FORMER Lusaka MMD District secretary Michael Phiri has deplored the ranting of former Defence minister George Mpombo as unacceptable and called for his immediate dismissal from the party.
Mr Phiri has also challenged Mr Mpombo to reveal his true origins instead of masquerading as a spokesperson for the Lamba speaking people.
Speaking in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Phiri said it was becoming increasingly embarrassing for Mr Mpombo to continue disparaging the party in public and it was now a foregone conclusion that the man was no longer an MMD member and remained so only on paper.
While the concept of freedom of expression was roundly accepted and understood in any civilised society, it was folly for the former minister to stand on an anthill almost on a daily basis and without grounds use all manner of invectives against the party leadership to gain political mileage.
Mr Phiri wondered how Mr Mpombo who claimed to be an MMD member found it appropriate to publicly insult the party leadership when he knew too well what party structures, protocols and forums were available to him if he wanted to complain about issues.
‘If you quarrel with your wife in a home, you do not go in the middle of the street and start insulting her in public, not if you still want her, Mr Mpombo’s behaviour clearly shows that he is not interested in the party and he yearns to be dismissed,” Mr Phiri said.
He challenged Mr Mpombo to state the truth about the recent reorganisation of the party, which saw former deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande dropped from his position and replaced by former diplomat Chembe Nyangu and other positions.
Mr Mpombo recently charged that all those who were placed in new positions hailed from Eastern Province when according to Mr Phiri it was a fact that notable names like Vernon Mwaanga who were not Easterners had also been co-opted.
Mr Phiri insisted that appointments in the party were not based on tribe stressing that in any case, the NEC was a committee comprising many people and the acting party president only usually chaired it.
He said there was nothing sinister about the acting president co-opting party members from the general membership because that had happened before.
“I am forced to discuss how Mr Kaande himself was brought into the MMD NEC by the late president Mwanawasa, Mr Kaande was an ordinary member who took over the reigns of the office, why did Mr Mpombo remain mute then?
“Those appointed to such party political offices are brought in to serve the interests of the party and that of the president,” he said.
And commenting on the real origins of the man, Mr Phiri challenged Mr Mpombo to deny that he was not Lamba but hailed from somewhere in Luapula Province adding that it was not up to Mr Mpombo to ordain himself spokesperson for the Lambas because he only settled in the area.
He said the former minister could do well to concentrate on his personal businesses instead of making a clown of himself in public.
[Times of Zambia]
WAT DO U EXPECT FRM A PHIRI…
another rat trying to craw from the woodworks scrounging for a job-Eastern Power is rulling,the reincanation of UNIP
Mr Mpombo should just come out in open and declare his intentions for the future.We are tired of this behaviour from him.=;=;
Someone help me, is this Michael Phiri the former ZRA Commissioner now Auditor with KPMG.We got our ACCA together but have since lost contact.I didn’t know he had at some time served as Lusaka MMD District secretary though i knew of his active MMD loyalty from time in memorial.And Anyone with an ideal of the where about of Kings Sibisi founder and owner of Dakota Industries on Findeco House.He was some Mandevu Constituency MMD fimo fimo but engaged in heavy fraud deals with ZESCO accounts departments untill fake multi million US Dollar payments vouchers blew in his face.He ran to the UK following a check payment scam at Barcklays Bank Cairo Road that opened the pandora box.I’m keen to know what they have done to his Ibex properties?
It health the Mpombo has kept on talking and this is what builds democracy. Imagine if Mpombo did not challenge RB and his croonies who wanted to forego the MMD convention, what would have happened? Mpombo, i have respect for you keep telling them, bauze so that they do the right thing. Who said that when you live in the same house you can critisize each other?
Its at times like this one that am ashamed to be called an Easterner. Iwe Phiri, can you Shu.t up!![-x. Uti sebanya, ala. As if having RB for President was not enough!! Its because of the likes of Mpombo (manje Zina…Yangu), that you chaps are even contemplating of going to the convention. You need brave men like Mpombo, not “yes bwana” characters.
what do u expect from an easternere..muzungu anikonde type..that ba mwenye like working with you..u like killing ur friends names!!