Patriotic Front (PF) Youth chairperson Kennedy Kamba has said that the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) is preaching democracy to the already converted.
Kamba noted that FODEP ought to have correctly analysed the position as emphasized by both the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General (SG) Davies Mwila and supported by PF National Youth Chairperson Stephen Kampyongo is that the General Conference will be held in 2020 at which all Central Committee positions will be open for elections, without exception.
He said nothing stops party structures from rallying behind an incumbent president if he will make himself available, adding that that only thing remaining is for President Edgar Lungu to inform the Party at the right time whether he will be available or not, considering the fact that Party structures have confidence in his leadership.
Below is the entire statement issued by Kennedy Kamba:
31st MAY 2017
MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESPONSE TO FODEP BY LUSAKA YOUTH PROVINCIAL CHAIRPERSON KENNEDY KAMBA
Lusaka, Zambia – We wish to state that Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) is preaching democracy to the already converted. As stated by the Party leadership before, our democratic credentials as a political party are incomparable to none. Before drawing their conclusions, FODEP ought to have correctly analysed the position as emphasized by both the Patriotic Front Secretary General Hon Davies Mwila and supported by PF National Youth Chairperson Hon Stephen Kampyongo is that the General Conference will be held in 2020 at which all Central Committee positions will be open for elections, without exception.
FODEP knows that nothing stops structures from rallying behind an incumbent if he will make himself available. What therefore remains is for President Edgar Lungu to inform the Party, at the right time whether he will be available, considering the structures have confidence in his leadership.
FODEP also knows that in advanced democracies that incumbents can sail through unopposed. In our case, we have not avoided primaries at all. Those with intentions to challenge the incumbent and in good standing with the Party would be allowed to do so.
We also wonder what advice FODEP would render to the UK where snap elections have been called and none is talking about primary elections for Prime Minister Theresa May. We are aware, like FODEP is, that in the USA, incumbents can sail through unopposed. In the case of PF, FODEP should in fact commend the decision for primaries at the General Conference to be held in 2020 and agree that there is nothing undemocratic for the structures to have confidence in the President if he says he’s available. There is nothing undemocratic about that.
More importantly, we invite FODEP and others to shift their attention to standards of democratic practice in the opposition. This is important because if PF were to take advice from FODEP it should give impartial advice and guidelines to all parties.
We are asking FODEP to respond and guide the Opposition considering that:
UPND has refused to have an elective conference since 2006 and its leader Hakainde Hichilema harasses anyone who demands for an election in the party. The Opposition party calls those making such demands traitors for demanding party constitutional guidelines;
The undemocratic tendencies in Opposition FDD aimed at making Ms. Edith Nawakwi go for a third unconstitutional term and barring of the party’s Vice President
We invite FODEP to remind the Opposition that one man parties that have no democratic processes
Issued by:
Kennedy Kamba
Patriotic Front Provincial Youth Chairperson
Lusaka Province
Sense from Kamba.
HI MUST TAKE US TO A CONVENTION
Sense from Kamba.
HH MUST TAKE US TO A CONVENTION
Reply
Kambwili is right. There should be no holy. The president should be challenged. We need democracy at all levels. We will follow PF constitution.
someone wrote for him… I know Kamba very well… He write English properly… Probably Sunday Chanda wrote it for him….
Actually , even the British politics is far above Kamba knowledge… The man is a below average guy…..
I engage him in serious conversation involving the youth empowerment/job creation programme, the man said ” ba kalamba, tatwa sambilila.. efo ulelanda fya ma degrees..” ( big man ,I am not educated enough to know what you saying. these things are degree holders)…
The GREAT LEADER had wanted to offer him a job but he refused saying that he would embarrassed the GREAT LEADER….
He told the GREAT LEADER that he would comment on the street against the opposition and be an emissary of the GREAT LEADER and HIS SENOIR PF OFFICIALS
No wonder why international organizations have turned us into a laughing stock due to the killing of democracy
What Kamba is saying is not true. HH came into his position in 2006 through a convention. In 2011 his National Management Committee with senior party members from provinces endorsed him.
What about PF leader? He never went through a convention to become president. He has never been elected at the convention. The one who was elected at the convention is Miles Sampa. He used legal and unconventional route by as usual abusing the courts. He went and obtained consent judgement, wittingly cheating the courts that Miles Sampa has consented that I become president. Equally the High Court Judge knowingly that it is not true gave a consent judgement. When Sampa challenged the consent judgement the Judge decides to hear the case after elections, making it an academic exercise.
This explains why he has courage to rig elections. It started with PF elections.
Well put, Ken!!
whats the age for a youth in zambia mwebantu kennedy and kapyongo cant be youths or am i missing something
Zambian politicians are having a hard time understanding what true democracy really means. It seems to be the new buzz word to attract attention usually very cynical. Some are using it as a license to insult others with impunity and some think it’s a term that will win you friends from Europe. Just go back to basics, talk to the Zambian people. After all, Democracy in simple terms is a government of the people by the people for the people. Democracy must be a competition to serve, uphold and protect the rule of law for all. How many political parties in Zambia claim to be democratic today? including the one that’s making the loudest noises? MMD was the only party which was founded on these principals until it got infected with the one man band illness. We need time to reflect and sort…
…these issues that are dividing our country. True patriots will put the country first regardless. Recent events have highlighted just how far some people are prepared to go for their own selfish reasons. Zambia is bigger than all of us regardless of your net worth.