Opportunists frustrating opposition unity – M’membe
By Adrian Mwanza
PEOPLE’S Pact Movement presidential candidate Dr Fred M’membe says desperate opportunists are sowing confusion making it difficult for the opposition to unite.
Dr M’membe said Zambian politics were full of opportunists who were desperate to get power at all costs.
Speaking when he featured on Kenny Tonga’s Podcast, Dr M’membe said his party, the Socialist (SP), had for a long time now been seeking unity in the opposition.
He said the effort for a united opposition was diminishing as some opposition leaders were desperate and were not willing to work with others.
“We have been seeking unity, and there was a suggestion by Chishimba Kambwili for the opposition to field only one candidate in an election so that we do not split the vote. However, there are other elements who are doing the exact opposite. A case in point, the just-ended Kasama by-election,” Dr M’membe said.
He said the formula of fielding a single candidate worked well in Chawama, where opposition unity yielded positive results.
The same unity could have been moved to Kasama where Miles Sampa, Kambwili and Given Lubinda agreed to support a Socialist Party candidate in the mayoral by-election, but the Brian Mundubile faction rejected the idea.
Dr M’membe said as a result, there was a split in the vote, which enabled the United Party for National Development (UPND) to steal the victory.
He said the division in the opposition should be a lesson enough going into the general election in the next five months.
“Because we were divided, it was very difficult for us to win. We automatically split the votes and as a result, UPND won that by-election. When you add the total votes by the opposition, it is clear that the UPND lost,” Dr M’membe said.
He said the political arena was confusing as it had more opportunists who wanted to lead at all costs.
Zambian politics was similar to a casino; it was a gamble.
“We are seeing all sorts of elements jumping in the political arena and takuli ukuipima [no weighing of self] as every Jim and Jack wants to be a president,” Dr M’membe said.
And Dr M’membe has wondered why Zambians are calling for the same people they voted out of government to come back.
He said it was strange that most corrupt individuals and those who corruptly obtained government tenders were coming forward to offer themselves for leadership.
“Most politicians are outright criminals, and the country is coming from a frying pan going into the fire,” Dr M’membe warned.
Dr M’membe said the SP was not in total control of the Peoples Pact Movement.
He said the pact was a collection of various political parties, the Church, students’ union, civil society and the labour movement working together for the common good.
