Siliya Snipes at Nawakwi

23 April 2011

MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya has described as cheap politicking demands by Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader Edith Nawakwi that President Rupiah Banda should convene what she termed as a transitional conference to discuss his departure from office.

Ms Siliya said in Lusaka yesterday there was no reason for President Banda to call such a meeting because he would win this year’s elections.

She said while Mr Banda’s popularity was soaring every day due to the massive development projects he was delivering, Ms Nawakwi was busy reminding Zambians of her existence through cheap political views.

Ms Nawakwi said when she featured on “Let the people talk” programme on Radio Phoenix yesterday that President Banda should call a conference to discuss his handover of power so that Zambia does not slide into political turmoil.

She also called on Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Ireen Mambilima to ban a documentary on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation television produced and presented by Chamba Chimba III, under the title “Stand up for Zambia”.

According to Ms Nawakwi, the documentary is a campaign tool for President Banda and was meant to cast Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata in poor light.

She said while the Government had banned campaign songs on all radio stations, the ECZ had allegedly failed to stop the documentary because it favoured President Banda and the MMD.

But Ms Siliya said Ms Nawakwi should be objective and instead condemn the Post newspaper that was campaigning for Mr Sata openly and attacking President Banda in the most brazen language.

She also wondered in what capacity Ms Nawakwi was speaking because her term of office as FDD president ended in August last year.

“It is the FDD that should be calling for a meeting to discuss Ms Nawakwi’s departure because she is using the party’s platform illegally, her mandate expired in August 2010,” Ms Siliya said.

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