By Wallen Simwaka
Political party defections just days before elections may not be based on ideological belief, difference or shift. The ruling MMD has witnessed two resignations of its members in the last three weeks but political commentators see these defections from the ruling party as nothing but opportunism.
MIKE Mulongoti, the former Works and Supply Minister, Lameck Mangani, former Works and Supply Deputy Minister, bigoted former Zambian ambassador to Libya Mbita Chitala and their erstwhile MMD Chongwe member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo have left the MMD and are now sloganeering the Patriotic Front (PF) maxim – a boat, evidently sinking.
Their motive has nothing to do with acute ideological differences with the MMD, the party they have over the years used to build their career and financial status, nor has it got anything to do with representing the will of the people they purport to serve.
The quartet in its judgment believes that the PF will form government this year and have played the dice but what they do not realise is that the German theoretical physicist Albert Einstein once cautioned in one of his theories that God does not play such games with lives of his people.
The foursome has purposefully ganged up in a style and manner of the ancient Roman gladiatorial fight to promote aggression, hate and hatred against the MMD and President Banda.
Listening to the quartet makes one realise that the four have suddenly become political purists yet deeply despise President Banda, not for any discernable ideological reason but for having discovered that their failure to colonise the head of State.
For Dr Chitala and Ms Masebo, switching parties has been a cancer they have suffered in decades with the former having left the MMD in 1994 to join the late Dean Mung’omba in the Zambia Democratic Congress (ZADECO) whom he later betrayed.
Ms Masebo’s sense of opportunism is quite high as her record equally shows that she has been very rickety politically having left the MMD to join the Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) of Benjamin Mwila in 2001 and later defecting to the MMD in 2006 when she saw the MMD under late Mwanawasa remaining in government.
After the death of President Mwanawasa, Ms Masebo was among the first to have wedged a malicious campaign against President Banda because she believed former Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande should have been adopted to contest the 2008 presidential elections.
It is ironic, however, that Ms Masebo, who strongly believed Mr Magande should have been president has instead defected to the PF, the political party that she vehemently loathed when President Mwanawasa was alive.
It is only logical to discern that she has joined the PF and not Mr Magande because she hopes that Mr Sata will win the elections this year and would consider her for another job in his government.
She did not stay in the ZRP because the party was in the opposition and all her desires were to be associated with the ruling party.
Mr Mwila, who is ZRP president and Nchelenge member of Parliament has described his former secretary general Masebo as a truant politician who has continued swinging from one political party to other for personal gain.
Mr Mwila said the electorate should be asking Ms Masebo why they should continue voting for her every five years on a different political party.
Mr Mwila said while Ms Masebo has the democratic right to belong to any political party of her choice, she has in her political life been confusing the electorate by changing parties every five years.
Mr Mwila says the electorate should be sensitised to stop believing in persons and following blindly politicians whose characteristics are not predictable.
“Why should the people of Chongwe continue voting for her? She has been changing political parties every five years and that is being truant politically.
Although she has the right to change political parties if she wants, she must not take the electorate for granted. For now, it is up to the people of Chongwe to look at her because it is now looking like it is tribal on her part,” Mr Mwila said.
He said Ms Masebo has been misleading the people of Chongwe by changing political parties and that her interest is not about serving the communities but to gain her own benefits from the parties she goes.
He stated that Ms Masebo lacked principles by joining the political party that she maligned and slandered ceaselessly when she was in government.
Mr Mwila said the people defecting from the MMD now have openly exhibited naked political opportunism and the electorate should be wondering why they have chosen to leave the ruling party now and not much earlier.
From the beginning, the PF has been indoctrinating its supporters, mostly the youth with its irreverent myth of complete development in all economic sectors punctuating it with the dogma of more money in the pocket and employment for all within 90 days of assuming government.
A decade down the road, the youth have seen through the political dogma and are asking the modus operandi Mr Sata will use to turn Zambia into a paradise within three months.
Mr Mulongoti and his bed fellows Mr Chitala, Kafulafuta member of Parliament George Mpombo and Ms Masebo are currently working hard to negatively compute the economic, social and political successes President Banda has recorded in the world’s shortest time for any president.
For Mr Mulongoti and his friend, Mbita, who changes names as often as he does change political parties and Mpombo, the ascendancy of Mr Sata to power will help them settle whatever scores they have against President Banda.
The obtuse band of the four political charlatans has been going around the countryside telling the people that the MMD government has done nothing, yet just months ago, the same people were eulogising President Banda for his hard work and dedication to national development and reconciliation.
When President Banda was commissioning the construction of the Isoka-Muyombe road, Mr Mulongoti was full of praise for the President describing him as the most dedicated leader who is determined to have Zambia develop.
He is now disparaging the same works he was proud of and this is nothing but out of sour grapes.
Mr Mulongoti has not been subtle in his hatred for President Banda and has openly stated that he has joined the PF so that should the opposition political party form government, he should use it to settle scores against the head of State.
Mr Mulongoti is a bitter man that he was expelled from the ruling party and would want to come back through the PF and get even with President Banda and the MMD.
He has gone to the PF not because he believes in its ideology but because he wants to use the opposition political party to victimise those he now considers his foes.
Mr Mulongoti said he has never been sympathetic about the PF but that he is going to support the party because of personal interests.
“Principles, values and beliefs do not always rhyme with reality and when this happens, you opt to sacrifice these virtues. So sometimes people move from one political party to another to get even…to teach the other a lesson from where you are coming from even if you believe in the agenda. They rejected me and I became an anathema in my own party, so certainly I have issues with them,” Mr Mulongoti was quoted as saying recently.
While in the MMD, the four thought they would succeed in gaining control over President Banda and that he would succumb to their manoeuvres and anoint one of them to be the heir to the presidency but their equation was computed with serious deficiencies which have since exposed their ineptitude.
By and large, President Banda has remained steadfast in serving the country and he has dedicated his time to planning for where next to take development and in what form.
He has also emerged not only as a pacifist in the MMD but also as Zambia’s most successful President who is ready to be disparaged to the length for ‘littering’ the country with economic infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals.
In President Banda’s mind, every school, road and hospital around the country is a living organism that represents the economic health of the country.
The political thermometer for the PF and Mr Sata has plunged well below zero and the chances of ever forming government he started proclaiming the demonic doctrine of reverting Zambia to a secular state that would see homosexuals and lesbians enjoy their conjugal rights.
The Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has described the recent defection of Ms Masebo and Mr Mangani from the MMD as political opportunism of the worst kind.
SACCORD executive director Lee Habasonda says those who are resigning from the MMD are not serving the interest of the people but their own.
He said in an interview that Ms Masebo and Mr Mangani should give good reasons to the people they purport to represent why they had to wait until days before elections to defect from the MMD.
Mr Habasonda has advised the PF to be cautious with politicians who defect from their political parties just before elections stating that such politicians do so more for opportunism rather than service.
The PF should not be celebrating the resignation of Ms Masebo and Mr Mangani from the MMD because there is nothing ideological about their actions. It is only a question of benefits and this is not good for our political dispensation,” Mr Habasonda said.
He said the defections have cost the country a lot of money that could have been channelled to development programmes such as the construction of schools, hospitals and roads.
Mr Habasonda said Zambia urgently needs a law that would stop politicians who take advantage of the electorate and resign from their parties knowing they would easily be accepted and adopted in their new parties.
He said it is not politically and morally right for Ms Masebo and Mr Mangani to defect from the MMD and then allowed to re-contest their seat on the PF ticket where there are many members of the opposition political party that have been eying the same seat.
“They are abusing the voters. Why have they waited until now to resign from the MMD and then the PF should happily accept them. My advice to the PF is that they should not be celebrating these defections.
It is not the first time Ms Masebo and Mr Mangani have defected from their parties. In fact they should explain why they stayed for so long and decided to defect when elections are near,” Mr Habasonda said.
He explaines that the two pretended that all was well when they were in Government and now that they are out, that is when they want to tell the people how bad the MMD is.
Mr Habasonda said the country should come up with the law that will reduce the incentives of political prostitution among politicians because such behaviour does not add anything to democracy.
The quartet proved to be dark angels in the MMD and there is every reason to believe that at some point, it will refuse to sing along with the PF; what with the hoarse voice of the choirmaster!
Such a long story full of nothing, but MMD cadre journalism. What a shame? Sadly ba LT this will not sway our resolve to support the eviction of RB and MMD from government. Calling Masebo and Mangani as opportunists does not make them so. Only an imbecile would see an opportunity open for them and fail to seize it. All top scorers in soccer always seize scoring opportunities. RB/MMD government have had several opportunities to rid Zambia of poverty due to copper pricing, but their corruption has made them fail to seize opportunity. So being an opportunist is not a bad thing. Life, business, sports, politics anything, is about opportunity. Take or leave, regret later.
Why not write the same about the so called Rebel MPs?
Why always say negative about one when they leave and not when they are still in the system?You are just popularizing them
Talking of leaving government due to ideological differences, one wonders what type of political ideology Zambia practices. The only known in this RB/MMD government is Corruption, which also is not an ideology. The other one foolishly bestowed on Banda is Absolutism. So, can someone clarify why someone should stay in MMD government after seeing the direction Banda is taking the country after even seeing what happened in Zimbabwe?
Ba LT has the story about the Chipata PF rally, but is afraid to discuss that because MMD just got buried at their own turf. Sad day for MMD cadres. Seems like they have a consolation in this negative story, but PF is right now in cruise control/auto pilot. Which ever day RB picks, it will not help him at all. People are… Fed up!
Those that join MMD you don’t talk rubbish about them like the label MPs,now y does it pain u when they leave MMD and join other parties like UPND and PF especially it not fair ba LT. The story u have writen here is only they to discredit PF. Write something on the Mp who recently joined MMD from Nawakwi’s party. lets be fair in our reporting Ba LT.
The thinking in this article illustrates everything that is wrong with Zambian politics. There seems to be this inherent hatred torwards political oponents. If a person defects from the ruling party, they are accused of having done so because they hate RB. So, are all you who support RB doing it because you love RB? I thought it had something to do with their policies.
Our politics needs to graduate to a level where people may differ on political ideologies, and yet still be friends. It is quite disheartening to see the vitriol our politicians constantly throw at each other. We should grow up and put the parties to task on how they aim to achieve what they are purporting, and the ruling party should be asked why we are a middle income country and yet we seem to be lagging on the HDI
How dare you quote Einstein in this garbage.
What is even worse is that ba LT feels like not giving credit to Daily Mail will make a difference. But they forget we know the employers for the writer. This is pure 100% plus plus Daily Mail Column Article. Good try ba LT.
Dora is an angel?
is GK an angel?
VJ is an angel too
This is really a damn good story and well written and researched, thumbs up to Mr. Wallen Simwaka. Politics of the stomach indeed, there is no better way to descibe Masebo and Mangani than what you have written. Any sensible, patriotic Zambian who loves the country and is a christian can not vote for Sata and his sinking titanic. VIVA RB VIVA MMD, NI PANKOLOKO FYE WETHER YOU SATANISTS (FOLLOWERS OF SATA) LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE IN POWER AND WE ARE CONTINUING WITH THE PEOPLES MANDATE WHICH THEY WILL GIVE RB SOON. ALL BANDANIST PLEASE VOTE FOR RUPIAH BANDA AND SATANISTS VOTE FOR SATA, THE COBRA WORSHIPER!
This is better than reading the PF newsletter!
Only morally bankrupt people are remaining in MMD
Independent surveys carried out say MMD will lose these elections The winning party is where all who are wise are deflecting to. That boat is half way down and there’s no way of salvaging it. I wonder haw many more are going to jump before it’s too late.
Eastern province is a region of the wise and rational actors. They are hard and practically impossible to cheat.Mangani failed to deliver Eastern Province to MMD over the many years he was heading the party in the Province for over 15 years.
It too RB to deliver eastern Province to MMD in 2006. If he has been a factor, why did it have to take RB who Mwanawasa recognized with the medal of Vice President and President today? Let PF waste its time in Eastern as it has done in Western province where they are set to end up with tail gate ending in the 3rd rank.
RB and MMD will carry eastern as Western with run away margins like in many other regions to the point of Sata entering into his final and exit stroke. Where he will lose, it will be strong second position. But in a winner take its it all, MMD nad RB its a victory much all the way into 2016.
MMD Ninafuti Nafuti.
On comparison RB is much better than Satan!!!
It took RB to deliver eastern Province to MMD in 2006 which Mangani lamentably failed to do. What vudu will he use to change the wise and conservative people of Eastern Province? Its another political miscalculation of Sata.
No doubt Easterners are looking at Mangani as Chiselekwete or Chizende.
This is just a mere copy and paste of what BY said and what Habasonda said.
Nothing original in this article.
As the bemba adage says “bakolwe basekana ifipato
Welcome back bwana Senior Citizen. You wrote this article, didn’t you SC? It has your DNA all over it little wonder you’ve come back from the dead to defend it from criticism. Honestly, i envy your tenacity but dear Sunshine i respectfully urge you to read signs of impending change pasted everywhere across our country and abandon your quest to change cyber-Zambia because its not working, in short its pointless. It seems the more your party campaigns the more it loses its appeal.
Do not underestimate the potency of ”Donchi kubeba” slogan. Two weeks ago i attending UPND T-bone sharing session at one of their rallies, everyone including Tongas surprisingly were whispering ”donchi kubeba” in between teasing,silly, cheeky giggles. Until then i didnt take the slogan seriously but not anymore. DONCHI KUBEBA!!!
Msana Wanzili, I respect your views but my heart felt observation is that you look at thing subjectively. Let me tell you one thing which even if you go home tonite, it will haunt you and have sleepless nites. Prayerfully, have you ever pndered on what valuable substance TONGA people have. Have you ever thought of living next door to people you have openly demonised? And finally do you think in this age and era, we still need to be charged the way you are to a tribe when people have intermarried and are living in peace together. Your utterances are a recipe for tribal wars and regionalisation. Watch your mouth brother. GOD is watching and hearing every word. God bless you as think through my words.!!!!
#24: It appears this party is preparing for extended life in the opposition. Please show the electorate your plan and the team that’s going to execute it. It’s not enough just to criticize MMD, you have to come up with alternatives. PF is forever justifying its existence by pointing out woes in MMD – fact that your neighbor is retrogressing does not translate into progress for you. So where is the plan and the team – surely not the one that is being fished from MMD?
Warning to PF – don’t just set your eyes on the presidency because I can foresee MMD joining the rest of the opposition to block every piece of legislation and, if they can garner 2 thirds majority, impeach Cobra who’d have to dissolve Parliament and call election in 90 (constitutional) days.
# 25,The Constant Optimist,
Though not an easy race, MMD is set for a triumphant re-entry into 2012 with a renewed mandate from rational citizens to continue the momentum of unprecedented national wide development. Every Zambian has come to understand that RB and MMD means more new schools, hospitals, better Roads, bridges and absolute national food security of historic evidence. The mobile coffin of this retard called sata is only an empty entity of insults and goose chase.
For the first time since I started blogging, I agree with you Senior Citizen becoz you have been sober in elevating RB over Sata, who needless to say, is a good opposition populist leader and it ends there. Not fit for plot 1 consumption AT ALL or EVER.
Warren Simwaka Chikaala from kalulushi sec. school 1989. only got a merit in english and became an assistant journalist. Anyway we cant blame you our friend for leaking assses.
The only ultimate self cleansing MMD can undergo is to get rid of Rupiah and his terror, then roll out and effect real intra party reforms to democratise. Short of this the party is doomed
Absolutely rubbish article….. PF to rule….. Banda had nothing to his name which would have suggested by anyone to nominate him for presidency think about it….. Put Sata in government see if he wont deliver and if same people wont want him for muyaya it logical…but I would like to agree and bring in Patrick Mwanawasa’s suggestion of Sata 5 years as well…. hatred is what is scaring all those who are falling to see that MMD has given us 20 already….kuyabebele its has simple has that……this is not Zimbabwe where President Banda was born…… change is here… hatred or not…. Africa has this syndrome of wanting to rule for life…cant people see that especially all those supporting Banda…
this article is full of gabbage
” MIKE Mulongoti, the former Works and Supply Minister, Lameck Mangani, former Works and Supply Deputy Minister, bigoted former Zambian ambassador to Libya Mbita Chitala and their erstwhile MMD Chongwe member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo have left the MMD and are now sloganeering the Patriotic Front (PF) maxim – a boat, evidently sinking. ”
If they were the ‘dark angels’ of the MMD, why didn’t the MMD fire them, before they left on their own?
The Lusaka Times needs to consider whether they are a state enterprise, or an MMD enterprise. Not only because that is the professional thing to do. Also because the MMD is going to be history by end of 2011.
So please keep the cadreism out of your reporting.
” By and large, President Banda has remained steadfast in serving the country and he has dedicated his time to planning for where next to take development and in what form. ”
I guess that is why we are seeing all these UNFUNDED ‘developments’ at election time.
Face it, the Zambian people have been an afterthought during his entire reign. He has been lining his pockets on the firesale of state assets. ZAMTEL, RP Capital Partners, mobile hospitals, the NCC fiasco, removing the abuse of office clause from the ACC act…
This is what the writer wants to sell as steadfastly ‘serving the country’?
NO MORE CADRES AT LUSAKA TIMES, PLEASE!
Dear Wallen// You have a point. The whole PF as an off-shoot of the MMD. Name them; from the Cobra, the Scotts, the Winas, the Mpombos, the Mulongoti, the Masebo etc. These are the same brains that were at the core of decision making in MMD but now criticizng their own output. Zambians we must be very careful and choose what to accept from PF propaganda. These friends left the MMD but if wins this year’s election soem are likely to rejoin. For now MMD must concentrate on rebuilding the damage left behind by these political prostitutes. Its a chance to give the party a new leadership that will address the challenges facing the Zambian people. Let there be a new vision for the party and Zambia as a whole.
Usual children story from Duckson Jere , MMD Zwaaaaaa
LUSAKA TIMES = I.D.I.O.T.S
MMD = LUSAKA TIMES = I.D.I.O.T.S
RB = MMD = LUSAKA TIMES = I.D.I.O.T.S
GREAT ARTICLE…………………..UR SPOT ON
Yes MMD is undergonig purification and being purified by the sub standard chemical called UNIP which will further contaminate MMD and the results will be called Vigilant syndrome of which there will be no cure.However more research has to be done before we make a meaningful conlussions.
VJ were are you these small boats cant continue insulting your party MMD and you are quiet tell them a story.
ndani anena akudya