By Patson Chilemba
Raphael Nakachinda should not be used like a broom, says Paul Moonga.
And Moonga says former president Edgar Lungu’s silence on the happenings in PF may destroy the party.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Moonga said he opposed Shiwang’andu member of parliament Stephen Kampyongo’s statement that the president to replace Lungu will come from among the members of parliament.
Moonga, who is a central committee member, also said he was shocked with remarks by publicity secretary Nakachinda that the central committee had banned campaigns for the presidency in PF.
“My brother Nakachinda please calm down also, don’t be used like a broom… we have never agreed. We have agreed on terms of the date. While the date has been declared for June people need to prepare themselves,” Moonga said. “No where in the central committee did we agree that people shouldn’t come out in the open and declare their interests. Where in the central committee? You can’t tell other people and say no stop campaigning for presidency. President Lungu said he is not standing, as such why should people be blocked? Wait for who?”
Moonga urged his fellow members in the central committee to be sober in their thinking, saying “we need a credible candidate to take over not a parliamentarian.”
“I repeat let us allow our members who are the majority, central committee we are just there steering the party, but we are not the masters of the party. And when we are there at the apex of the party to think that we have got all the wisdom and monopoly then we are a nuisance,” Moonga said. “There are people at the branch, section, ward, constituency, district and province have more wisdom than Paul Moonga and everybody else. Let’s allow the will of the people prevail.”
Moonga urged against self preservation and anti-democratic tendencies, and that leaders must open their ears to the voice of those on the grassroots, saying he could not believe Kampyongo made that statement in the right frame of mind.
“I think politically I have been around and I know how parties are being destroyed … The party will die if those in the central committee believe that only they have the monopoly of wisdom. I won’t be part of that nonsense. I believe in democracy and as such let us allow all the members,” Moonga said. “If Kampyongo wants to go for president let him declare his interests. He’s my good young man, I have never differed with him in my life. I do ask him money for fuel he will give me, he’s my brother. But when it comes to politics I have no brother, I have no mother, I respect what people say. That one I have no compromise.”
Moonga said the mere fact that the party announced they would be holding a general conference to elect the president meant that the campaign period was open for the aspirants to reach out to the provinces to campaign.
“We have never in the central committee agreed to stop people. Where? Any one who does so (campaign for presidency) will be punished, by who?… I want our father (Lungu) to advise my colleagues to stop the nonsense. He’s in charge of the party until we have another president. For now Edgar Chagwa Lungu should tame our tongues. Tell the people to behave. Let’s behave all of us,” said Moonga. “The President should issue a statement that I am leaving the office, I must not leave a divided house. His silence may destroy us.”
