Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo says the PF youths who took the law into their own hands by intercepting nine truckloads of Mukula will be dealt with both by law enforcement agencies and the party structures.
Meanwhile, Kampyongo says there is nothing sinister about the conversation he had with Mazabuka UPND member of parliament Garry Nkombo yesterday as insinuated by one of the PF cadres in the ‘seizure’ operation.
Giving a statement to a Smart Eagles reporter in his constituency this afternoon, Kampyongo warned that he would not tolerate lawlessness.
He said if the cadres suspected any wrongdoing, they should have reported the matter to police.
“I have received reports of the trucks purporting to be carrying some logs of Mukula which have been intercepted by some citizens and that I have since consulted the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources honorable Jean Kapata and also the Minister of Defense and I think the members of the public will be briefed accordingly; comprehensive statements will be issued from those two ministries. But what I want to state is that whilst citizens’ arrest is permissible, it must be conducted in a manner that does not disrupt public order. Secondly, it must be done within the confines of the law. Thirdly, there must be involvement of the law enforcement agencies in this case the police. So if the members of the public suspect some wrongdoing, the first thing they should do is to report to the police because they have no mandate whatsoever to engage in enforcing the law. So we are not going to tolerate this kind of lawlessness where people suspect something and they jump and start doing things and taking the law into their own hands,” Kampyongo said.
“So we will wait for thorough investigations to be done and indeed two wrongs don’t make a right, if indeed there is something wrong and unlawful on part of those who were moving the trucks, that matter will be resolved separately. Similarly, those that decided to take the law into their hands will be treated as such and that is from the Ministry of Home Affairs for now.”
And Kampyongo, who is also PF national youth chairman, vowed that he would deal with all indisciplined youths saying there were better ways of airing grievances than what the cadres had done in Shimabala.
“And speaking as national youth chairperson of the Patriotic Front, my message to all these youths who want to continue misbehaving in the name of the party, we are ending 2017 and my instructions to all the provincial youth chairmen and district youth chairpersons is that we need to take stock of our members. These members who have been masquerading, who have been tarnishing the name of the party as youths must know that their days are numbered. We have tolerated indiscipline for too long and they must take me seriously because it is not going to be child’s play,” he warned.
“I get back into Lusaka, I will have to meet all the youths who are on the structures so that we can start dealing with these firmly. The party does not owe anybody, and I must make it very clear, those who are genuine members of the party, who are toiling and have toiled for the party, they know the procedures to follow in airing grievances. But certainly, those that feel the party owes them anything, it is time to reconsider their positions because I am going to call for an indaba of all the PF members who are in the structures to make sure that we put order in the party. There shall be order in the party and this is my message going into 2018, we are not going to tolerate indiscipline, disrespect for the elders, it must come to an end. Enough is enough and this is the message from the national youth chairperson before coming to talk of law enforcement but we shall deal with them within the parameters of the party.”
Meanwhile, reacting to one of the audios which have gone viral in which a PF youth alleged that Kampyongo was being disloyal to the party by interacting with members of the opposition, specifically Nkombo, Kampyongo explained that there was nothing sinister about the conversation he had with the opposition MP.
“I want to also say that there are some youths who have been issuing statements regarding one honorable member of parliament Garry Nkombo, who spoke to me yesterday regarding some gathering in Kapiri Mposhi, which involved the member of parliament for Kapiri Mposhi, that I have got no obligation, and I must make it very clear that we as members of parliament, opposition and ruling have got a way we work. We can tear ourselves politically but at the end of the day we are all members of parliament belonging to one arm of government, the Legislature, we work for the same committees, we eat on the same tables and we share the same Chamber so it is not unusual for the Minister of Home Affairs or indeed any other minister to discuss and engage with members of the opposition political parties who are members of parliament, that is how it has been,” said Kampyongo.
“So for an unruly cadre claiming to be our member to go and start challenging that I should come out and talk about what I was discussing, that is what ignorance can do. And if you want to think you are more PF than those of us, you will be in for a rude shock and get that, mark that, because we know what you are trying to do and if you are sponsored, whether by your boyfriends or anyone, it is time to catch up with you and I am assuring you, you know me I don’t promise something I can’t do, I only promise that which I am able to do.”
One Response
“We have tolerated indiscipline for too long …” I am glad that the minister has acknowledged that his cadres have been indisciplined for too long, and that he has been tolerating them. However, it’s doubtful that he would have had the change of mind had his cadres displayed indiscipline toward the opposition. By the way has this honorable been tolerant to the opposition cadres? Reminder, Mr honorable the scripture make it very clear in saying “beware, your sin will find you.” Be also reminded that you’re a government minister and not a PF minister. As minister you swore to uphold the laws of Zambia and not PF. You’re paid to protect Zambians and not yourselves. I hope this is the beginning of your stern warning to all youths or cadres regardless of their affiliation. If this is not your intention, mark my words, tomorrow you’ll be like me without power or authority to fire warning shots.