Friday, March 29, 2024

It would be wrong for MMD to “demonize” people debating RB comeback-Nakacinda

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FORMER republican president Rupiah Banda while MMD leader Nevers Mumba talking Commerce Deputy Minister Miles Sampa during the Kulamba ceremony of the Chewa people in Katete
FORMER republican president Rupiah Banda while MMD leader Nevers Mumba talking Commerce Deputy Minister Miles Sampa during the Kulamba ceremony of the Chewa people in Katete

Opposition Movement for Multiparty Development (MMD) Special Assistant to party President Raphael Nakacinda says it would be erroneous for the party to “demonize” people debating the comeback of former Republican President Rupiah Banda as it is within their jurisdiction to do so.

And Mr. Nakacinda says his party President Nevers Mumba and his Predecessor Rupiah Banda have a good relationship such that their assistants are irrelevant when it comes to interpreting each others actions.

Speaking when he featured on Radio Christian Voice’s Chat Back program on Friday, Mr. Nakacinda said people are seeking for answers on topic that is not yet on the table but that it was ok for them to do so because it is within their democratic jurisdiction.

“Sometimes you ask a question or ask for answers on a matter that is not yet on a table for example when you say that what will MMD make of RB’s comeback to active politics that suggests that the debate about Rupiah Banda’s coming to actual politics is synonymous to MMD.

“The issue if Rupiah Banda can come back to politics that is undisputable and both Dr. Mumba and his leadership do not engage to debate that because that squarely remains within our former President Rupiah Banda’s jurisdiction to determine.

” I must say that because people are debating in different forms on this matter, Dr. Mumba has kept on guiding the leadership and all the people who have a tendency of coming either to him or to go to the former President to go and express what ever view they may have on this matter that above all we should not be emotional on this issue, we should remain sober because when you become emotional it is easy for you to make mistakes.

“Why this position? First of all it will be erroneous for us to demonize people talking about RB’s came back to politics or indeed to demonize the former president if at all at one point he said he wants to come back to active politics.”

“The reason is simple; explained Mr. Nakacinda, when a coach substitutes a player and that the player introduced starts to score in his own goal like the PF are doing naturally there is the feeling by the player that I was substituted for what therefore the onus is on the yet to be introduced players to assure the substituted player that they will turn the game around once they are given an opportunity to play the game.”

Mr. Nakacinda further added that his President has withdrawn himself from the current debate because he has a personal stance of respecting former Presidents adding that there is no truth in assertions that party’s leadership is using kid gloves to handle the issue.

” Dr. Mumba as an individual, I know his heart beat on this matter; he has a personal position based on principal first of all to honour and respect former Heads of State, the former Head of State Mr. Rupiah Banda, the former Head of State Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and the would be former Head of State Mr. Michael Sata in 2016.

“This is a decision has been made because you can not expect that when you have taken over a position you begin to vilify and fight your predecessor.

He is totally against that, that is how come Dr. Mumba has withdrawn himself and has encouraged the members of the party and the leadership to withdraw ourselves from debating this issue of our former Head of State because there is always a temptation to go beyond certain limits.”

Meanwhile Mr. Nakacinda said Dr. Mumba and Mr. Banda share a good relationship to the extent that their assistants are irrelevant to how they interpret each others actions.

“President Rupiah Banda and President Nevers Mumba have a very good relationship, a good relationship to the extent that us as assistants and people around them are irrelevant because they can interpret each others action in the correct manner so in this case the issue of President coming back to politics is not an issue on the table to be discussed.

He added: “the only thing is that people are entertaining and asking questions because they are itching especially detractors of the party even outsiders, opposition political parties for example are hoping that if MMD can get into a blow up and fight and get disturbilized then they will have a smooth sailing to power.

“I want to assure the nation and members that the MMD under the leadership of Dr. Mumba will not give the detractors of the party, detractors of democracy the pleasure to witness a blow up or a fight in the MMD.”

12 COMMENTS

  1. Awee mukwai, Ba RB baibwelemo fye mwee. What is he fighting for? What is it that he is going to do that he didnt do when he was president? RB will NEVER again be president of Zambia. Chapter closed. I would rather have Sata continue as president than RB. Our memories are not too short.

    • I think people need to be a little more thoughtful and not respond with emotions. Yes, any attempt of a RB comeback will simply enforce the “recycled” politicians position which we are all crying to do away with. But there is a key question here? Why would politicians be leading the call for RB’s return? They should be ambitious and should be looking to take on the challenge. However, the truth is that we have a leadership vacuum in Zambia. There is simply no one, from the current crop, giving any form of inspiration to politicians, never mind the ordinary person, to rally behind and hence the calls for the return of RB who, in hindsight, had the interests of the nation at heart. Those with eyes have seen that he was vilified by the Post for the own selfish reasons

    • RB is free to come back into active politics. However, he can only do so through UNIP where he served the longest of political life not MMD. Nevers Mumba is doing in MMD compared to Tilyenji Kaunda.

  2. Rupiah is under test to see whether he is the Statesman pipo think he is.He handed over the MMD Party Insrtruments of power to Dr Mumba as new Party President.So why come and disturb what he supported and recognized at first?I hope Rupiah has a conscious,morals and integrity.Let’s wait and see his final decision

  3. Many a time Celebrities tend to move in a certain direction out of mob psychology only to realize later that the ball game on the ground was different. RB without prejudice has had his share and if there was any genuine need was for RB’S weight rallied behind Nevers. So far, NO voice or statement to that effect has been heard in support of Nevers to buttress his vigor from these eminent persons. All are watching from the terraces except those with him . As Godfather, RB needs the nations respect and play political support from the back ground. Take it or leave it, it is painful to unceremoniously take over power from someone who has labored so much without tangible support and relegate such to the dust bin. Even our present President would not have allowed such. Come on people .

  4. Yet Democracy need not be abused. When are we going to mentor the young generation if we always felt old people are only ones to carry the mantle? Good to have them around like the Bemba proverb ” fire that is protected by elderly does not burn or cause havoc” Why do we with impunity want to abrogate the constitution of the party? PF must be smiling at how elderly people are allowing heat in the own party leading to frustrating efforts being made . The spirit of tearing others apart when they can be helped is indeed bad practice, be it in politics or elsewhere. RB I PLEAD WITH YOU MY FATHER, Kindly smoother and quench the heat on your son. He will certainly look at you with respect. Please, give Nevers a break for fresh air .( Nevers, coming to you next.)

  5. Nevers , in life when you venture into something and you get convinced your mind and soul agrees to that, you don’t look back regardless. There is no race that is without obstacles or it would not be worth pursuing. Out of your own volition you have chosen the Political path. It is a gruesome path. You need courage and vigor. Sometimes you need to call a sped, a sped. You allow too much leeway for mediocrity to play around. Where have you put your God. You can not get anywhere without being on much prayer and supplications. If God has spoken to you about your political life, then let God be God in that. Don’t become a Samson as object of mockery. Meet RB and talk, not waiting on the fence. It will be too late for you. You are on trial right now if you didn’t realize. People are…

  6. WE HAD ALL HOPED THAT RB WOULD JOIN THE RESPECTABLE RANKS OF MADIBA IN BEING A RESPECTED AND REVEERED AFRICAN STATESMAN WHO WOULD PRESIDE OVER CONFLICTS IN AFRICA. ITS NOT TOO LATE RB. DONT BE TEMPETED BY HUNGRY FORMER MINISTERS AND PARTY CADRES WHO ARE FAILING TO SETTLE AS OPPOSITION PARTY.

    LOOK AT KK. BECAUSE HE MESSED HIMSELF UP IN FIGHTING KEBBY, HE HAS NO RESPECT FROM ANYONE. THERE ARE CONFLICTS IN SOUTH SUDAN, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CONGO DRC WHERE YOU WOUD BE NEEDED. WITH THE DEATH OF MADIBA, THERE IS NO AFRICAN STATESMAN WORTH HIS SALT. YOU GAINED SO MUCH RESPECT WHEN YOU HANDED OVER POWER PEACEFULLY, YOU WERE EVEN SPONSORED TO BOSTON. WHAT HAS HAPPENED? WE WERE PROUD OF YOU.

    LEAVE THIS RACE TO YOUNG PEOPLE. AFRICA AND THE WORLD NEED YOU.

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