The Patriotic Front (PF) has accused the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government of attempting to pressure the Registrar of Societies to deregister the PF. The party’s Information and Publicity Chairperson, Hon. Raphael Mangani Nakacinda, has described the move as an assault on democracy and an indication of how scared the UPND Government is of the biggest opposition party.
“The UPND is scared of the PF, a party that has remained strong regardless of the efforts made to victimize members through trumped-up court charges,” Hon. Nakacinda said. “While the party will comply with the provisions of the law like always, it does not expect administrative issues to become fundamental to even threaten deregistration.”
The Registrar of Societies had issued a notice of intention to deregister the party for failing to provide a complete list of the party’s office bearers. Hon. Nakacinda criticized the Registrar of Societies for making administrative issues a fundamental issue that could lead to deregistration. He advised the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security Permanent Secretary Joseph Akafumba to stop pressuring the Registrar of Societies to deregister the PF.
“This issue of office bearers requiring to submit their fingerprints is an administrative issue that all was required by the Registrar of Society was to just write a letter requiring those things,” he said. “But this shows that the UPND is scared of the Patriotic Front because the party has remained strong regardless of the efforts made to victimize members and inconvenience people with trumped-up charges in court.”
In response, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba warned that such actions could lead to great political embarrassment for President Hakainde Hichilema. He cited the example of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy’s deregistration in 2012, which backfired and brought great national and international embarrassment to President Michael Sata.
“Whatever the weaknesses, Zambia is a democracy, and there has been a campaign to promote democratic tenets and institutions,” Amb. Mwamba said. “The Patriotic Front as the largest opposition party in Parliament with about 58 Members of Parliament is part of the governance of this country. Therefore, any attempts to deregister the party could lead to unnecessary political tension and a setback in the country’s democratic progress.”
Upnd should just concentrate on improving the country instead of threatening other parties. MMD eliminated Unip but other stronger parties like the PF and Upnd came up. Remember PF is composed of people, it’s not a building that you can destroy and forget
It’s very embarrassing. This is what we mean when we say that it’s change that was never change.
When a team buys players, fans expect an improved game…. but here we’re like Chelsea….new expensive players, new coach but same game.
MMMMM WE DONT WANT SUDAN IN ZAMBIA PLEASE FORGET ABOUT DEREGISTERING PF, DO WHAT IS NENESSARY INORDER TO DEVELOP MOTHER ZAMBIA.
“….Hon. Nakacinda criticized the Registrar of Societies for making administrative issues a fundamental issue that could lead to deregistration….”
Just following due process…………
Following all procedures, including administrative is what drives normal governance…….
Why the need to cut corners with
Africans ???
PF still think they are law………
Just follow the law.Enough of PF lawlessness.You are risking deregistration just because you are looking for a way to accomodate Lungu.You are also abrogating the Constitution with your intra-party undemocratic tendencies
Lol.
Whereas it’s hilarious to see the PF reading what they sowed, it’s very disturbing to see the continuation of the vices that made us vote pf out.
One party state will not be allowed in zambia and let us not destroy our cherished democracy. The whole issue is ECL nothing else.
The whole issue is UPND being afraid of its own shadow. ECL has not said he wants to run and even if he ran why would anyone be scared of him? Its exactly MMD’s fear of Kenneth Kaunda being replayed here. ECL has no energy for politics but by constantly referring to him you are giving him ichimwela
PF should do the right thing and normalise the situation and stop crying about as usual. In the same vein the registrar must handle such things administratively and stop leaking letters to the media as that single act brings political connotations in the picture which is just administrative in nature. And to be fair to the registrar maybe She did that in the past but knowing the arrogance of PF, maybe they were just ignoring
PF is not above the law, all they need to do is follow it, what is so hard about that?
Stop blaming the party in office for your incompotence. UPND did not make the law.
Upnd have never held an election and all office holders are just appointed by Mr Hakainde. What does their party constitution say about holding office? If it is about Lungu they are wasting time because Lungu won’t stand. Even if he stood he wouldn’t win unless Upnd know what we don’t know.
Whats so difficult about meeting that legal requirement?
If other political parties are meeting that requirement, why should the PF be treated differently?
Thats why Miles Sampa reported the PF party to the registrar of societies.
Just follow the law
My comment is under moderation.
@independent
But, ONLY reasonable people are asking such a question. Why NOT comply instead of making a big deal out of this? Why on earth would someone accuse Hakainde or UPND, for this simple and straightforward issue, which is caused by an internal PF power struggle? Kambwili & GBM now dining with ECL,,,,, what? Ati it’s a sign of reconciliation. BVLSH!T
We don’t know the full story yet. From social media ( whether true or not) someone from the registrar whispered to the PF that Upnd are trying to find a way to finish off the PF.
Let’s just wait.
WHY DO YOU PEOPLE HERE EVEN TOLERATE SUCH NONSENSE FROM THIS NAKACHINDA THING?
Is it surprising that the same people above do NOT have trust in the legal system, hence they tend to support tolerance of lawlessness. I mean, the registrar is doing his job based on the law of the country, and he has quoted the actual law, none of the above commentators have challenged the registrar, instead what we see is the same bla…bla….why doesn’t PF just comply, what is stopping them abiding the law? The fact is that LUNGU never left politics, the whole PF leadership is confusing, even among PF members.
It is pathetic and disappointing to see a former ruling party and the largest opposition party trying to mislead the nation on this issue. The registrar of society is not requesting pf to construct a rocket. It is simple, elect office 10 bearers period. So what is there to start accusing UPND of becoming a assaulting democracy.
It is true ,common sense is not that common after all.