Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary-General and member of the ruling party’s Central Committee Mumbi Phiri has castigated the opposition political party leaders for allegedly shunning this year’s Africa Freedom Day celebrations.
Ms Phiri, a former Zambia’s envoy to Kenya and Munali Member of Parliament, says Africa Freedom Day is a very important day on the African continent calendar hence shunning the event amounts to indiscipline.
Ms Phiri said the ruling PF invited the opposition leaders including senior PF officials to attend the Africa Freedom Day.
She was speaking in an interview with ZANIS at State House during the Africa Freedom Day celebrations.
She regretted that the opposition leaders stayed away from the event at State House instead of celebrating with government and the people of Zambia.
President Edgar Lungu graced the Africa Freedom Day commemorations and honoured members of Zambia’s first cabinet that included first republican President, Dr Kenneth David Kaunda, 13 other heroes and freedom fighters.
Rainbow party President Wynter Kabimba, Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD) President Charles Milupi, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Edith Nawakwi, Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA) Ludwig Sondashi, People’s Party leader Mike Mulongoti, Fourth Republic President Eric Chanda, Heritage Party’s Godfrey Miyanda all shunned the event at State House.
She however, praised United Party for National Development (UPND) representative Maureen Mwanawasa, National Revolution Party leader Cosmo Mumba and Zambia Direct Democracy Movement’s Edwin Sakala for attending the event.
She said the PF is a social-democratic movement founded on the principle of inclusiveness where any willing citizen is welcome to work with the ruling party.
The 2015 Africa Freedom Day theme for the commemoration is: “Celebrating 50 years of our national existence and accelerating socio-economic transformation”.
Meanwhile, PF Lusaka Province Youth Chairman Kennedy Kamba says the Africa Freedom Day commemoration is a platform for youths to learn more from freedom fighters and other fore fathers.
In a separate interview, Mr Kamba regretted that some political party leaders were allegedly inciting the youths in violent acts.
“Youths of today should just celebrate the earned peace and desist from engaging themselves in violent acts,” he said.
He commended the PF youths who attended and celebrated the Africa Freedom Day.
The Uhuru day commemorations was witnessed by Vice President Inonge Wina, Fourth republican President Rupiah Banda, PF Secretary General Davies Chama, National Assembly Speaker Dr Patrick Matibini, Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima, cabinet and deputy ministers, permanent secretaries and diplomats accredited to Zambia, traditional leaders, senior government officials and patriotic Zambians.
Interesting ba Maureen is now the UPND representative (VP??).
The most boring year ever… dark clouds over Zambia.
5 months of slow Lungu feels like the 5 years KK fought for independent….. loooooooong time.
Leave them alone. They feel that whilst Africa may be free by your standards, they were not free to attend this event as they were denied a permit under that POA.
Mumbi, just enjoy yourself. Every single day you are insulting the opposition leaders and when it suits you they should come and din with you. You get serious.
Change it to Africa Slavery Day. Our leaders have no focus, heavy corrupt and have made Africans safer more than during Slavery?? What people are going through in these countries is modern slavery.
50 years after Independence?? people have no access to basic needs like medicals, Hospitals have no medicines. yet them and their families fly to South Africa?? Let God Punish them all, let them perish in their corruption.
Good that Opposition Leaders did not show up?? to come and spectate corruption and mockery to Zambians?
The Ones that showed up just want jobs..
It is a shame and Embarrassing.
Yup.. To replace Kapita!
Except for FDD, all the other parties that shunned the celebrations are just as insignificant as the letter P in “psychology”
As for Kabimba’s Rainbow Party, which, in an ideal world would be a non governmental organization or activist group championing LGBT rights going by its name, is only popular in the Post newspaper.
kabimba. this man was so arrogant and self absorbed during his time in PF back then. He would literally tell Zambians to “fcuk off and live with it” at every opportunity he was given a microphone.
With president Lungu at the helm, Zambia is not going anywhere. We really dont know what the man want to do for Zambia. No press conference whatsover to inform the nation what direction we are going. Cry for mother Zambia, we are orphans!
When you invite them please treat them like political party leaders and not like ordinary Zambians.
As well as according them dignified respect! As it is such celebrations are the limelight for a party in government and its party cadres! It is not strange that speeches are skewed at self praise for the ruling party and castigating opposition parties.
According to SABC only six (6) African countries celebrate Africa Freedom Day. May be the other forty-eight countries are realistic and do not want to be hypocritical. What freedom is there under these mostly oppressive African regimes? You cannot blame the the opposition for staying away. Only jokers of opposition parties can attend such a meaningless function.
This Mumbi Phiri, was she not the one on ZNBC recently telling her party officials not to be making statements but leave it to the spokeperson? She seems to be feeling the power or is it pomposity at work.
This lady Mumbi Phiri drinks like a fish, She can win the competition where drinking is concerned the only competitor she has in PF is the boss himself.
Did they all greet Mr Edgar Lungu-those who attended?
Just shut up! which state function did PF attend during Mwanawasa and RB’s era! mention one!
Why did you leave out PPP leader Muliokela?
My foot wake Sata up and ask him why he always boy cotted! Go and just prostitute yourself with your wines. Leave them alone. This is a democracy
jst leave this upnd party they a full of jerous,hatred and bitter hearts so they cnt mix with the government may God deliver this party so tt it cn have a chance to rule this country
You sound very bitter musa!
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT IN THE WAY THEY GOVERN OUR COUNTRY IF THEY WANT EVERYONE TO COME ABOARD.
Mumbi Phiri must just shut.up. How many state functions did PF attend when they were in the opposition? She is so dull that she thinks the people of Zambia have forgotten. First let her justify why the PF refused to attend state functions and then she will find reasons why the opposition are behaving the way they are. Unless she tells us that the PF were justified while the opposition are not otherwise let her just shut her beak. The problem is she thinks she has a lot of wisdom. Please Mumbi, learn to tame your ugly mouth otherwise you will end up making enemies with innocent Zambians. We know how you behaved when you were in the opposition and the opposition is just paying you back in your own coin. Stop the useless lecture on state functions because you’re not knowledgeable enough.
In other words when fdd comes into power no one should attend the national functions apart from themselves. I think opposition parties have lost touch with reality. The same PF cadres of today are the same Upnd cadres of tomoro. There is no party which has engraved anyone on the forehead that they are permanently attached to it. Its the leaders who are different but are all fishing from the same pond with same species of fish. Understanding politics seems to be difficult for other leaders I presume.
Kachema Kateka 2016.
Life is sweety with ECL at the helm of the nation…I am happy
cikunyonge
Well, what value would they add anyway if they believe that they are of no value to their country unless they are Presidents?