I’M READY FOR SANCTIONS, SAYS MUNDUBILE AS HE BACKS DAN PULE’S TONSE ALLIANCE

I’M READY FOR SANCTIONS, SAYS MUNDUBILE AS HE BACKS PULE’S TONSE ALLIANCE

IF the decision that I make today to serve the Zambian people should attract some sanctions, I am ready for that sanction, says PF presidential aspirant Brian Mundubile.

And Mundubile says the only Tonse Alliance that is recognised is the one left by former president Edgar Lungu, which was led by Dan Pule.

Mundubile further says the continued delay in holding the convention has created unnecessary tension in PF.

On Monday, the Tonse faction led by Given Lubinda held a meeting where PF Deputy Secretary General for Administration Celestine Mukandila disclosed that among the resolutions was that any party member who associated with the “breakaway illegal Tonse” shall be deemed to have exited the party.

Last Friday, Mundubile filed his nomination for the chairmanship of the Tonse Alliance faction led by Pule.

Commenting on the resolutions in an interview, Mundubile said he was not aware of any other Tonse Alliance.

“I am Chairperson for Parliamentary Affairs under Tonse. I was appointed by [former] president [Edgar] Lungu to that position, together with State Counsel Chifumu Banda. We remain in those positions under Tonse. We remain in the same committee. If there’s any other Tonse, that may be one that I’m not aware of, apart from the Tonse I have belonged to from the time [former] president Lungu appointed me. I have remained at the same Tonse, and that is the Tonse where Dan Pule was the Vice-Chairman from the beginning. In my capacity as a National Chairperson, I’m senior enough to know which organisation that I belong to,” Mundubile said.

“You are asking whether or not I feel I’m doing something wrong. Absolutely not! [Former] president Lungu left me in that position. I have been in that position all along. Now I’m vying to go higher in the same organisation. The drama that is there, and the commentary from colleagues and so on, may be unnecessary, the energy they are putting into going to newspapers, going to radio, having these meetings. It was easier to have a convention and put everything to rest. It’s been four years of avoiding holding a convention. If one thinks Mundubile is too fast, four months away from the elections, then I really wonder what the strategy is for the general election. It’s actually very dangerous for the Zambian people who are relying on the opposition to get them out of poverty and any challenges that they are facing”.

Mundubile said the continued procrastination on holding the PF convention had created unnecessary tension.

“One cannot be said to be too fast four months away from the general elections, it’s laughable really, if someone says you are too fast four months before the elections. What is important is that people must sit back and reflect on the events within the PF and what has transpired. They will come to one realisation only, which is that procrastination of holding the convention has created unnecessary tension, something that could have been avoided. If one thinks Mundubile is too fast, four months away from the elections, then I really wonder what their strategy is for the general election,” he said.

“Whatever I’m doing, I’m doing it with a free conscience, and I know it’s for the sake of the Zambian people. I’m here to serve. I presented myself as one who is ready to serve the Zambian people, and not one who is going to give excuses at every stage. You must understand that everything we do in politics is about the Zambian people. I have been in Tonse since its formation. I have not changed”.

Mundubile said he was ready to face any sanctions.

“If one says I have left [PF] Tonse because I have joined Tonse, what do they mean? Because I have been a member of Tonse since last year. Whatever is being said is really laughable. That’s what I know. It’s really laughable because you know that I’m the National Chairperson of Parliamentary Affairs. I have been in the same position. So, at what stage have I left the PF? But whatever the case, elections are fast approaching.

The Zambian people need solutions. I’m not going to cow down for expedience. If the decision that I make today to save the Zambian people should cause or attract some sanctions, I am ready for that sanction. There’s no convention. You know what I mean? That’s a difficult question to answer. The PF is still in court with Chabinga, there is no convention. And then if you ask me whether I’m going to stand on the PF, it’s going to be difficult to answer,” he said.

Mundubile further said he would not be distracted by detractors.

“First of all, don’t ever believe that when someone tells you that Tonse [Alliance] is illegal. That’s the Tonse ECL left. That’s how come I am still there, that’s how come Chifumu Banda is still there, that’s how come Dan Pule is still there. Tell me [if] the people that were at the other Tonse were there on the appointment of Edgar Chagwa Lungu. The issue that Tonse is illegal doesn’t even come in.

Zambians are not blind, Zambians know that we have belonged to that Tonse right from the beginning. Zumani only belongs to that Tonse, Dan Pule only belongs to that Tonse that ECL left, Chifumu Banda only belongs to the Tonse the PF left.

The other Tonse, I don’t think Dan Pule knows about it. It was only heard about yesterday (Monday). That’s the new Tonse, Tonse reloaded or whatever, but nobody knows about it. People were appointed yesterday (Monday). In fact, they were joining yesterday (Monday). For us, we don’t know of any other Tonse,” said Mundubile.

“I wouldn’t want to comment about what was going on there, I was less bothered. And remember, we are busy organising for a conference over the weekend. We really didn’t have much time to start looking at what others are doing, forming similar organisations. We didn’t pay attention to who else was forming Tonse along the way, we were busy.

Yes, I will focus on saving the Zambian people, like I have always done. I will maintain my silence and focus on working. So, I will not be distracted by the detractors. So that is the best I can say”.

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