By Oliver Chisenga
THE Josephs Akafumba-led National Democratic Congress says Cabinet office
is sabotaging the party.
This follows Cabinet office’s invitation of Saboi Imboela to the national honours and awards investiture ceremony scheduled for October 24.
A cross section of members in the party wondered why Cabinet office would invite Imboela as president when she is not.
They insisted that Cabinet office was brewing confusion in the party because even the latest communication from the Registrar of Societies did not recognise Imboela as NDC president.
After receiving the invitation from Cabinet office, Imboela’s alleged secretary general Charles Kabwita flaunted the card as he insinuated that the rightful leader of the NDC would represent the party.
Kabwita’s action did not sit well with the Akafumba-led NDC which is in an alliance with UPND.
Various comments on how to deal with both Imboela and PF elements still in government on ‘’this grave insult’’ were proposed, among them, airlifting her right at State House entrance.
However, wisdom prevailed after a heated debate of over 20 hours when senior party leaders suggested visiting Cabinet office.
But after NDC presidential spokesperson George Sichula consulted State functions director at Cabinet office Isaac Kasalo, Imboela’s invitation was withdrawn.
“You see, the truth of the matter is that I do not want to put a blame on Cabinet because what they had done is prepare a card for president Akafumba and another for Saboi and had indicated that ‘President NDC-Saboi and President NDC-Akafumba,’’ he explained afterwards. ‘’I think they didn’t want to be part of the wrangles and factions because they were not very clear of the position.”
Sichula said from the meeting he had with Kasalo and following a letter from the Registrar of Societies, there was clarity.
“I want to confirm that the Registrar of Societies has given a position on who is supposed to be the legitimate president for NDC, and that happens to be President Akafumba,’’ Sichula added. “It was childish on the part of Saboi to have taken that card and put it on social media, you can see the desperation, and you can see the childishness. President Akafumba also had the card.
Imagine we are members of his party but we didn’t know at what stage he received the
invitation! Our president has a card but this lady uses the Secretary General from their side who happens to be Kabwita to disseminate information that even Cabinet recognizes Saboi as a rightful president, but that’s not the position of Cabinet.”
Sichula further said Cabinet had now been given a true position.
“I want to confirm that they have decided to withdraw or should I say to cancel that invitation of Saboi and will write to State House and also rightful offices to withdraw that,” explained Sichula. “I have seen a few church mother bodies that call Saboi president, and also Women’s Lobby and some media organisations who acknowledge her as
President. I think it has to be taken seriously now; we have assigned one of our officers to deliver the letter from Registrar of Societies
to give a position because many are misled and don’t know the right position.’’
