Crossing Over of Charles KAKOMA from UPND to PF not strange and unique- Mark Simuuwe

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Crossing Over of Charles KAKOMA from UPND to PF not strange and unique- Mark Simuuwe

By Pamela Mulenga

A POLITICAL Analyst Mark Simuuwe says the defection of the former United Party for National Development (UPND) Spokesperson Charles Kakoma to the Patriotic Front (PF) in an election year is not a surprise or unique phenomena to Zambian politics.

Speaking in a telephone interview with the Voice of America (VoA) on Wednesday 31st March 2021, Mr Simuuwe predicted more defections from the ruling party to the opposition and vis-versa as politicians switch camp within the proverbial; ‘no permanent friends nor enemies in politics’.

“Zambia being a Multi-Party Democracy, were people have the freedom of association, often time experiences these defections, especially when you are approaching the general elections in the next 133 days.
This is not a strange phenomena l must mention that…this is something that happens every time the country is approaching general elections,” noted Simuuwe.

In 2016, as you may be aware, there was a serious movement or if you may want to call them ‘big wigs’ moving from the ruling party to the opposition, recollected Simuuwe.

“You had Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, now with the Patriotic Front party, moving to the opposition where he deputised Hakainde Hichilema, and had the current Mayor for Lusaka, now Aspiring candidate for Matero one of the Constituencies in Zambia, Mr. Miles Bwalya Sampa, moving with his party to join hands together with the UPND and many other people, who included former Vice President, Dr. Guy Lindsay Scott,” Mr Simuuwe recalled.

The Political Analyst observed that such type of politics in Africa occur with a certain amount of corruption as opposed to a sense of belonging or more appealing as a reason to join another political party.

Asked if the reasons advanced by Mr. Kakoma to have joined the ruling party on ground that he was treated as a liability by UPND and hopes to be treated as an asset in the ruling PF, Simuuwe dismissed such sentiment with deserving contempt.

Mr Simuuwe feels it is unfair, although Mr. Kakoma has a democratic right to freedom of association.

He reflected on what transpired after the recent general assembly after making amendments to the constitution revealing that President Hakainde Hichilema was given power to appoint members to different portfolios based on one’s performance and ability by which Mr Kakoma was reshuffled from being Party’s Spokesperson and appointed to Chairperson of Commerce, Trade and industry.

Simuuwe explained that Mr. Kakoma, a long serving UPND Spokesperson with vast dissatisfaction moved to another portfolio (Chairperson of Commerce, Trade and Industry) which has a same seniority with that of Spokesperson portfolio, according to the UPND constitution.

“From the point of view the former UPND Spokesperson and former Chairperson of Commerce, Trade and Industry, that HH seems to have relegated him on acciunt of being a liability to the party, not a fair submission. What would be justfiable is the fact that he has a right to associate or to join a political party of his choice and l think that should be fundamentally respected because that is what the national constitution provides for. We are in a Multi-Party Democracy where members are free to associate and move to a political party of their choice,” Simuuwe protested.

Meanwhile, a Political Analyst says moving forward as general elections approach in few months many people would be crossing from one politcial party to another citing Stephen Masumba who has left Patriotic Front to join the opposition UPND.

And Mr Simuuwe emphasised that during the adoption process in many political parties candidates out of frustrations especially those not adopted would quickly join and apply on another ticket or just stand as an Independent.

ALL THE BEST MY DEAR FRIEND CHARLES KAKOMA

By Hakainde Hichilema

We have been notified of the departure of our former party spokesperson Hon. Charles Kakoma who has today exercised his democratic right to join the PF.
For me, Hon. Kakoma was not only a senior UPND party official, but remains a good friend of mine dating back to our days as classmates at the University of Zambia.
I hold him in high esteem as a professional colleague and later as a politician whom I would like to sincerely thank for his immense contribution towards the growth of our party.
I particularly urge our party members and citizens in general to fully respect his decision to join the PF. His decision arises from his democratic right to choose who he should associate with at any given time.
We have repeatedly said opposition politics in Zambia now is like being a leper and a criminal. One has to pay the heavy price of being ostracized and shunned upon by those that do not want to encroach on the hospitality of the powers that be.
Being in opposition now means enduring brutality, suppression and basically an outcast in our own country.
We are reminded of the tribulations and torment that the children of Israel went through during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is not everyone who managed to cross over.
We consider the current situation to that of the biblical times for the children of Israel. We are on a turbulent journey with the suffering Zambian masses. We can see the promised land and request all our citizens to remain strong. It’s darkest before dawn.
‘Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.’ Ephesians 6:11
Let’s continue moving forward.
HH aka Bally
#Time4Change
#ZambiaForward