26 November 2009
THE statement made by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata, alleging that Parliament and the Judiciary have destroyed democracy in Zambia, is the most unpatriotic statement from a national political leader, Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has said.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, who is Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said in a statement released yesterday that such deceitful statements had potential of eroding public confidence in national democratic institutions, which can lead to anarchy in the country.
The PF, of which Mr Sata was the unelected leader since 2001, was the least qualified to comment on democracy and let alone accuse the ruling party of destroying the Judiciary and Parliament.
"Mr Sata leads a party, whose constitution provides for party control of all public institutions, including the Judiciary. The PF says, in Article 3 of the party constitution,
"The party shall ensure that all the public institutions, State-owned enterprises and popular mass and similar organisations are led by persons who are members of the party and who are uncompromisingly committed to achievements of the party". He said.
Gen Shikapwasha said it was clear from such undemocratic provisions of the party constitution that if the PF were in government they would run public institutions on partisan lines and completely destroy democracy.
He said the Government would not allow a situation were Mr Sata's differences with his Members of Parliament (MPs) was responsible for causing anarchy in the country.
"Government takes strong exception to discrediting democratic institutions as a result of a problem that PF itself, as a party, has created," he said.
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