THE MMD says it abhors politics of violence and insults and has called on opposition political parties to avoid verbal assaults against their political opponents.
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya said Zambians are more interested in politics of development and not mud-slinging and name-calling.
Ms Siliya said the MMD is a party that believes in democracy but that it will not condone indiscipline from members that have gone wayward.
Ms Siliya condemned alleged threats by MMD Lusaka Province youth chairperson Chris Chalwe that youths would gang-rape Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi for allegedly insulting President Banda. Ms Siliya said the statement is unfortunate.
She said this in an interview on Zambezi FM radio in Livingstone on Saturday.
“Let us play politics of development and not politics of electioneering all the time. There must be a time for politics of development. The MMD believes in democracy and dialogue.
“We are not for violence, insults and name-calling. What the people of Zambia want to hear is what kind of developmental agenda we have and not who can mouth out the worst insult,” Ms Siliya said.[quote]
She said it is important that the country’s political space be filled with issues affecting people rather than insults and violence.
Ms Siliya said the MMD youth are forced to make certain statements because some opposition political leaders are always insulting President Banda.
She said every leader has a following and that when that leader is insulted or carelessly spoken about, his or her followers are bound to respond negatively.
“What people should realise is that President Banda, as leader of the MMD, has a lot of followers. So, when you begin to insult or speak negatively about him, you are inciting his followers to respond in a negative manner.
We should not forget that there are people who are so passionate about President Banda and respect him. However, two wrongs do not make a right, so we must at all times avoid violence and insults,” Ms Siliya said.
She said her prime occupation as the ruling party’s spokesperson is to market the vision of the MMD and attract as many members as possible.
Ms Siliya denied assertions that she is President Banda’s ‘blue-eyed girl’ who is above reproach and untouchable.
She said people are free to make their own opinions about her, adding that she has always added value to the party.
Ms Siliya said the MMD appointed her as the party’s spokesperson because it believed she has qualities apart from being hard-working and a team player.
She said she was humbled to have been considered for the position of spokesperson for the MMD, adding that it is a sign that the ruling party is moving with time.
Ms Siliya also endorsed the expulsion of MMD Livingstone Constituency chairman John Mwamulima, saying even when the party is committed to democratic principles, there is need for members to be disciplined.
She said President Banda believes in dialogue and discipline and that it is important that members respect rules and regulations governing the MMD.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Ms Siliya is doing her job very well. The opposition must know that politics must add value to the nation. Spouting insults has the tendency to infect cadres who then begin to spout venomous vile insults. All you have to do is visit LT during the peak period of 12:00am to 10:00am Pacific Time. You can be shocked at the insults that are spouted by opposition bloggers.
Leaders must show a good example beginning with practicing mature politics that will inhibit enthusiasm in the youth who are looking upon leaders for development. Calling Major Chizyuka all sorts of vile names is not adding any value in the political arena.
The opposition must restructure the way they practice politics.
Hahahahahahahaha Kamo capitalist you are short sighted. Is it not recently that your hooligans dared Edith Nawakwi with rape?
The level of boot-licking in this woman is frightening! Does she even believe in her own words when she says RB believes in dialogue? Who has RB, since becoming president, sat down and ironed-out their differences with? The only dialogue RB knows is “Firing”. And ‘Mama’ Siliya wants us not trust our own eyes and intelligence?!
One other thing Madam Siliya, there could be no justification for anyone to threaten “gang r.a.p.e” of a Zambian mother. Ms Nawakwi is a mother, just like Thandi Banda (the first lady) is—and by that measure alone she deserves respect. One wonders where the MMD youths are getting the courage and the belief that they are above the law. Could it be because the man on top, RB, seems to tolerate this kind of garbage if directed at his political enemies?
Mr. capitalist with due respect, u have talked about major Chizyuka that called “all sorts of vile names” but you forgot to finish it by adding that even major Chizyuka was the 1st one to insult HH.
For Dora, if it was in the USA she would have quite her position, but this is Zambia a country of vernomous snakes, crocodiles, lions and hynas with crooked politicians. I have a dossier on Dora, when she was attached to Egyptian embassy, she used to come to Chingola to see Richard Kazala for noctunal affairs. On tax payers money mind u. Interview her see if she will refuse.The whole Chingola knows this, they were spending nites in Guest houses with the two of them when Kazala was married. So she is the last person to advice us.The expose can be extended to any politician if I know…
“she has qualities apart from being hard-working and a team player”.
I like the last word, PLAYER.
All this MMD nonsense is happening at the expense and negligence of the MoE.
MMD chaps forget so quickly and easily. Few days ago I read Banda was calling Sata all sorts of names. At one campaign in Kasama he was calling PF supporters Vipuba and all sorts of derogatory names. So, by opposition responding to their nonsense, that means they are insulting their “saint” Banda. Dora has rightly pointed out that Banda has his supporters so does the opposition leaders. In fact the pain people are fighting is worse than the opposition people have shown to Banda that MMD cadres characterize as insults. I have never seen anyone on this blog that insults Banda but points out his failures.
I thought the MMD thugs are the ones who introduced violence in this country.What can one say about Gaston or whatever his name is, wrestling against a helpless UNIP member?
ha ha ha I will copy Mpangula Mputyu # 4 and Kalos2020 #5 comments and frame them in my toilet. To be having a good laugh each time I’m int the LOO. Hammer them, we are sick and tired of the MMD percieving to be insulted whn u poit out the wrong yet they are the ones on the offensive insulting the citizens. IFWE ati IYO, KANO BENA.
She said “Let us play politics of development”. Dora would do better to preach to her own party. This is precisely our problem with the MMD govt. It has failed to show the country the way forward. Apart from people like Mutati (occasionally), who else in MMD is talking sensible politics of development?
#8 Nkosi – YOU ARE 100% CORRECT. IN MY TOWN WE NOT ABLE TO DISCUSS FREELY WITHOUT BEING INTERFERED WITH BY MMD THUGS. YES SHE SHOULD 1st EDUCATE HER MEMBERS THAT RESPECT IS A 2 WAY TRAFFIC.
its good and easy for them to say they will rape some one, but if they are on the receving end then its serious insults. She is just a pain in the ****** of many defencless Zambians
Good Afternoon
Dora may be right about violence and insults being detrimental but she would also do well to advise her party to remove the beam in their own eye first before they try to take it out of the eyes of others. It is the responsibility of the national leadership to bring political parties together in meaningful dialogue rather than dominating, proliferating and disconnecting them from national governance like MMD is currently doing.
Which country in the world has their Minister of Education with two duties. If Zambians and the media do not find Dora Siliya handling two posts it is very troubling …this is where Zambia’s work ethic problems begin. Ministry of Education is like the Ministry of Health. Dora Siliya is not superwoman. Ministry of education needs her undivided attention. This is not bashing her but a matter of concern. Have all the targets and objectives in the Minitry of education been achieved? Are people more concerned and impressed about Dors scoring points in party politics? Or her duty as Minister of Education? The leader of Ministry of Health or Education should not have time to be an MMD attack dog to the oppostion etc education is not a political game.
Dora and those MMD women cadres remind us of Malawi’s Kadzamila and mbumba za Kamuzu. They have nothing to offer but boot-licking.
The problem is you keep justifying your cadres’ violence. There is no need for this kind of hooliganism, no matter how offended one is. Surely, as a woman, how can you justify your cadres’ vow to rape a fellow woman? They might feel grieved, but are we going to allow fanaticism to take over politics? In fact, another bunch of cadres, who are women, are also threatening violence on Nawakwi. This kind of nonsense should stop. If they feel that RB has been insulted, they should report matters to the Police, instead of taking them into their own hands. By the simple fact that the police have not moved in to arrest Nawakwi shows that what she said does not amount to insults
After sleeping with Leornard Kantumoya, Chisha Folotiya,James Ndambo,Richard Kazala,Rupiah Banda & currently a South African govt offficial watch your husbands ladies this Dora is an aggressive man eater.
Dora is beautiful ….. cant help fantasising
Dora has just brought politics of IF IN YOUR. She has used her EACH IN YOUR to get to where she is. What is she talking about? Who doesn’t know about her dubious dealings with Zamtel? She thinks Zambians have suddenly forgoten? Aba EACH IN YOUR!
#15 Ask your Mother how many she slept with before you were born and after. You are so shallow. This is what Dora is saying that when you say bad things to certain people like the president, There are those who are so passionate about and other people including Dora we can not keep quite when you are insulting her. Your Mother is a prostitute otherwise how did she have you *****
MMD=/=MikuMikuDance.