Heritage Party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda has accused the Grand Coalition of trivializing his petition to President Lungu and reducing it to a popularity contest.
General Miyanda particularly attacked Father Leonard Chiti, Grand Coalition chairperson of having failed to have addressed the ten issues he raised with the President instead of discussing him (argumentum ad hominem)!
“Father Leonard Chiti, who was speaking on behalf of the Grand Coalition, has criticized President Lungu “for paying attention to Brigadier General Miyanda who has no support or influence across the country”. I reject this new gospel on Constitution-making according.
“Is the Grand Coalition suggesting that citizens are disqualified from complaining or expressing their views because they are not many or influential? What does Father Chiti and his Grand Coalition make of these words from Part III of the Constitution,” said General Miyanda
In a statement General Miyanda said it was recognised that every person in Zambia has been and shall continue to be entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, etc etc.
He said poor people were not influential and asked whether the Grand Coalition would prevent them from raising their voices because they were not many unless the Coalition speaks from them.
“There is nothing wrong to petition the President before he asserts. Article 78(3) provides that “where a Bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall either assent or withhold his assent”,
General Miyanda also said nowhere in his petition did he ask the President not to assent, adding that it was President Lungu’s statement in Kasama that he would sign the Bills with his eyes closed that alarmed him hence the petition.
He said he urged the President to call a stakeholders’ meeting if he believed in his clarion call for unity in the nation to reach some consensus.
“So it is not correct for someone to accuse me of being selfish. Grand Coalition, do not belittle the land question I have raised – it is a recipe for upheaval if not addressed timely; do not trivialise the security question and do not wait until it is too late – prevention is better than cure, “said General Miyanda.
[Daily Nation]
I would prefer Gen Miyanda to open his mouth & Chama’s mouth covered with seal-tape. We need more wisdom than malice. Gen Miyanda, please keep showing these other leaders what’s right from wrong.
I am getting scared
Where was he during NCC and Technical committee sittings. But Zambians zoona sometimes I feel like pulling my hair out even though I have no hair. Was he sleeping or what.
@mwe bantu- the General was there! However, he raises very impertinent issues which can not simply be blown away!
Miyanda is an intelligent and difficulty old man.
Ba Grand kolwe mwa chepa. You cant compete with the General. He is not a Brigadier for fun.
Gen is directionless. Just politicking. What the grand coalition is talking about has nothing to do with Miyanda but ECL double standards in addressing concerns on constitution making process from many interest groups including the grand coalition.
Out of interest , recently Mr. Andrew Banda , son to former President Rupiah Banda made a very interesting statement in one of the private papers stating ‘ President Edgar Lungu , misses travens following the dancing steps he exhibited at one of the Defence Forces Annual Balls he had attended. Does Andrew Banda , considers those of our citizens who drink from travens as lesser human beings than himself ?
Andrew Banda is just some lost silly man. He is confused because he thought he was a better politician than his father – but there goes Andrew again in the losing camp. One wonders when he is going to prison.
The General has spoken. Did we not tell you that the grand coalition of money grabbers were no match for this patriot.
DONT TAKE THE GENERAL SERIOUSLY HE HAD TAKEN COVER DURING PLANNING,IMPLIMENTATION,PARLIAMENTARY STAGES ONLY TO WAKEUP ON THE SIGNING DAY HE IS A FINISHED GENERAL. GENERALS STAY ACTIVE THRU OUT THE WAR. OUR PRESIDENT LISTENING,LEADER SIGN THOSE PAPERS THEY ARE LONG OVERDUE NEXT WEEK SIR
One day I would really love to work with General Miyanda. He is an individual steeped in posterity, looking out for what he will not even partake in and being the citizen any nation can be proud of! The Grand Coalition has advanced most of their objectives in a veil of soliciting their jobs back. That is not fair. They have spent an inordinate amount of time lampooning and lambasting at the expense of actually putting substance forward. Go General – you have my unqualified (and qualified should it be called for) support!!!
I totally condemn the Gran coalition. In life your ought to advance your argument and convince an individual than make a comparison to say you have done to this one,…so you should also do to me?? that is Rubbish. For all those that are condemning the General, you luck the foresight. As a General I applaud my fellow General for opening peoples eyes. Let those who want to see the opposite see. These warnings should be taken very seriously.