By Mubanga Mubanga
UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has warned party members to desist from attacking the party leadership in the media.
Speaking during a press briefing at the UPND secretariat in Lusaka yesterday, where he announced the expulsion of Chisanka ward councilor in Kafue Kebby Sikangila and member of the national management committee ( NMC) Fraser Moonde for indiscipline, Mweetwa said party members should desist from attacking the party leadership through social media.
“It has been observed that some UPND members or purported members as the case may be are escalating attacks to the party leadership through social media. We want to encourage genuine members of the UPND to desist from attacking party leadership through social media or any other medium,” Mweetwa said.
“Here let me be clear and categorical, that we have noticed as NMC observed yesterday that some of the fora are actually professed UPND fora. Some of them ascribing to be UPND media platforms, yet taking liberty to be attacking party leadership at will. We want to indicate to all those who are in those fora, henceforth, to desist and stop attacking party leadership.”
Mweetwa also said the party would identify those sponsoring party members to attack the party leadership on social media.
Monde was expelled for sharing internal party matters on social media.
“As a member of the highest governing body, he ought to have known that the party has a system airing grievances and that NMC deliberation is not for engaging others and the party through social media, or any other medium to the public, with intent to influence or incite others, especially if such matters were discussed in NMC meetings,” Mweetwa said.
“His actions were contrary to discipline regulations number 7 (a) 7(b),7 (f),7(g) ,and 7(j) of the United Party for National Development, UPND disciplinary regulations. The national disciplinary committee of the party, therefore, recommended yesterday to the national management, the highest decision making body of the party for the expulsion… from the party, relating to Mr Fraser Monde.”
And Sikangila was expelled for recording an audio and circulating it to the public that he had never seen such a “useless” government like the UPND.
“The brief and material facts relating to this particular candidate are as follows: that he recorded an audio and distributed it on social media in which he said and I quote, ‘l have never seen a useless government like this one. The whole leadership is useless, including the man at the top. I regret supporting such a party,'” said Mweetwa.
