By Daily Revelation Editor
Veteran politician Akashatwa Mbikusita Lewanika says he does know if chief government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa is the authority to tell who is influential or not.
During a recent interview with Daily Revelation, Mweetwa described the group of elders, to which Lewanika, Dr Mbita Chitala and former Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda are members of, as “spent forces” over their drive to unite opposition forces against the ruling UPND.
Reacting to Mweetwa in an interview with Daily Revelation on Wednesday, Lewanika said the issue of whether he was influential or not was irrelevant, as he was not concerned about himself, but the country.
First things first. Aka, like any other human being, or even through his association with politics, has his own weaknesses.
However, if there are politicians in the country who have tried and remained committed towards pursuing principled positions, definitely Aka must be among those. This is someone who played a critical role towards the restoration of multiparty politics in the country, through the auspices of the Movement for MultiParty Democracy.
After playing a critical role towards the reintroduction of multipartism, Aka was also among the few who stood out in opposition when then president Frederick Chiluba’s administration started to veer away from the very principles they had fought for in enabling the country to return to multipartism.
Over the years, Aka has spoken and fought for the growth of multipartism in the country, including now when he felt that the ruling UPND was on a drive to amend the constitution that would lead to more presidential powers through the infamous Bill 7, which was recently signed into law.
Aka has infact not hidden his dismay over the government moves, and has even expressed his disappointment, particularly that he was sympathetic towards President Hakainde Hichilema.
He is now working with some ‘elders’ to try to mobilise the opposition forces against the ruling UPND. We are just not sure if the same opposition forces would be patriotic enough to pursue a path that seeks to enhance democracy in the country, as politicians often promise heaven on earth when they are in the opposition and then usually do a complete 360 degrees U-turn when elected into office.
But the fact that Aka is pursuing a course that is at odds with the position held by Mweetwa and those in government does not make him irrelevant. We need to be a country that respects our fellow citizens even when they are advancing matters that are at odds with what we believe in.
We are sure that the same man Cornelius is referring to as irrelevant and having no influence whatsoever, would have been receiving endless airtime and coverage on state television, radio and newspaper if he were speaking in favour of the ruling party.
We don’t agree with Cornelius over his remarks. If anything, we urge Mweetwa to think deeply and moderate his words given his role as chief government spokesperson, especially where it concerns sons and daughters of this soil who have played an integral role in its well being.
Mweetwa may not agree with Aka, and he has a right to actually. But in his disagreeing he also should not lose the respect that Aka truly deserves in the life of this country.
If anything, Mweetwa and those in government should reflect seriously and seek to engage with people like Aka on some of the important national issues, especially where it concerns democracy and civil liberties.
Related
By Daily Revelation Editor
Veteran politician Akashatwa Mbikusita Lewanika says he does know if chief government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa is the authority to tell who is influential or not.
During a recent interview with Daily Revelation, Mweetwa described the group of elders, to which Lewanika, Dr Mbita Chitala and former Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda are members of, as “spent forces” over their drive to unite opposition forces against the ruling UPND.
Reacting to Mweetwa in an interview with Daily Revelation on Wednesday, Lewanika said the issue of whether he was influential or not was irrelevant, as he was not concerned about himself, but the country.
First things first. Aka, like any other human being, or even through his association with politics, has his own weaknesses.
However, if there are politicians in the country who have tried and remained committed towards pursuing principled positions, definitely Aka must be among those. This is someone who played a critical role towards the restoration of multiparty politics in the country, through the auspices of the Movement for MultiParty Democracy.
After playing a critical role towards the reintroduction of multipartism, Aka was also among the few who stood out in opposition when then president Frederick Chiluba’s administration started to veer away from the very principles they had fought for in enabling the country to return to multipartism.
Over the years, Aka has spoken and fought for the growth of multipartism in the country, including now when he felt that the ruling UPND was on a drive to amend the constitution that would lead to more presidential powers through the infamous Bill 7, which was recently signed into law.
Aka has infact not hidden his dismay over the government moves, and has even expressed his disappointment, particularly that he was sympathetic towards President Hakainde Hichilema.
He is now working with some ‘elders’ to try to mobilise the opposition forces against the ruling UPND. We are just not sure if the same opposition forces would be patriotic enough to pursue a path that seeks to enhance democracy in the country, as politicians often promise heaven on earth when they are in the opposition and then usually do a complete 360 degrees U-turn when elected into office.
But the fact that Aka is pursuing a course that is at odds with the position held by Mweetwa and those in government does not make him irrelevant. We need to be a country that respects our fellow citizens even when they are advancing matters that are at odds with what we believe in.
We are sure that the same man Cornelius is referring to as irrelevant and having no influence whatsoever, would have been receiving endless airtime and coverage on state television, radio and newspaper if he were speaking in favour of the ruling party.
We don’t agree with Cornelius over his remarks. If anything, we urge Mweetwa to think deeply and moderate his words given his role as chief government spokesperson, especially where it concerns sons and daughters of this soil who have played an integral role in its well being.
Mweetwa may not agree with Aka, and he has a right to actually. But in his disagreeing he also should not lose the respect that Aka truly deserves in the life of this country.
If anything, Mweetwa and those in government should reflect seriously and seek to engage with people like Aka on some of the important national issues, especially where it concerns democracy and civil liberties.
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