Patriotic Front (PF) Mandevu Member of Parliament (MP), Jean Kapata, has accused the ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) for not preaching democracy and exhibiting the tenets of democracy that the party was founded on.
Mrs Kapata says postponing the holding of the MMD National Convention to somewhere after 2011 is a sign that the party is waving away the principles of democracy.
She says President Rupiah Banda should not be feared but allowed to be challenged now at the MMD convention as opposed to postponing the convention if truly the ruling party is practicing multipartysm.
Mrs. Kapata was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
She said calls by MMD party cadres from districts, provinces and senior National Executive Committee (NEC) members against holding the convention this year are not justified for a party in government that is also ruling.
“President Banda should be subjected to a national convention to see if people want him because waving away to hold a convention this year is stepping away from the principles of democracy. MMD should preach democracy the party was founded on.
“What are they fearing for not holding the convention now when former republican president, Frederick Chiluba and the late Levy Mwanawasa passed through the same process and they were elected. Calls by MMD cadres to postpone the convention are not justified,” she said.
She said former MMD party and republican president, Chiluba and departed the late Mwanawasa were elected at the National Convention and wondered why Mr Banda could not be subjected to national convention where his two predecessors passed through.
Mrs Kapata further accused MMD National Chairman, Michael Mabenga, of making the MMD into a dictatorship by not subjecting its party president, Rupiah Banda, to a democratic process where he can be elected.
Nine MMD Provincial committees have so far endorsed President Banda as the sole party presidential candidate for 2011 polls.
And Mrs Kapata has said former ministers should not be intimidated but allowed to voice out on what is happening in MMD.
She condemned the harassment of former Finance and National Planning Minister and Chilanga MP, Ngandu Magande, and former Defence Minister and Kafulafuta MP, George Mpombo, who are not allowed to speak out what they know about what is transpiring in MMD and its futuristic by certain members of the ruling party.
ZANIS