Leader of the Opposition Jack Mwiimbu says the Patriotic Front, through its media director Sunday Chanda is talking crap on allegations that the UPND want Vice-President Inonge Wina to become Head of State because she hails from their stronghold.
In a statement, Tuesday, Chanda charged that the UPND was planning to attain power using the back door.
“United Party for National Development (UPND) must not underrate the ability of the Zambian people to see through their political machinations in their pursuit to attain state power through the back door by pushing a notorious regional agenda. The plot seeks to malign Her Honour the Vice President Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina by making her their unlikely ally in the proposed impeachment motion targeted at His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
The happenings of the last few months point to a clear agenda by UPND to attain State Capture by making the Country ungovernable and highly polarised. This is further confirmed by an own admission by UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma who, a fortnight ago, vowed that his Party would not give the PF rest until their demands were met by the PF,” stated Chanda.
“Under its latest State Capture tactic, UPND is preying on the fact that since Mrs Wina hails from Western Province where the Opposition Party has political foothold, a successful impeachment process would make Her Honour the Vice President a President of their choice. This imaginary and unholy alliance based purely on tribal grounds is yet another confirmation on how low the UPND is prepared to stoop to attain power. It is on record that UPND leader Hichilema has viewed Her Honour the Vice President with disdain, but would allow such a process for as long as Edgar Lungu is removed from power and a “perceived tribal cousin” furthers his agenda to state power.”
But in a statement yesterday, Mwiimbu, who is also Monze UPND member of parliament, stated that Chanda was talking crap.
He advised the PF to focus on the constitutional breaches cited in the impeachment motion instead of diverting the discourse into regional talk.
“The PF through Sunday Chanda is talking crap. How can he allege that we support Inonge Wina to take over as president because she hails from the region where we have support. Chanda must not bring issues of regionalim over issues that are anchored on the breach of constitutional provisions. It would appear that Inonge Wina is not appreciated in PF because she hails from a perceived wrong region,” Mwiimbu stated.
“We challenge the PF to concentrate on the the pertinent issues being raised in the impeachment and not start raising political garbage. We have noted with interest the panic that has gripped the PF over the impeachment motion. Please note that an impeachment motion is not unprecedented in Zambia. An impeachment motion was raised against the late president Mwanawasa who responded to the issues raised constitutionally without fear and panic. We are happy to note that the impeachment motion is being debated by the PF extensively before the same is heard in Parliament and have given us the opportunity to appreciate credence of the motion. Impeachment is not unprecedented in Zambia.”