of a parliamentary candidate for Chiengi Constituency, currently held by former MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
There is a problem in Chiengi becauses RB promised to free Kaka. If he did not open his mouth like that, thins would have been ok. Lets wait and see. Dora is scared of Masebo and can not say anything against this Iron lady. She has stood her ground and no one will shake her to change her mind. Dora and MMD should look at the alternatives now.
Sorry meant to type because and not becauses
Who was there when RB was making that promise,katele kalumba has just seen an opportunity to armtwist the party by using those villagers. Katele despite his high levels of education has got big primitive way of doing things.thats why he likes the village.so let his fellow villagers vote for sata and he should continue going to court and its the courts after all which will release him.after all no magic can bewitch the whole country.
Iwe chi Dora shut up. Do a push-up for every time you open your mouth. The amount of cloth it takes to make a dress for you is contributing to the depletion of the earth’s resources.
#3: ba (wise) Nubian Princess
iyo kwena mwa mweba Dora, ati ifimalaya fyakwe filepwisha ama resorces..lol
#2
efyo mulembafye lyonse twalimishiba, fisungu fye tamwaishiba (any way we dont expect u to write good english, and u dont have, its not in our blood, its our 2nd language).
Personaly I strongly believe it would have been wiser for Dora to have decently and maturely discussed with Sylvia this subject formaly and privately not through the media.Or perhaps the two cant face each other?I find it boastful and proud for leaders to attack each other through the media.Is there no formal chanel of communication in the MMD?One would relate such tendencies to immaturity in the party.
women are each others worst enemies! Dora should indeed have done this off the media eyes, has she heard Masebo say anything to the media? Silly sillier, silliest.
Dora slit harlot cant face the sexy silvia of course, given chance i can pump the shit out of her.