Friday, March 29, 2024

GBM doesn’t represent PF in parley-Lungu

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President Lungu during an Interview with Journalists  at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport shortly before departure for Uganda on a two Day State Visit on July 23,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
President Lungu during an Interview with Journalists at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport shortly before departure for Uganda on a two Day State Visit on July 23,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA

Lusaka, July 23, ZANIS—President Edgar Lungu says Kasama Central Member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Mwamba no longer represents the Patriotic Front (PF) in Parliament after he joined the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).

Speaking to the media before his departure for Uganda for a state visit this morning, President Lungu said the Zambian constitution is very clear about Members of Parliament who cross the floor.

He however said he will allow lawyers and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini to guide the nation on the matter.

The President wished Mr. Mwamba and the UPND well saying the country’s democracy needs a strong opposition.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has said his visit to Uganda is aimed at reviving the two countries’ bilateral relations.

He said the meeting with President Yoweri Museveni is a follow up on various engagements.

The President is accompanied to Uganda his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament Emmanuel Chenda and his Special Assistant for Political Affairs Kaiser Zulu.

And President Edgar Lungu has arrived in Uganda for a two-day state visit.

ZANIS Staffer Henry Himoonde reports from Kampala that President Lungu arrived at Entebbe international airport aboard the presidential challenger plane at 15:55 hours local time.

President Lungu was welcomed at the airport by Ugandan acting Foreign Affairs Minister Oryem Okello, his Zambian counterpart Harry Kalaba and Tourism Minister Jean Kapata.

The President is accompanied by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, Patriotic Front (PF) national treasurer and Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament Emmanuel Chenda and Special Assistant for Political Affairs Kaiser Zulu.

President Lungu also inspected a guard of honour mounted in his honour at State House in Entebbe and later received a 21 gun salute.

The President is this evening expected to attend a state banquet hosted by Uganda President Yoweri Museveni.

President Lungu will tomorrow hold bilateral talks with Mr. Museveni after which he will tour a chemical manufacturing factory in Kampala city.

He is expected to fly back to Zambia on Saturday morning.

63 COMMENTS

  1. Ba Changwa the question is? His GBM a member of UNPD or just appointed Vice President?

    As far as i know GBM has not resigned from PF.

    This is what we call check mate!

    • Ba Chenda doing what with the finished president.
      GBM continue presenting PF the way Others are presenting Upnd in Pf.Thumbs up my GBM

    • Mr President you are well within the powers vested, and deal with this rather non matter but an issue….. UPDN and GBM, they have failed to shake you you. They are taking a big chance, this where politics and governance prevails… That’s what HH and his team failed to recognise. They are not running the country or in Government. Government is an institution which is separate from a party and can employ any Zambian to do a job for the people of Zambia. The opposition is just that they are in opposition and GBM’s move is clearly an opposition appointment. All those MPs in Government from other parties are working for the general population of Zambians and not their respective party affiliations , as GBM has opted to do. GBM you know that and you’re the kind of people that may render our…

    • I like Lungu, not because he is a great president but because he rises above petty kindergarten antics of the opposition. There is nothing worse than being ignored!

    • I believe our beloved HH and the united party whose ultimate aim is to foster national development would not take pride in breaking the constitution of our beloved country. Has there been anyone from among those serving in government as minister from the opposition that has declared that they have JOINED THE PF but would continue as MP in party that made them win the seat? The common trend has been resigning to cross to the other side, you either leave the previous one and join the other or simply be a part of THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY by SERVING in it but not joining the PARTY. The step GBM has taken is a strong and bold step to actually discredit the validation of an important clause in our constitution. Its now between the ‘mighty’ GBM and the constitution of ZAMBIA NOW.

    • Declare the seat vacant already. GBM is a non issue. he failed to deliver Kasama to UPND in the last elections. Nothing has changed. GBM and HH are a good fit. They both act their shoe size and not their age!

    • PF president, and unfortunately republican president, GBM represents the great people of Kasama! Is that hard to figure out?

    • @Lombe you are contradicting yourself! Please read your own post and see the dilemma you further present yourself! Its qui pro quo!

    • UPND Veep position is not a government post but party one. this is dual membership. Conversely, accepting a ministerial position by an opposition MP is not dual membership because government is not a Party. It is PF govt but Govt is not PF.GBM is dull by saying not until those opposition MPs relinquish government appointments will he also resign from PF. this is ridiculous. What kind of a Veep is this one!the President has power to appoint any Member of Parliament to Ministerial post but has no power to appoint opposition MP to PF position in the PF party. Read please. The Post Newspaper is not a source of Law!

    • Lungu needs not worry about Mwamba just like other parties are not worried about their MPs doing PF functions like campaigning for them.

    • Kanyela you have elaborated the issue really well. GMB the big sack is a dullard! I wondered why a legal brain like Jack Mwimbu could not see that. What a country!

    • Experienced Presidents understand that Zambia under PF is run by paperweights and lunatics. It was clear from Sata’s first state visit to Botswana and ever since the Zambian presidents have been getting the trivial treatment. Mugabe pampers Lungu as one does to one’s beloved pet, not as an equal.

    • At the Entebbe state house waiting to welcome his counterpart president Edgar C. Lungu! Ubukopo, ubufontini and culture of not reading comprehensively before commenting!

    • Ubupuba! You think Museveni can’t send his Minister? Read report below:
      Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has been on a trip to Uganda, as one of President Yoweri Museveni’s press team has been tweeting:

      SarahKagingo

      President #Museveni and #Zambia-n counterpart Edgar Lungu toast to their good health, State Banquet at State House

  2. ECL is indeed a President and a half! Lets show them that we are here to develop Zambia and not to be thrown into petty discussions with failed politicians like GBM and Heky Heky, NO!

    My president juse set your eyes on the ball and we will cheer you again as you score for mother Zambia.

    Nabasele tubombeko. Inchito fyani! HH will hang himself this time around because he doesn’t realize is that abena Zambia balimukana akale and there is nothing he can do, he will and shall NEVER be President of Zambia. How else does he want us to tell him? Alright, 2016 will surely conclude it all.

    2016, 2021, its Edgar Chagwa Lungu clean game and we will make sure. In 2026 it will be PF all the way because we are seeing the development we never expected in our lifetime unless you are in Mars.

    • I can see a lot of butt hurt people on this GBM issue, if he is not a factor why so much attention/hurt?

    • Which development? Are you referring to:
      1. Huge debts never seen before
      2. Unprecedented corruption
      3. High taxes
      4. High cost of living; fuel, bunga, bread
      5. Collapsed Kwacha, now heading to K10/$

      What development ….but unmitigated disaster !!

    • Bebe, these people who are hard to understand! Ama roads nomba tuleipitilafye unlike before. If the Kwacha has depreciated because we were trying to get a fair share of the copper money for our citizens, so be it!

  3. Iyeeeeee!This fool gbm how can you join a political party which is only in one province of the country?Galu iwe!HH wants to eat your money.You are too sleepy chi gbm

  4. We are only remaining with few months to the next general elections, no need of agitating for bye elections in Kasama. May the courts drag on till 2016, we have lost huge sums of money through selfish created bye elections which could have been channeled to other developmental activities. Contractors have abandoned road due to lack of funds!!!. Check Chipata-Vubwi, Chipata-Chadiza, Chadiza-katete in the east completely abandoned !!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Don’t blame contractors, don’t blame the courts. Blame PF who have decided that they must have the numbers in Parliament at any cost.

    • Do you know who is agitating for bye elections, it’s the Unproductive Party Now Defunct (UPND),,read this…

      Article 71 (2) (c) of the Constitution clearly states that ” A member of the National Asembly shall vacate his seat in the assembly; ..in case of an electected member if he becomes a member of a political party other than the party of which he was an authorised candidate when he was elected to the National Assembly…”

      Don’t blame if on the PF!

  5. GBM akawa nga ka ntemba ku kasama nxt year. Let the ruts go & elephants remain in the game PF go go front as well.

  6. GBM’S BOLD STEP OF DISREGARDING THE CONSTITUTION IS A STRONG DIVERGENCE OF NATIONAL ATTENTION. BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME THE DUST IS SETTLED, ONE OTHER ‘IMPORTANT ISSUE’ WILL BE THE STATEMENT MR DAVIES CHAMA HAS RELEASED SAYING US BEMBAS ARE TRYING TO HIJACK THE UPND. BY THE TIME A COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD TO ‘RUBBISH’ THE STATEMENT AND THE GBM COURT CASE WILL BE SORTED, EVERYONE WILL FORGET THAT THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY AND THE ‘WATER LEVELS’ WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL THEN. ONE MISTAKE THAT WE CAN MAKE AS A COUNTRY WILL BE TO ALLOW HIM TO WIN OVER THE CONSTITUTION BECAUSE THAT WILL MAKE HIM VERY ‘BIG HEADED’. ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION…

    • Thought you would look at Chama’s statement as perpetuating tribalism. Who is the tribalist in this whole mess???

    • @Mbwalanga

      Chama is an agent and mouth piece of Lungu.

      Lungu through Chama wants to mount a tribal-violence marred campaign. That is how he got to PF president.

      Chama is hand in glove with Lungu!

  7. GBM has not resigned his postion as Kasama Central Member of Parliament but he has just been appointed by the UPND as Vice President in the same way the PF appointed MPs from UPND and MMD into PF Government Ministries. However we need to learn some thing from the ruling which the Speaker of National Assembly will give.

    • He does not need to resign – his actions render his claim invalid. The Speaker should have spelled this outright – but……….

    • A person needs to have principles and must be willing to pay the price for what they hold dear.

      It was principle that made Mandela abandon life of comfort to serve 27 years at Robben Island.

      If GBM abhors the corruption, violence, tribalism, economic mismanagement, plunder, incompetence, abuse of POA and press by PF’s Lungu he must walk the talk and be willing to pay the price and walk the road to Freedom’s Calvary !

    • IS UPND A RULING PARTY TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO IS FEARING THE UNKNOWN IF GBM IS REAL MAN HE SHOULD JUST LEAVE PF ALONE AND GO ON WITH UPND FINISH.

    • @Munyopi: when was the last time you saw any politician with principles in Zambia? Zambia will never have a Mandela because the chaotic and thieving culture that Bembas have sown is against such uprightness.

    • Frank GBM has been appointed as Vice President of a Political Party and that Political Party is not in Government. Thus he ceases to be a member of the PF. Simple! The President can appoint anyone from any Political Party, that’s the difference here.

  8. The whole state President to be welcomed by acting foreign affairs minister what a joke.
    What development has Lungu done?
    fake crude oil,
    increased transport costs,
    increased loadsheilding,
    increased fuel prices,
    farmers stuck with maize,
    increased violence,
    Weak kwacha,
    Universities closed,
    Increased kaloba
    Unless one is mad to support this useless government in the history of Zambia

  9. Hope GBM,HH and all UPND dreamers saw on TV how Kasama residents celebrated GBM’s downfall!!HH AND HIS GBM WILL BE TAUGHT A LESSON BY MY PEOPLE IN NORTHERN AREA!HOPE GBM RECALLS HOW DR.SAVIOUR CHISHIMBA(FORMER KASAMA MP) WAS EMBARRASSED AFTER LEAVING PF!!NORTHEN IS FOR PF JUST LIKE SOUTHERN IS FOR UPND AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE THIS!!!how i wish the speaker can declare kasama seat vacant so that HH and GBM can be taught a lesson during a by election there this year!!

  10. As a Bemba dynasty, we will only give support to a presidential hopeful who will undo others at the forthcoming Ukusefya Pang’wena in displaying rare skill in the following dances and songs:
    Kapoya
    Ichilukaluka
    Imbeni
    Infunkutu
    Umupukumo

  11. it is surprising that the majority zambians celebrate poverty. look at the high level corruption, indeni just got crude oil which will damage the equipment and u are busy saying pf is doing fine. look at zesco after pumping borrowed money, zambia railways received a lot of borrowed money as well .pf in 3 years have borrowed more than unip and mmd combined. the devil has taken over, no wonder wrong things are being praised while good things are being condemed . what a shame to belong to such a population

    • Why don’t you join the animal population if you are tired of being human? Better still the planet Mars is still inhabited, why not start from there?

  12. PF has been a let down to Zambia in many ways. How can Changwa & his PF who have poached opposition MPs say GBM is no longer an MP? And you PF cadres here are supporting. Is the Constitution only applicable to the ruling party & not the Opposition or Party in waiting? Then all opposition MPs are no longer MPs. One does not need to be a lawyer to argue on this one.

    • Your brain is a legal disaster! The MPs serve as ministers of the GRZ. They are not serving the PF as a party. How can this very simple legal logic escape you? Ubukopo bwaso lisambi kuli kabumba umwine uyu shalubile!

  13. People let’s learn to differentiate government and party. The PF has never appointed anyone in their party hierarchy while that person has not relinquish his initial party position but they appointment opposition to government positions. What GBM has done borders on conflict of interest. So let him resign from the PF and join UP then stand as their MP and it’s as easy as that.

    • Clarity in language of lawyers is ambiguous to the layman thus its the article on appointments in the constitution that is on test

  14. It is now clear that GBM is a force to reckon with. Everyone is scared & talking about him, even EL himself. GBM is so intelligent that he has moved on without religuishing his MP-ship so that the other camp can reflect on how it feels to save another party whilst belonging to another. This is good for zambia’s political growth in terms of setting precedences & remaining consistent. Mr.Speaker & Judges the world is watching how you handle this CASE. GBM – (Great Brains Matter).

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