The list of MMD members condemning MMD Party Spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba for his remarks on succession has started growing. The MMD Youths in Luanshya have called for his resignation over his succession utterances.
MMD District Youth Treasurer Paul Chiwaya told ZANIS in an interview that such utterances were unacceptable and irresponsible.
Mr. Chiwaya said the remarks are from a desperate and power-hungry man who has no heart for the President and the party.
He said that it was unfortunate that when most Zambians, including those from the opposition, were praying for the quick recovery of Dr. Mwanawasa, Mr. Tetamashimba is more concerned about succession issues.
Mr. Chiwaya said the MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) should find a way of stopping such over- zealous members from issuing such statements to the press.
He has since appealed to all peace-loving Zambians to continue praying for the speedy recovery of Dr. Mwanawasa.
And the MMD in Kasama Central in Northern Province has added its voice in condemning the statement issued by Mr. Tentamashimba.
MMD Kasama Central Constituency chairperson Nathan Ilunga told ZANIS that Mr. Tetamashimba’s statement should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves as it is outrageous.
Mr. Ilunga accused Mr. Tetamashimba of being irresponsible and appealed to the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to find ways of restraining him before he causes confusion in the party.
He charged that there was no difference between Mr. Tentamashimba and Malone Zaza who erroneously tipped a South African Radio Station that President Mwanawasa had died.
Mr. Ilunga said the MMD convention will choose the successor to President Mwanawasa at an appropriate time.
The MMD constituency chairman has since appealed to all well-meaning party members to continue praying for the quick recovery of President Mwanawasa so that he can come and resume his normal duties.
And in Mazabuka, the ruling party in the district has since called on Mr. Tentamashimba to unreservedly apologize to the party, the nation and to President Mwanawasa.
District party chairman Trywell Himoonga told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that Mr. Tentamashimba’s remarks are highly provocative and ill-conceived.
Mr. Himoonga charged that Mr. Tentamashimba should not be talking about succession when the entire nation is pre-occupied with praying for the quick recovery of the President.
He urged the party National Executive Committee (NEC) to act with a sense of urgency and take necessary action against Mr. Tentamashimba for issuing a statement that borders on dividing the party and misleading the public on the gravity of the ailment of the President.
Mr. Himoonga said people are bound to think that the President will never function hence the party’s desire to replace him.
He said MMD will have difficulties to convince people in villages that the President is well due to such irresponsible utterances.
And speaking to Daily Mail yesterday, MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba said President Mwanawasa had already initiated a constitutional process to change the party leadership.“As far as leadership change is concerned, President Mwanawasa has already initiated a constitutional process which demands that elections will start at the levels of branches, wards, constituency, district, provincial before the national convention.
He said the party saw no cause for any abrupt discussion of President Mwanawasa’s successor upon his return. He said the MMD had not received any report from Government or any other source suggesting that President Mwanawasa would be unable to provide party leadership upon his return.
Dr Kalumba, further disclosed that Mr Tetamashimba had written a letter to The Post newspaper, copied to him, indicating that he was partly misrepresented.
However, the same Daily Mail source quoted Mr Tetamashimba as saying he wondered why people were making an issue out of this matter.
“I don’t know why people want to make mountains out of this. They have misplaced motives. Katele never defended the President when some woman attacked him, but I did,” he said.
Mr Tetamashimba wondered what Dr Kalumba was up to by rising from nowhere and start defending the President after he got sick.
He alleged that Dr Kalumba had never defended the President and had even stopped helping him to campaign for MMD candidates during election periods.
ENDS/HC/AM/ZANIS