Friday, March 29, 2024

Sean Tembo withdraws PEP from Opposition Alliance

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Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) President Sean Tembo
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) President Sean Tembo

Patriots for Economic Progress has announced its withdrawal from the Opposition Alliance.Party leader Sean Tembo told a media briefing that have taken the decision to withdraw from the Opposition Alliance is with immediate effect.

Mr Tembo said the main reason for withdrawing was because some of Alliance Members hold the belief that they are perfectly capable of winning the 2021 general elections without the need for opposition unity.

“As Patriots for Economic Progress, we are strong believers in the practice of civilized politics whereby we look at our political opponents not as our enemies but as our rivals. Therefore, it is our expectation that despite our withdrawal from the Opposition Alliance, we shall continue to relate well with our brothers and sisters in the Opposition Alliance and possibly even collaborate on other issues of common interest?” Mr Tembo said.

Below is a full statement

STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE PARTY PRESIDENT FOR THE PATRIOTS FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS (PeP) AT A PRESS BRIEFING HELD AT THE OFFICE OF THE PARTY PRESIDENT IN LUSAKA ON 11th JULY 2019

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media, we thank you all for coming this morning.

1. It has been approximately 9 months since we in the Patriots for Economic Progress made a decision to join and be part of the Opposition Alliance which consists of approximately ten opposition political parties. Our decision to join the Opposition Alliance was informed by a number of reasons. Chief among these reasons was the strong belief that opposition unity was necessary to ensure that the opposition wins the 2021 general elections with a landslide so as to usher into office a sober, selfless and committed Government that would redeem our citizens from the shackles of poverty, corruption, economic mismanagement and other evils currently being perpetrated by the PF and its Government.

2. It has been our long held belief that without opposition unity and an electoral pact, it would be difficult for any single opposition political party to win the 2021 general elections with a sufficient enough margin to ensure that the ruling PF and its Government are retired in the national interest. It has also been our belief that other political parties within the Opposition Alliance held a similar assessment and perspective regarding the prospects for 2021.

3. Arising from the above, we in the Patriots for Economic Progress believed that the Opposition Alliance is a vehicle that would benefit all of us, and that since all of us stood to benefit from this vehicle, all of us as individual members of the Alliance would similarly be willing to make certain sacrifices to ensure that this Alliance project succeeds.

4. However as time went by, we in the Patriots for Economic Progress soon came to a realization that our belief regarding the need for opposition unity as a prerequisite for an opposition electoral victory in 2021 was not shared by some of the key members of the Opposition Alliance. It dawned on us that some of our Alliance Members held the belief that they were perfectly capable of winning the 2021 general elections without the need for opposition unity. Their belief regarding the irrelevance of opposition unity as a vehicle for a 2021 electoral victory naturally informed their attitudes towards the Opposition Alliance in general and Alliance members in particular, both explicit and implicit.

5. As Patriots for Economic Progress, it is not our intention to sit here and argue whether opposition unity is necessary for a 2021 opposition electoral victory or not. However, the difference in opinion regarding the necessity of opposition unity as a prerequisite for a 2021 opposition electoral victory essentially renders our continued participation in the Opposition Alliance redundant. We joined and became a part of the Opposition Alliance with the hope and expectation of assisting each other through the creation of synergy. To the extent that some of the key members of the Opposition Alliance believe that they do not require any assistance, we cannot force ourselves and our assistance on them. Accordingly, we in the Patriots for Economic Progress have taken the decision to withdraw our membership and our participation from the Opposition Alliance with immediate effect.

6. As Patriots for Economic Progress, we are strong believers in the practice of civilized politics whereby we look at our political opponents not as our enemies but as our rivals. Therefore, it is our expectation that despite our withdrawal from the Opposition Alliance, we shall continue to relate well with our brothers and sisters in the Opposition Alliance and possibly even collaborate on other issues of common interest. Additionally, if in future the key members of the Opposition Alliance have a genuine change of perspective and adopt a sincere belief that they need us to compliment each other as we walk towards the 2021 general elections, then our doors shall always remain open and we shall be amenable to consider any proposal that shall be put on the table on its merits.

7. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media, perhaps this is the right occasion for us to also stress the point that we have an adversarial type of political system in our country. Unfortunately so, l must add. What this means is that in the days, weeks and months ahead, as we seek to advance the political interests of the Patriots for Economic Progress, we may find ourselves stepping on the toes of other political players who may include our brothers and former colleagues in the Opposition Alliance. For that, we wish to apologize in advance.

8. As Patriots for Economic Progress, we wish to take this opportunity to thank our brothers and sisters in the Opposition Alliance for their comradeship and their hospitality during the last 9 months or so. In my individual capacity as PeP President, l must admit that l have learnt quite a lot from the more experienced members of the Opposition Alliance such as President Hakainde Hichilema of UPND, President Chishimba Kambwili of NDC, President Charles Milupi of ADD and President Elias Chipimo of NAREP. To you all, l shall forever remain indebted.

Thank You and May God Bless the Good Citizens of the Republic of Zambia and Our Ailing Nation.

33 COMMENTS

    • Sean is useless. Trading party for freedom, tomorrow it will be announced that court case is dropped for calling Ba Edgar has mentally ill.

    • Just come out in the open and say, its’s Upnd. Anyway upnd never learns for their past. So supersizing that even the entire party do see this problem. Tomorrow they will form another alliance

    • Sean Tembo sounds so unsure and confused. He doesn’t know whether to go or come and leaves the door half open so that he can come back when it becomes quite clear that Lungu and his PF thieves are going.
      It shows his immaturity in politics because politics require boldness and courage both qualities which he doesn’t have.
      Just come back boy, it is getting hotter outside the opposition my friend

    • Don’t cross the UPNDEAD next they be calling CKinsultor as a one MP party.
      Bachabe bamambala.
      My prayer is that double h never sets a foot or feet is state house.
      Luckily the elite people of Zambia will grant my wish.
      Ba Sean mulesalapuka, nelyo mumwene.
      Mulindwiiii! Normal people don’t trust double h, ask the latest disappointed case, GBVM.

  1. YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN HH ALWAYS WANTS TO RIDE ON OTHERS TO GET TO PLOT 1. IAM GLAD YOU HAVE REALISED SO. YOU EVEN WENT ON HUNGER STRIKE IN THE CELLS JUST FOR HIM. WAISUKA MUTWE MWAICHE…..POLITICS TEYABAICHE.

  2. Sad, a true reflection of our society where working together at almost all levels for common good is always a dream. Yesterday was Kambwili,now this guy then….others will join and destroy what could have given at least some alternative to Zambian against the hopelessness we have under PF! Now PF has been reinforced and will be more emboldened in their bad governance.

  3. I don’t think, they will be any effect to “alliance” with or without this guy. Is alone in the party

    • The problem is not whether he (Sean Tembo) as an individual will have an effect on the alliance. What is problematic is the perseptation that such disunity give to the public. Looking at such happenings in the so called “alliance”, would anybody blame the majority Zambians if they stack with what they already know and see as stable? Just saying!

  4. But that is what it is, Mr. Tembo, you are a one-man political party and you think you can just announce to join the alliance with HH who has the second largest political opposition party in the country and think that you can even dictate the terms. You are there in the alliance as a ” Chola boy” just to help move files from the secretary to HH’s desk. You cannot blame HH, he has all the right to assert his power in relation to the membership of his party.

  5. Wapya mudzi!!!The so called alliance with one purpose of REMOVING PF from power cant work without a clear strategy which would benefit poor Zambians!!!Mr.FTJ Chiluba removed UNIP from power because he promised to improve our economy and majority Zambians wanted that.Mr Sata removed MMD from power because he promised to improve our economy.SO WHAT WOULD ZAMBIANS BENEFIT ONCE PF IS REMOVED BY THE ALLIANCE?IF HH IS AIDED INTO STATE HOUSE,THEN WHAT?Thus, the only aim for this alliance was to give jobs to those unemployed politicians with no following such as Sean Tembo!!SUCH AN ALLIANCE CANT WIN ANY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ZAMBIA!!!You’re simply jokers!!!

  6. ‘Mr Tembo said the main reason for withdrawing was because some of Alliance members hold the belief that they are perfectly capable of winning the 2021 general elections without the need for opposition unity’

    HH as an Economist read and understood and/or passed the meaning of ‘team player’ but can’t apply it.From the time of UDA in 2006,it’s HH’UPND (note:HH’s UPND and not UPND) abrogating the terms of the alliances.I think for now,let me give audience to Sinkamba with his green agenda utleast he not confrontation and tries as much as possible to offer alternatives and tries by all means to come out as a know-it-all President in the waiting.

  7. We foresaw this, you cant gang up against an innocent soul based on personal reasons and simply because you dont like him. To be elected President of Zambia is not a matter of chance or hatred, jealous and bitterness but a true conviction on which the voters can relate. When the Alliance Opposition was formed, only one man thinks he can lead it without giving others chance, so the motive is wrong and Zambians realised this way back. HH doesn’t mean well to many.

  8. Some people never learn, since 2006 alliances have been formed but nothing good has ever come out of these alliance but bickering and defiance from one known party. For as long as the sole purpose of forming alliances is to remove a certain person from plot one and aid another to go there, THIS SHALL NEVER WORK. Court us voters with alternative policies which will improve our lives and those of our brothers and sisters, then we shall aid you to go to plot one.

  9. We honestly we told you from day one that the root you are taking will not yield the desired results you need as a political party. Knowing too well that giant political parties had been disappointed before. To associate with a named opposition party whose ego is always beyond their own imagination is suicidal. In short you are being used no alliance can or will succeed with this named political party and its supreme leader. So be careful!

  10. I strongly believe that each party should stand on their own. There is no need for a united opposition alliance. People are tired of this circus and frankly tired of empty promises that never materialise from those aspiring to lead. Sean is right in his withdrawal and HH is right in his sentiments. good luck to all.

  11. For as long as you have egotistical leaders who all want to be President at the same time, successful political party alliances in Zambia will forever remain a pipedream.

    And so far, who is the COMMON DENOMINATOR in all these failed alliances? Go figure!

  12. People think that politicians can create space for each other. That cannot happen. They all paddle their own canoes in different direction. Don’t expect Kambwili to give space to HH or vice versa. The fact is that HH is gaining popularity same with Kambwili. As a result,they are decampaigning themselves. This is making PF to go to state house on a silver plate. If Kambwili and HH respectively stand as presidents,Edgar Lungu will be president again.There will be vote scattering and division. Forget about state house with your egocentric behavior.

  13. The worst part of Zambian politics is the opposition. They have no clear manifesto and ideals for Zambia as a nation. They all just seek plot one.

  14. Naimwe ba tembo……learn to stay in your lane.

    Before this alliance only your family knew your party, after the alliance you even started getting air time to attack lungu.

    Instead of considering the amount of votes you bring to the alliance and acting accordingly and working hard with in the alliance , you want to reap before you sow ?
    The next best thing you can do is inflate your following and try to make lungu bribe you to keep silent….

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