Opposition UPND member of Parliament for Katuba constituency Jonas Shakafuswa says he will not be part of a group of politicians who do not offer solutions to the governance of the country for the sake of criticizing those in leadership.
Mr. Shakafuswa said being in the opposition did not mean that he should create enemies with those in power and criticize them unreasonably, adding that modern politics required wisdom by offering solutions.
“That is the only way the people of Zambia will see a difference between those offering solutions and those aimed at politicking and it is not the way I do politics. Some of my political colleagues are doing that just criticizing, insulting and name- calling – which is not healthy for this country.
‘‘The challenges this country is experiencing need concerted efforts and it is us in the opposition to offer credible and responsible checks and balances for the people of Zambia to see the difference we can offer from those in power,” he said.
In an interview with the Daily Nation yesterday, Mr. Shakafuswa said he was not worried about various manoeuvres by people within and outside UPND to get adopted in Katuba to contest next year’s elections. Mr. Shakafuswa said people who were plotting against him should realise that all political parties in the country were after his signature to contest in next year’s general elections.
“I have to be honest with you that all political parties in Zambia want my signature ahead of next year’s general elections because my constituency goes beyond Katuba.
Mr. Shakafuswa said he would win the election next year because the people of Katuba and Zambia in general wanted him in Parliament because of his contribution to the governance of the country.
He said he was aware of some people campaigning in the constituency ahead of the party’s adoption process.
Mr. Shakafuswa claimed one of them was Patricia Mwashingwele who has been in the constituency, but it did not worry him because the area had already decided the leader they wanted next year.
“Mwashingwele has been in the area before and she understands Katuba and she has seen who people want. And that is why I am saying I will win next year. I have a strong foundation and I am strong on the ground …,” he said.
Katuba has attracted notable names such as former ambassador Cecil Holmes, who has not yet indicated which party he would love to contest on but is reported to be organizing on the ground, as well as Moses Chilando of Patriotic Front and Joseph Mushalika who contested on the NAREP ticket in the 2014 by-elections.
Mr. Shakafuswa’s candidature for the Katuba constituency on the UPND ticket in next year’s elections has come under serious scrutiny after he strongly criticized opposition cadres insulting and disrespecting President Edgar Lungu.
Shakafuswa is now compromised. I think he is thinking of joining the PF.
JONAS IS A VERY MATURE POLITICIAN, UNLIKE THE UPND PRESIDENT WHO IS UNDER FIVE POLITICIAN. JONAS YOU ARE MY MAN. I WISH UPND HAD YOU AS IT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR 2016 ELECTION.
This is the same Shakafuswa who ditched the Mazoka led UPND (citing tribalism) to join his uncle, late Mwanawasa. RB later discarded him, he later found solace in UPND who were magnanimous enough to welcome him back. If Shakas means well, why not sort out issues internally, rather than issue statements in media?
This guy has always been treacherous and i don’t know why UPND adopted him. He is not trust worthy, ask RB. he wants to sound reasonable when he is just some hungry boy with no directions…………UPND needs to sort this guy out, he is disturbing our progress.
Don`t you think GBM is more dangerous than hon Shakafuswa? GBM Vice President of UPND sure?
Lets hope he will not disturb the desired progress too.
People who are destroying upnd are bloggers who are not near to the grass roots. All the online upnd clowns know is insulting leadership and anyone against their tribal grouping.
Jonas is a snake and the UPND made a mistake to bring him back. Truly a leopard never changes its spots. However in my opinion Shakas can only win on the UPND ticket. He is definitely taking the people of katuba for granted. How can one understand his recent hostility towards the opposition parties when he belongs to one of them that sent him to parliament? He has suddenly fallen in love with Lungu and the PF. He is making a terrible mistake because he is riding against the wind of change for 2016.
pride goes before a fall.
The chap should go to hello. He is to conceited.
Anyway the can put any chap as an MP as long
as the vote for HH as the president.
#Lung-Must-Go
Shakafuswa is a seasoned politician so he has already seen what is happening in upnd and he knows that they are not going anywhere with the likes of GBM.
SHAKAS YOU ARE WELCOME IN PF.
HH WILL TAKE YOU NOWHERE. HE IS A MAN WHO IS SELF CENTERED AND HE HAS NO REGARD FOR HIS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ALL HE WANTS IS TO BE A PRESIDENT.
I’M SURE YOU AS A MATURED POLITICIAN YOU HAVE CLEARLY SEEN DICTATORIAL TENDENCIES IN HH AND DO NOT ALLOW HIM TO RUIN YOUR BRIGHT AND VIABLE POLITICAL CAREER. SO BE READY AND JOIN A PARTY THAT HAS AN AGENDA TO MOVE ZAMBIA FORWARD THAN STICKING TO HH AND FAT GBM WHO CONDEMN WHATEVER PF IS DOING INCLUDING BUILDING HOSPITALS AND ROADS.
WHAT A SHAME PLEASE JOIN PF WE MOVE THIS COUNTRY FORWARD. YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT DONE IN 4 YEARS BY PF IS FAR MUCH MORE THAN MMD IN 20 YEARS I REPEAT IN ONLY 4 YEARS. JOIN THE WINING TEAM.
This chap did the same ditched UPND went to MMD but was defeated by Dr chikusu. He only won back that seat under UPND.
SHAKAFUSWA WE NEED PIPO WHO ARECOURAGEOS IN UPND PIPO WHO CAN CHALLENGE HON HYENA HH THAT YO PERIOD IS OVER WE SHUD TRY ANOTHER PERSON. I AGREE WITH U CADRES IN THIS PARTY INCLUDING MPS DO NOT REPRESENT PIPO BUT HH. LOOK AT JACK M BIG MOUTH FOR NOTHING HE CANT THINK OF CHALLENGING HH.
My heart bleeds, not that Hon. Shakafuswa seemingly wants to dump his party, but that he claims all parties want his candidature. Now if this is true, it means parties do not have agendas for the country except to only have the numbers to win. The competition must be in ideas!
Zambians must blame themselves for cultivating bigheaded chaps like Shakafuswa who literally is saying he is better than anyone else among the existing parties! I pity my country and people of Katuba constituency should not encourage a culture of personal to holder mentality among their representatives!
Mulibaluya ba shakafuswa, your pride won’t take you no where., by the way, who told you that, you are man of substance?if ant thing you are an *****, join PF and you will be in opposition , mark my words you *****.
let him join us .his most welcome ..pf for life