Veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has described majority of political parties in Zambia as a bunch of hooligans.
Dr Mwaanga says many political parties are merely registered and legalized gangs or even a bunch of hooligans interested in causing violence.
He was speaking in Lusaka when he delivered a paper on the theme ‘Political Violence, a nemesis of democracy at a summit of political parties organised by SACCORD, the Zambia Centre for Inter Party Dialogue and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
“On what basis do we expect our political parties to be violent free when the society from which their members are coming from is reeling with violent members? Political parties are supremely social creations and they reflect our values as a people. They draw their membership from our communities,” Dr Mwaanga said.
He stated, “It is for this reason that an argument can be made that many of our political parties are in effect, registered and legalized gangs or even a bunch of hooligans. I know such a depiction maybe harsh and not sit easily with the political parties but before anyone crucifies me, let them ask themselves the question: is the violence taking place in political parties different from the violence taking place in compounds at household or community levels?”
Dr Mwaanga has since implored the Church and the family to assume their roles if Zambia is to witness a political violence free Zambia.
He also cited unemployment as the key factor that fuels political violence in the country.
“An important factor that fuels political violence in our country is the high rate of unemployment, Many young people remain out of work and struggle to get by. An additional hundreds of them remain uneducated. Every year, our schools, at various levels, offload additional recruits onto the streets.”
Dr Mwaanga added, “deprived of gainful employment and social or recreational amenities where they can deploy their energies, many of them remain readily available for hire when Politician A wants to deal with Politian B as their struggle for the acquisition of power or even more power intensifies.”
He also appealed to Zambians to remain united as the country celebrates its golden jubilee anniversary.
“As we embark on the next fifty years of nationhood, let us say that we have had enough of violence and no more. Let us proclaim death sentence on the horrifying and savagery practice of political violence. Let reason usurp the place of machetes and pangas. Let the silence of thoughtfulness and peace triumph over the sounds of a hacked fellow citizen,” he said.
And Patriotic Front deputy General Secretary Bridget Atanga said there is need to engage the grassroots who participate in the actual violence.
She notes that as long as the grassroots are sidelined in such talks political violence will always exist in the country’s politics.
The stakeholders have also noted that for as long as political parties continue to be centered around individuals and the institutions of political parties then violence will continue to be the order of the day in the political dispensation of the country.
The two day summit has attracted participation from political parties and the CSOs.
The stakeholders have since agreed that there is need to find a lasting solution to the youth unemployment in the country.
you are right boss. they can all kiss my bottom. i can picture sata, nevers, hh and kk in a brothel together but yet they fight in public. such characters cannot be trusted. evans mfula at evaduco reporting live from the suburbs of lusaka
I think he has just decribed PF. If anyone was looking for the Definition of PF , there it is , right in fromt of you. Thanks VJ
VJ had PF in his mind.
But this is not interesting, what is interesting is who is stealing letters from Ba Sata’s mailbox which are ending up in hands of hooligans?
@Nostradamus
ba Sata has one mail collector named chellah who is also contracted to the hooligans,,,,
speaking about hooliganism,,,,someone in PF is going to be injuried!! ukuichena,,,
Mwaanga you spoke the truth, and for sure PF is not far on your mind when you make such pronouncements.
Dr VJ why beat about the bush, just say PF is a bunch of hooligans, KABIMBA sponsors Kaponyas to fix HH and GBM does the same stupidity to fix KABIMBA.
PF are bunch of hooligans period.
In as much as I would agree with what VJ said about the source of political violence,I am totally disappointed that his paper fell short of condemning the way the police let the violent gangs continue unleashing violence with impunity.
Violence is unfortunately a weapon of choice for most youths without adequate education to help their reasoning capacity and job prospects. To curb the violence the police are there to ensure that law and order is maintained irrespective of the party where the violent cadres belong in particular the PF party.
The tendency for the police not to arrest or investigate the violent conduct of PF cadres is surely a cause for concern. A system and a law where the police bosses are not appointed by the president is needed to stop this madness.
The police know that its mainly the cadres from the ruling parties that tend to instigate violence, because they have protection of the party in government.
How many violent incidents perpetrated by the PF have thoroughly been investigated and the culprits arrested? Non. In the Rufunsa murder, the accused UPND member has been acquitted of the murder. Will the police continue to investigate the PF cadres who killed that young man in cold blood for money?
To make matters worse , when the opposition react to defend them selves, there are the ones the police tend to accuse instead. Unfortunately, non the opposition members has been found guilty of any violent conduct despite many getting arrested on false charges. The whole UPND team once arrested in Livingstone where set free.
The police face a huge dilemma because their bosses are appointed into those positions by the president of the ruling party thereby weakening their ability to deal political violence in a balanced and less biased way.
So to curb this madness, Zambia needs a law that requires police bosses not to be appointed by the president directly. Instead we should have elected provincial police and law enforcement commissioners who will hire and fire these police bosses with the help of parliamentary home affairs select committee. To make the job of these police commissioners effective, they should have a Two and half years term in office to make them accountable to the public.Police bosses should be recruited only from a pool of senior police officers with at least 10 years policing experience
But isn’t that Zambian culture? Such characteristics can be seen in all Zambians not just in politics! You don’t have to look far infact most individuals on here have such backward behaviour it is à Zambian thing apart from à few selected individuals!
For any society to progress, it has to embrace cultural dynamism. Culture should be set in stone. It should be dynamic in order to allow new thinking and new ways of doing things take root so that society changes for the better. Otherwise , most Zambians and Africans in general would have been walking stack naked in this day and age.
Rhetoric all the time these politians are. Saying good things yet implementing the opposite. Up until power is removed from a politician to the citizen things will remain
Violent youths do not exist in abstract they co exist with violent funders. Get rid of and cage violent funders and there won’t be violent party cadres. The ineffective , inefficient and weak ECZ is to blame for failing to disqualify violent parties.
My hunch tells me @Mushota will blame HH for all this
VJ the chief election rigger what moral grounds has this alleged former drug pusher and self confessed womaniser got to to start yapping about these issues?? The only thing that caught my attention in his usesless is speech is “let’s usurp the place of pangas and machetes”, that’s the same as saying “I have 2 sons both of them are boys” .
You are really petty! You set the ground rules for morality? It’s this sort of reasoning that fosters intellectual retardation. You fail to address a person’s argument but you want to dwell on their past failings. If he was a womaniser, that means he is not able to put forward an argument worth discussing? Abash stone-age reasoning!
And others are parasites
PF is the #1 hooligan political party founded purely as a vehicle to fulfill raw political ambitions.Zambians and their aspirations are just a by-product
There is only one part in Zambia that has Hooligans from top to the list cardre. Its a known fact that they are not just a bunch of Hooligans but also liars. DR VJ can’t even have the audacity to mention them cause the will Crucify Him as said within a split of a second. The Patriarch claimed that He will rule the nation by Biblical principles while Holding the BIBLE in His hands yet not a single day has He ever been heard of condemning Violence within His Party or against other parties.
Umwenso ama politician pa Zambia. This one is ati political parties are hooligans and yet he knows a political party abafyango but aletina ukulanda, others are saying ati we know individuals who are positioning themselves to take over the presidence and yet naishiba those doing it but aletina..awe kwena. #politicsyabachamwenso
You deserve that Doctorate Doc!!
You speak better than some we know who go by the same titles.
However after all the violence we have witnessed recently, I wonder if there is still sense in these hooligans to listen and change.
Our only hope is a good constitution which should criminalize political violence or better still a dictator who can help us abolish partisan and cadre politics!
I halo Banthu Te link Zambia or Ifikulwa
Its really unfair for this honourally Doctor in womanising and election rigging to place a blanket statement on political parties and lebel them as a bunch of political gangs when its only one party headed by a welknown thug called Satanzee who also happens to have no traceable education background but traceable violence background.since independence we have seen the increase in the importation of pangas only under PF.just within 2yrs of PF rule,PF has killed ateast four people.(1) during livingstone by election(2)menyani zulu in eastern p.(3)the one hit by a vehicle driven by a PF thug when HH was attending court session(4)the other one who was killed by Kabimba group at airport at the time when Komaki was left half dead only to lie to is that he dead of natural cause.let alone Ruth…
Have you counted how many up and down and killed?
It takes a hooligan to know the other. So VJ is saying he is a hooligan. Ati ba Dr, doctorate without a book atase. Iwe VJ just continue with what you know best, womanising.
This coming from the chief architect of hooliganism and election rigging. Funny how these so called leaders dwell on the short memory or memory paralysis of this country. In other countries journalists would have dished out the dirt on him. However it’s a shame that he decides to speak out now. RB who forced him to retire to improve the election image of Zambia but the self proclaimed king maker is not done yet. He can smell opportunity and good milile.
Sure Sir the party here is the PF PF PF
iwe mambala waba ama thing which parties fought in mufumbwe in 2009? was it not mmd and upnd. in 2010 major chizyaka was beaten by upnd cadres at zamcom lodge.
shichopeti makaka
When he bends the mouth on left he speaks sense. when he bends it on right he speaks nonsense. Uyu mudala nao ewo
@Dorika.Is that a question despite putting a question mark or a statement? Please guys let’s go for night school and improve our english.
I don’t need a night school teacher like you. just keep smoking your weed. you heard me and that is important to me. some people like you have inferiority complex. English is not your mother language and therefore use the language that you know best.
It takes two to tangle.
‘it’s to tango’
London Eye, it is tangle, tango is a dance mune.
@Diva
Please stop commenting on things you have less understanding of.
Yes, a dance – which can only be performed by two people. Hence the saying. A single string can become tangled,as can two, as can three…I’m sure you get the picture. Sorry to go on – just mightily tired of people constantly mangling even the simplest of sayings.
@DIVA,
Please take note of Wanzelu’s advice @ 16.3 above and in the meantime I wish you well in your Grade 4 studies. Good day to you!
@ Diva
I think you can hear but its evident you can’t listen! One luv though
The trade mark communicator smile from VJ. One of the few Africans who does not fear to acknowledge his human weaknesses. A man who remains civil with others even when he does not agree with them. Well deserved doctorate (Hon).
I am not political but I have given you a good grade on this one.
There’s no need for Mwaanga to take the long winded de-tour to tell PF off. We all know that PF is that immature delinquent organisation legalised as a political party. It’s leader began his career by wielding machetes and wounding people in Chawama.
VJ you are just remembering what your party UNIP used to do. That bset describes what your administration used to do. Now that there is freedom of speach you can even out like that as if you don’t think. You are old enough, please think up-right.
Blaming communities for party violence is confusing. The community is responsible for community errors and mistakes. Individuals are also responsible for the individual deeds and misdeeds. Similarly, a political party is responsible for party policies and that includes failures and successes. When a party has failed the electorate, then it is fair for that party to be voted out by the voters. In Zambia, the bandits are few, weak and scared of the law enforcement agencies. Hooliganism is not a Zambian way of life. Zambia is a peaceful nation. Zambia is not at war with any foreign nations. Zambia is busy building infrastructure for economic growth.
You know you are driving in reverse gear as a Country when yesteryear’s politicians with questionable behaviour suddenly appear more intelligent and more accomplished. Very scary.
The truth is politics is a new game for most Zambians, but the violent methods have been around for ages. In the past all we had to do is turn up to vote for KK, PERIOD. You got a little choice in deciding your local MP Representative! Voting numbers of the population were always high due to the ‘helpful Political Youth,’ ( who operate like Hiati’s Papa Docs’ youth the Tonton Macoute), in that they rallied people by, YES, Violence. Going house to house and threatening ordinary citizens to go to the polling booths ‘or else.’ This same modus operandi was the reason why visiting foreign dignitaries were welcomed by Youth ‘forced citizens’ lining the route from the airport waving and singing cheerily, and the dignitaries were non the wiser! Lovely people, mmmm!
Just to add, that Zambia’s’ political parties have inadvertently taken their model from
François Duvalier also known as ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier, President of Haiti from 1957 until his death in 1971. Most Zambian politicians are elected on a populist, black nationalist platform like Papa Doc. Papa Doc used a rural militia known as the Tonton Macoute and the use of a personality cult and voodoo, resulted in the murder of an estimated 30,000 Haitians and the exile of many more. We use our Hired Youths and yes Witchcraft is practiced. Papa Doc Ruled as President for Life; our politicians always try to change our constitution to prolong their welcome! Papa Doc passed succession to his son Baby Doc and we have Mulenga Sata and Scott trying to get their way around legibility!
To add to that Haitian comparator; they use violence and confusion as cover for gross theft from the state. They have insatiable appetite for amassing wealth. They lack any morality in those activities. The whole of the Mining industry (Zambia’s one and only source of viable GDP), is given over to their foreign compatriots for their own mutual enrichment. Most Zambian politicians take money out of Zambia and invest in in foreign countries. Patriotic Act??? Yesterday our Finance Minister was found to have shares in Sigma, who deal with mines. Oh…..Mr Chikwanda assured us they don’t deal with Zambian mines ‘as far as he is aware!’ But they do deal with Chilean mines ….um ….Partriotic …much? SAVAGES the whole lot including HH. They all just want their hands on the…
@Patriotic Abroad.
HH has been working for a private entity ever since. He is one the few Zambians who uses the money he earns abroad from his consultancy to invest at home. He can not be compared to PF minions, who have never made a mark in life without being involved in politics. The entire PF is full of people of whom without politics they would be no where.
To be honest you started your comparison nicely and only spoiled it by dragging HH ‘s name in it as if he been part of any rogue regimes that have completely decimated Zambians’ standard of living and increased their cost of living relentlessly.
So when you make those comparisons be specific and refer to Sata and PF, MMD and UNIP. They are the only ones who suit you comparison.
Don’t compare mangoes and apples.
Hooliganism has its genesis in UNIP, where VJ was an influential member. Dr. VJ, why did you not nip it in the bud then?
Yaaba, bakolwe baiseke fipato!
@Dorika.you said “English is not your mother language and therefore use the language that you know best” response: atleast at your village or home but here there are more than 72 tribes that visit this site.Stop thinking that only native Zedians visit this site.What if you here that iam Guy Scott or Kalusha’s Children borne from a white woman and have no idea of Zambian languages despite being borne of a Zambian football icom.Stop limiting your thinking and be analytical.
Very accurate description of the Useless People Nincoompoop Dogs (UPND). Vj should blame Mapatizya leaders like satanist (HH)
The only way forward is to include Women in President and Vice President roles. A Matriarchal Society will make Zambia safe. There will be peace. Madame Nalumango will make a great First female President for her calm professional demeanour. She seems to have integrity and ability to hold political parties together; having controlled them as Speaker in Parliament. That is the only winning Ticket for UPND. HH must step away from the chalice and take a lowly role. His personality is damaged. He has participated in violence and his investments abroad…not patriotic. PF need to cleanse Top Down. Possibly disappear like MMD, UNIP. They are tarnished.
Now you are dreaming.
The only reason why people are joining UPND is because of HH ‘s impeccable leadership qualities. Your deluded thinking stems from the fact that you now know that HH is the biggest threat to PF and that once he ascends to power,jail is waiting for PF minions.
No one within UPND has raised any concern about how HH is leading the Party. There are no internal wrangles within UPND thats why you PF minions are so jealous of HH and UPND.
If you have any grey matter to offer any advice politically, I would advice you to offer it to your stupid PF full of thugs now embroiled in a succession battle because they are Chimbwis No plan.
First sort out the PF id0icy before you even contemplate on advising UPND because if you continue, we shall relegate you to the…
Why not concentrate on making suggestions for PF leadership wrangles.
PF has tarnished the women ‘s chances to be leaders through the police. Look at the majority leaders in the police. They are all women and the whole nation knows that, they are most compromised police commissioners Zambia has ever had.
I have no problem with a woman leading a party but she is got to earn it by the ballot like HH did. Unlike Sata ,HH was elected by 7 provinces out of 9. While Sata imposed himself and appointed people like Kabimba and others without allowing the delegates to vote.
Yes most women in UPND are quality women who do not need to prostitute them selves to win favours unlike most PF women. They are all brainee and stand for the truth.
So admit UPND is the only party worth joining.
Obviously Nalumango is a better politician than HH but she is no tonga and therefore cannot lead the UPND. For now she is being used to launder the tribal image of the party the way Chisanga, Sichinga and Sikota were used. Besides tongas are well non for treating women as second rate beings through their polygamous marriages
meant well known
VJ’s lecture is very shallow and deceitful. He left out politicians who misuse these youths at the cost of pints of chibuku. Has he conveniently forgotten how he got beaten at late Mazoka’s funeral at the instigation of UPND. VJ should be helping Nervers Mumba reorganise MMD rather this veiled attack on PF. Is it the bitterness of not having landed himself a cabinet post this time around in government as he has managed in the past?
@Judy.kikikikikikikikikikikikikikikikikikiki. Amai judy VJ has not mentioned or attacked any PF name in the article.you just went ballistic without reading the article or maybe you just read the coments of fellow bloggers.hahahahahahaha!
@Ganja farmer
My bro, the guilty are always afraid. VJ did not need to mention PF but left it to the likes of @Judy to fill in the blanks for him for they know that PF has gone to far with political violence.
@Judy has just admitted like most PF minions that VJ was refering to PF in particular.
That is rich coming from you Bwana Honorary Dr VJ after all those elections you used to rig! Anyway, I concur with those saying it takes two to tango. Those pointing fingers at one particular party are just s.illy and living in denial.
Is it the Ruling Party You are referring to V.J??
Yaaahhh! But this site has a huge collection or bird-brained bloggers who are bent on protecting their lot. VJ says the bunch of hooligans are looking for a chance to go into power, you say ati ni PF!! Mwefipumbu mwe, PF is already in power. They may be on the way out, but we have rifrafs masquerading as parties!!! We lack credible replacement!!
…..after being part of three violent parties what have you done about it Dr VJ, what did you do about it???…..KK and his vigilante movement with William Tekere Banda (now of the UPND) at the helm of the nefarious bunch were very much part of Dr VJ’s UNIP; then the same Tekere Banda moved to MMD with VJ still as a member of MMD and they unleashed serious lethal political violence and now the show thats kicking them is on another party’s foot you finally feel it in your backsides….I do not condone violence of any kind but I hate the hypocrisy of such statements and those who make them…..better to simply shut up! Deathrow murderers cannot preach about the evils of murder or former slave masters try to lecture us on democracy…..awe nakana sana!!!!
@Wanzelu, I am nonpartisan. I can’t leave HH out of this comparator, because whatever his good sides are, he and yourself no doubt; have indulged in intimidation acts at polls, aggressive nasty blogging at ZWD and here on LT. VJ is addressing this in article. You have no grey matter to speak of; clearly you had not understood the thrust of my analogy NOR did you understand VJ’s thrust in the article; VIOLENCE. UPND have mercilessly attacked Sata ‘the person’ not much Sata the President of Zambia, for being ill. EVERYONE reading this blog have evidence of how you rounded on myself and @ Judy with a patronising tonage, which you went on to use on Nalumango. You and your male political mates ARE Mysognistic (hate women). Nalumango has political experience not HH!
shut up already you have been part and parcel of the system for decades. Just spend your retirement from politics quietly.
VJ is right Kabimba,GBM,Kambwili,HH, Nevers,Nsanda,kaingu,Mpombo,Nkombo these peope should never be given chance to be president we are going to suffer even more.They all lack leadership integrity.They are all violent tools in Zambia.Today its kabimba tomorrow its HH and Nevers mumba or GBM,kambwili,(agogo)knows them believe dat
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