Wynter Kabimba says the Patriotic Front would rather lose an election with a credible candidate than adopt those found to be corrupt.
In an interview, the PF secretary general and justice minister said the ruling party would never change its position on corruption irrespective of who is involved.
“If it means to lose a seat, we shall do so, so as to maintain our crusade against corruption,” he said.
Kabimba said the UPND and MMD would embrace corruption for as long as it was politically expedient for them.
He said the two political parties had shown that they could not fight corruption if they formed government.
Kabimba said the UPND and MMD only spoke against corruption if it did not injure them.
He said this was a lesson to UPND and MMD members that there were better members in their political parties.
“In the unlikely event that MMD came back to power or UPND won an election, there’s no way they can purport to fight corruption with that record because they have shown us that their contribution in fighting corruption is only substantive when it does not injure their political interests. If it does, then they can blindfold themselves so as not to see corruption starring at them,” Kabimba said.
“It’s high time that those that think they have a future in these political parties decided to think twice because even in 2016, the same candidates will be adopted, even in 2021 and the rest of the members shall remain ‘chola boys’ of those that do political favours to the leadership and that’s where PF becomes the most relevant party in promoting the interests of the Zambian people.”
He said the MMD and UPND wanted to promote the interests of small groups as long as it worshipped the leadership of the party.
And Kabimba said the court ruling on candidates that had been re-adopted by the MMD and UPND whose elections were nullified on grounds of corruption was final.
“The Supreme Court made the findings of corruption against those [Solwezi’s Lucky Mulusa MMD, UPND’s Charles Kakoma for Zambezi West, Sidney Chisanga of MMD for Mkushi South, Vubwi’s Eustarckio Kazonga MMD and Kasenengwa’s Victoria Kalima MMD] individuals during the 2011 election and this was after the High Court had heard petitioners and matters went on appeal to the Supreme Court which is the court of record. It doesn’t conduct trials, it simply considers the record from the High Court which includes evidence by witnesses in the High Court. The Supreme Court made it very clear that the judgments of the Supreme Court bind the Republic and every citizen and institution including the High Court they are bound by the decision of the Supreme Court,” said Kabimba.
“Therefore, the Supreme Court was telling the Republic that its findings of corruption against those individuals are final and this was in agreement with petitioners that led evidence in the High Court of electoral malpractices and those petitions were filled in fulfillment of the position of the Patriotic Front and this government in the fight against corruption in this country, so to adopt the same candidates means that you are not part of the crusade in the fight against corruption.”