Bahati PF member of parliament Harry Kalaba does not want to resign from the Patriotic Front (PF) party because the moment he does so, he will go into “political oblivion,” says media director Sunday Chanda.

Speaking when he featured on Hot FM’s ‘Hot Seat’ programme, Thursday, Chanda rebuked Kalaba and questioned why he was still clinging onto Bahati constituency.

“We have differed with Honourable Kalaba, he has differed with the PF on grounds he calls principle. He believes that out of those principles, the PF has become this demonized organization, that he is too clean…But, interestingly, he still holds on to this ‘corrupt party,’ he still holds on to this political party’s ticket. His reason is not because he doesn’t want to trigger a by-election; his reason is very simple; that the moment he resigns from the PF, he goes into political oblivion,” Chanda charged.

“And this is what doesn’t make sense! What he wants is to continue enjoying in Parliament. Unless someone doesn’t just want to be candid; Parliament is a serious national platform and people want to hold on to that platform because they can speak. But over and beyond, they also know that at the end of their tenure of office, there is going to be gratuity for them!”

He also cited Roan PF member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili as someone who would equally sink into oblivion if he formally relinquished his parliamentary seat.

“So, he [Kalaba] knows that, by relinquishing the Bahati seat, just like Hon. Kambwili, on relinquishing the Roan seat, they would lose those two constituencies that they hold. It’s hypocrisy! You cannot go on defying an organization and its leadership, whilst at the same time you are holding on to what belongs to the party,” Chanda argued.

“When you applied to stand on a PF ticket, when you attended those interviews by the respective party structures and when you were given that certificate of adoption, did you understand the implications of that process? Do you understand what it means when the Constitution says, ‘a political party has sponsored you to stand on its’ ticket?’ Do you understand that in Zambia, the moment you are adopted on a party ticket, you are bound by the dictates, the rules and regulations of that political party that has sponsored you? So, you cannot turn around and say, ‘it’s the people of Bahati that elected you.’ We are saying to you that, ‘why didn’t you contest as an independent candidate’?”

He also cautioned opposition political party leaders to stop talking ill of the country as doing so had ripple effects on the performance of the kwacha.

“We had the well-seasoned economist [who] came on this platform and cautioned against the ‘loose talk’, the negative talks against the economy. These credible economists understand the impact of negative words, especially if people take you as a leader of some opposition, they will take your words seriously. The industry, the market forces will take your words very seriously. So, the moment you are pushing an agenda for uncertainty, the market begins to react to that. Now, if you have taken as a preoccupation to paint anything about your country black, then we know that you [are] either a sell-out and an agent of certain forces that work to the detriment of our well-being as a country or whoever taught you civics could have missed some lessons or two because the Constitution provides for the duties of a citizen,” Chanda added.

He also suggested that talking negative about ones own country was an embarrassment.

“You are not going to go on BBC and think that speaking ill about your country, then you will become a more effective opposition leader. To the contrary, you are embarrassing yourself, you are embarrassing your country where you are coming from [and] you are embarrassing whoever taught you civics,” Chanda said.