Democratic party bashes opposition leaders
DEMOCRATIC Party (DP) President Gift Kalumba says he and others decided to form a political party because some existing political parties have mostly been propagating politics of insults and personal vendetta.
He said he and other people with a common agenda could not join existing parties because of their aggressive approach and unpalatable language in their discourse.
Mr Kalumba said most leaders of opposition parties were not speaking for Zambians, but were propagating politics of personal vendetta because their businesses had been closed and they were being denied contracts.
The DP President said during a media breakfast at the weekend at Shebourne Guest House in Kitwe that some leaders wanted to use the instruments of power to settle scores against current Republican President Edgar Lungu and their perceived enemies.
"Why haven't we joined the existing political parties? The answer is that we cannot join these existing political parties because most of them have personal vendetta against the current republican President, while others are propagating politics of insults and violence.
"Needless to mention names, but recently we heard about a leader of a political party encouraging youths to engage in violence in the Chilanga by-election. So, our party does not believe in violence," Mr Kalumba said.
The DP, which was recently formed, has invited Bahati Member of Parliament (MP) Harry Kalaba to consider vying for the topmost position in 2021.
He said politics of personal vendetta would not help alleviate poverty and hunger in the country, but would only work to divide nation and promote hatred.
"We are young people with a vision and we are here to demonstrate that Zambia should be led by young people. Those who think we are playing politics will be shocked. Our journey will bear desirable fruits," he said
And speaking at the same function, Party Spokesperson Judith Kabemba said they had decided to form the parties because the current ones were not providing solutions to the challenges.
"There is leadership crisis in this country. We didn't join other parties because they are not providing solutions to Zambians, instead they are encouraging violence," Ms Kabemba said.