Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has expressed deep concerned at the continued political wrangling in the ruling Patriotic Front which is now affecting the smooth operations of the government and posing as a potential threat to national peace and security.
FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi in a statement issued today says the resolution by the 14 Cabinet Ministers to pass a Vote of no Confidence in the Acting Republican President, Dr. Guy Scott, is a clear testimony that not all is well in the PF as a party and government and one wonders whether Cabinet has been sitting to deliberate on nation matters under such hostile environment.
Mr Chipenzi says FODEP is not aware of any law that empowers Cabinet to remove a sitting President and to this end, calls on the affected ministers to exercise a lot of restraint regardless of the levels of provocation.
He says Zambians are only remaining with barely 30 days to resolve this impasse using the ballot when they will elect a substantive Republican President.
And Mr Chipenzi says FODEP is deeply concerned at the continued use and abuse of government facilities and other resources by some Cabinet Ministers for partisan interests.
He says it appears that the unending wrangling in the ruling party is being capitalized as an opportunity for the party to abandon its secretariat and turn government offices into party secretariat.
The FODEP Executive Director states that the use of ministry offices and other government offices as places for party briefings instead of party secretariat is a blatant abuse of public resources and facilities, an act which is in contravention of the provisions of electoral code of Conduct No. 52 of 2011 Regulation 21 (k).
Mr Chipenzi adds that it is also difficult to appreciate why law enforcement agencies such as the police, which are supposed to pursue law breakers, have conspicuously turned a blind eye on such breaches.
He says FODEP appeals to the Acting Republican President, Dr. Guy Scott, to be firm and safeguard government resources such as vehicles, office spaces and finances from abuse by some ministers to advance partisan interests and instruct the police to arrest anyone found abuse government facilities.