Chipimo is off-side and knows little, politically – Pule

Opposition Christian Democratic Party (CDP) leader, Dan Pule, has added his voice in rejecting the suggestion by National Restoration Party (NAREP) president, Elias Chipimo, for opposition political party leaders to have a neutral government run the country for a limited period of nine months to preside over the enactment of a new constitution and oversee fresh elections.

Dr Pule says the neutral government was not necessary because the people of Zambia spoke in the ballot and mandated President Micheal Sata to run and govern the affairs of the nation in the September 2011 poll.

Dr Pule says there is a sitting Head of State and there is no need for transition government because there is already the ruling PF administration.

Dr Pule, whose earlier Party for Unity, Democracy and Development (PUDD) entered a loose marriage with the PF in the 2011 poll, and formed the United People’s Jubilee Party last year, observed that the NAREP president, Mr Chipimo, is off-side and knows little politically.

He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

“We have a sitting Head of State who is President Sata and so there is no need to have a neutral government. Let us just wait for 2016 when the Zambian people would speak through the ballot box,” Dr Pule said.

The CDP leader further charged that all statements being issued by opposition leaders were emanating from the constitution to be produced by the PF Government.

Other opposition leaders have also reacted sharply to Mr Chipimo’s alleged statement for early elections because President Michael Sata was going through terrible hardships and is fatigued and stressed with the burden of running a country with huge economic, political and social challenges.

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema said what is needed is to mobilize the people of Zambia to get a people-driven constitution and not the concept of having an interim government.

People’s Party President, Mike Mulongoti, said the constitution does not allow for a neutral person to run the country for nine months.

Mr Mulongoti said already there is an opposition alliance as a way forward for the opposition to fight an election as a united force.

Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) president, Frank Bwalya, said the idea by the NAREP leader is not workable.

Fr Bwalya said politicians should begin to think of workable plans if Zambians have to get the final draft constitution released.

Forum for Democracy and Development Spokesperson, Antonio Mwanza, charged that the proposal by Mr Chipimo was a non starter.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Joseph Katema, said in a media statement yesterday that President Michael Sata is not fatigued and is focused on ensuring that promises made to the Zambian people are delivered.

Mr Katema, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said Government is concerned at the growing number of outlandish and unsubstantiated statements coming from opposition party leaders.

He ruled-out calls for an early election from the opposition leader because 2016 was near.