Governance activist exposes UPND ‘tricks’
ALLEGATIONS that President Edgar Lungu offered UPND Sinda Constituency Chilongozi Ward Councillor Newstead Phiri K20, 000 is a lie meant to beef up the impeachment motion it has embarked on, says Good Governance activist Isaac Mwanza.
Mr Mwanza told the Daily Nation that the alleged bribe was a scheme to frame President Lungu into being seen as a corrupt leader so as to support the opposition petition to impeach him.
“It has come to our knowledge that the allegations made by the UPND outgoing Councillor are only meant to find suitable ground for the petition as all other remaining grounds in the petition are laughable to be used to impeach a sitting President.
“The Zambia Police ought to investigate those allegations as they have raised sufficient public interest,” Mr Mwanza said.
He alleged that the UPND impeachment motion was meant to shift their grievances from the failed 2016 presidential election petition to Parliament.
Mr Mwanza explained that UPND has prioritised the impeachment motion as a replacement for their expectations and probably to provide them the outcome they wanted in the 2016 petition.
“The impeachment motion has been tailored to shift the grievance from the courts of law to turn Parliament into a “court” to hear issues associated with the 2016 electoral petition after the UPND failed to prosecute the 2016 petition through a recognised court process.
“Our hope is that Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini will not allow Parliament to be turned into a ‘court’ to hear those grievances,” Mr Mwanza said.
UPND Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo last Friday moved a motion before Parliament to impeach President Lungu, in a move likely to derail the Commonwealth-led political dialogue in the country.
Mr Mwanza said it was almost impossible to expect the ruling Patriotic Front to remain committed to the dialogue following the impeachment motion.
He charged that the filing of the motion had coincided with the expected announcement of a committee to steer the dialogue, which has failed to take off.
Mr Mwanza explained that the motion by the UPND would derail the process as the key stakeholders would be forced to withdraw as they awaited the debate from Parliament.
“It is common knowledge that chances for success of this impeachment motion are extremely slim but it has been tabled to humiliate the Head of State.
“The only reason the impeachment motion could have been moved at a time when the Commonwealth will be announcing the Committee to lead the dialogue is to frustrate the ruling PF into withdrawing from the dialogue process,” Mr Mwanza said.