GOVT NOT INTERESTED IN BY-ELECTIONS-MWEETWA

THEopposition Patriotic Front (PF) should amicably resolve their differences through dialogue unlike dragging each other to court to avoid unnecessary by-elections, Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa has advised.

Mr. Mweetwa who is chief government spokespersonsaid the New Dawn Administration was not interested in unnecessary by-elections, but credible checks and balances from the stronger opposition.

Recently, the PF faction led by Miles Sampa expelled 10 of PF members of Parliament (MPs) for alleged gross indiscipline, insubordination and bringing the name of their party into disrepute.

The expelled were Pambashe MP Ronald Chitotela, Nixon Chilangwaof Kawambwa , Christopher Kang’ombeof Kamfinsa and Remember Mutale of Chitambo .

Others are Brian Mundubile of Mporokoso, Stephen Kampyongoof Shiwangandu, Mulenga Fubeof Chilubi, MutotweKafwayaof Lunte and PF faction Chairperson for Information and Publicity Emmanuel Mwamba.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Mweetwa said their expulsions were uncalled for in a democratic country like Zambia.

“The President set the right stage when he said he is not interested in unnecessary by-elections unless those that are unintended. We wonder why the PF are expelling its members thereby potentially causing unnecessary by-elections,” Mr. Mweetwa said.

He said the PF should find an amicable way to resolve their differences through dialogue unlike dragging each other to court.

“These cases can even take years before they are disposed of, hence not serving anyone’s interest. We as Government still want credible checks and balances from the opposition but there is no order whatsoever so how will they provide the checks and balances?” he said.

He added; “At this stage of our democratic dispensation, those expulsions going on should be settled amicably because there is no need for always dragging each other to court as a party when they can simply settle matters maturely and dialogue as members of one family.”

The minister said the PF should take a leaf from the ruling UPND which was tolerating divergent and opposing opinions from its members.

Mr. Mweetwa also commended President Hakainde Hichilema for having demonstrated that he wanted a stronger opposition by not poaching members of the opposition as a way of silencing them.

“This is the first President who has not poached members of the opposition. If it was another president, he would have already poached MPs from the opposition to graft them as ministers.

President Hichilema is not interested in by-elections,so why would PF be expelling one another to cause unnecessary by-elections. We find those expulsions uncalled for and we urge the opposition PF to put its house in order,” he said.