I’VE ENEMIES WITHIN UPND
…I’m being targeted by a group of people – Kasune
By Adrian Mwanza
THERE’S a group of people within the ruling party who are hell-bent on tarnishing my name and image in a bid to get political mileage, Princess Kasune has said.
Kasune is United Party for National Development (UPND) Keembe member of Parliament (MP) and minister of justice.
She was reacting to allegations that hundreds of women under the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI) drawn from all wards in Keembe Constituency who are supporters of Chipokota Mwanawasa, popularly known as Chipo, were blocked from celebrating the International Women’s Day on Sunday.
Kasune denied the allegation saying she was not aware of the incident.
In an interview with The Mast yesterday, she said there was a group of people who were working very hard to tarnish her public image for political reasons.
“The problem is that there are people who are trying to fight me for whatever reasons, because as far as I’m concerned, I have been doing the right thing,” Kasune said.
She said the narrative her opponents had created that she blocked people from attending the celebrations was not only fictitious but also injurious to her office.
“I don’t want to accuse anyone, but it is clear that some people have engaged in a campaign to smear my image,” Kasune said.
She explained that the confusion started when the MMCI group arrived at the celebrations late.
Kasune said UPND Keembe Constituency chairman Harrison Kanyama engaged the women and advised them to take seats since the programme had already started.
“This did not augur well with the group. Thereafter, I am not privy to the activities that followed as I sat on the high table with other dignitaries,” she said.
Kasune said it was shocking that people were creating a narrative that she was directing her supporters to block the other group, which was not true.
“People are hell-bent on tarnishing my image. Even the media has gone ahead painting a wrong picture about what transpired in order to destroy my name,” she said.
Kasune said State House strategist Chipokota Mwanawasa and former Lusaka Province deputy permanent secretary Alex Mapushi were both eyeing the Keembe seat.
“I am not aware who is behind the scathing attacks against me. But the whole thing is not normal and was not normal. Even just the reporters at Keembe FM, it’s like they have an agenda against me because they are always trying to create a very wrong narrative about me,” she said.
Kasune said the whole scenario seemed politically motivated by those eyeing the same seat.
However, women drawn from as far as Ipongo, Itumbwe, Lunjofwa, Chitanda and Namakolongo claimed that they were blocked from celebrating Women’s Day on Saturday at Chibombo District Civic Centre in Central Province.
Others who were allegedly blocked included those from Keembe West Ward, Nyamfula and Mayota.
The women were allegedly blocked by a rival group supporting Kasune, a claim she has vehemently dismissed as malicious.
The rival group was led by UPND constituency chairperson Harrison Kanyama.
The women who could not march were dressed in T-shirts branded Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI).
They complained against the decision of the party leadership to block them from taking part in the celebrations.
“Our day was ruined by political rivalry currently happening in Keembe Constituency led by UPND constituency chairman Harrison Kanyama on behalf of the area member of Parliament Princess Kasune. Women’s Day is for all women and not politics. But what is happening in Keembe Constituency is unfortunate,” a representative said.
