By Isaac Zulu
Civil Rights Activist Brebner Changala says there is an invisible hand behind the decision taken by the Registrar of Societies.
Chief Registrar of Societies Thandiwe Mhende issued a notice to political parties to direct them to hold meetings/ conventions as well as intra-party elections within 60 days from the date of its publication, to elect and replace office bearers and members of the party leadership to fill up existing vacancies among other requirements.
Speaking to Daily Revelation, Changala said the
decision by Mhende was not just arrived at
“That decision was not just arrived at by the Registrar of Societies. No! There is an invisible hand behind. The UPND government has politicised and weaponised the office of the Registrar of Societies, with the sole purpose of weakening and getting rid of opposition political parties in the country,” Changala said.
He said the rationale behind compelling political parties to elect party leaders is targeted at former president Edgar Lungu, “whose name is still appearing at the Registrar of Societies as president of the
Patriotic Front.”
“For your own information, three weeks ago the Secretary to Cabinet wrote to ECL telling him that your colleagues in the political arena are concerned about your political maneuvers and that government would want you to state your position on this matter,” Changala said. “They
want to force Edgar Lungu to talk when he doesn’t want to. It is interesting to note that they are talking but ECL is not talking. Some people have even gone back to the Constitutional Court to revisit their judgment. So they are using state institutions to target ECL.The UPND are scared of their own shadow.”
He said compelling political parties to hold a convention in 60 days will be asking for too much, saying most political parties would not manage to convene the required delegates.
“I ask a question: Would you expect Chilufya Tayali’s party to hold a convention? Are you not asking for too much? Would you expect Sean Tembo’s party to hold a convention within 60 days? Would you expect
Saboi Imboela’s party to hold a convention within 60 days? So the direction they are taking is targeted at former president Edgar Lungu,” said Changala.
