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Mulongoti:It Is Govt’s Duty To Develop Constituencies And NOT MP’s
The development of a constituency is a responsibility of the government and not members of parliament,” says People’s Party leader Mike Mulongoti.
Commenting on the decision by Matero member of parliament Miles Sampa to donate his gratuity to buying taxis with the view of empowering people in his constituency, Mulongoti said the action would put pressure on other members of parliament to please their constituencies.
“A member of parliament is just an agent of the people as well as of government. So if you want to commercialise it by using your own resources, you are creating an appetite that will be difficult to satisfy. The logical thing for me is to persuade government to attend to the demands of the people. After all, the responsibility of government is to maximise the happiness of its people and every constituency must get attention from government,” Mulongoti said.
“Sometimes some constituencies see a lot of development because a member of parliament is very active, lobbying with government and NGOs and institutions that can help spend a lot of time in their constituencies. So I don’t believe in the fact that a member of parliament can on his/her own develop a constituency.”
Mulongoti said members of parliament must not behave or be viewed as ‘Father Christmas’.
“They (voters) will be at your door every day and I think that is a dangerous position. We know that politics have been commercialised over many years because people are using money,” he said.
“Mind you, the toxic effect of that will spread to other constituencies. So those who don’t see MPs using their personal cash seem to think their members of parliament are greedy when their position is they want to see government providing.”
Mulongoti, however, condemned the call by some members of parliament to have their pay increased, saying this was immoral as a wage freeze had been effected on civil servants.
And Mulongoti yesterday expressed amazement at the “insistence by small parties like NAREP” to participate in by-elections in which they had not won a single seat.
“They have just gone to embarrass themselves because if you don’t have structures on the ground, it’s a waste of time. There is one example of a party which is participating in by-elections – NAREP – and have never won a single one, not that they don’t exist but like I am saying, you need to have structures on the ground to be able to support you before you do that,” Mulongoti said.
“For us, we are realistic enough to accept that don’t run before you go. We are preparing for 2016 and for us that is the best way to go. This question of trying to show you have capacity can lead to disappointment at times.” Mulongoti said it was safe to contest in 2016 when Parliament had been dissolved. “If you have so much resources that you can spend now, go ahead, we are not stopping anyone,” he said.
“For us who are new, we can’t just go to waste resources just like that when we know that the big boys with their money are there,” said Mulongoti.
Posted by
CHIZ~MAN
August 15, 2014 at 3:39 pm
Iwe mulo~ngo~ti what is wrong with that?nindalama shakwe chakukalipashani,besides,MPs are also a government.
Dorika
August 15, 2014 at 4:11 pm
Ba Mulongoti, so you think if you run in 2016 you can have chance? Zero option tacakacitike nangu panono. You, just like people like HH, Nevers, will never rule Zambia. As for the MPs using money on their constituencies, what problem do you have with that?
SOJABOY
August 15, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Like it or not witches Mulongoti speaks a lot of sense. His good part is he understands better the agency relationship between the electorate and the elected MP. What miles did is not sustainable no matter how good you think it is.
comfort fisonga
August 15, 2014 at 8:50 pm
Mulongot you just too selfish,and foolish
Ndeloleshafye
August 15, 2014 at 9:04 pm
That’s why he not able to develop his constituency. Pipo this guy he is just lyk those pipo who likes chopin money for the poor. Mulongoti wil naver ever rule us only mad pipo wil vote for him. Amen
kakolwe
August 16, 2014 at 5:34 am
Self exposition of dullness Mr. Mulongoti. If you can’t see the intelligence in Miles’ Business deal, then you are a moron. Miles did not use his gratuity, it is only collateral against the loan. Those taxi drivers will be cashing-in weekly. By 2015 July, the whole loan will have been redeemed, cabs personalised +++
kakolwe
August 16, 2014 at 5:41 am
…implying that, a new fleet of taxis will be ready @ Miles will have empowered 10 of his voters & will be ready for the next batch. On NAREP & other “small” parties, mwailanga ubusushi! Do you have to have won the presidency for you to contest in an election? Awe sure, No Wonder you need Dobo legalized!!
kakolwe
August 16, 2014 at 5:45 am
Cont… Meaning a new fleet of taxis will be ready @ Miles will have empowered 10 persons. On NAREP & other “small” parties, mwailanga ubusushi! Do you have to have won something for you to contest it? Awe sure, No Wonder you need Dobo legalized!!
wachabe
August 16, 2014 at 12:00 pm
nomba ninshi icalo calaisula fye ama taxi? takwaba fimbi fya kucita?….Good jesture but think out of the box abena zambia cabashani kanshi? pantu uwa kwata fye aka jilili (spacio) ninshi kuya pa rank…thats why bati nena
wachabe
August 16, 2014 at 12:01 pm
correction aka jilijili…
Anderson Chisala
August 16, 2014 at 9:04 am
I ve liked Mulongoti’ last words. “Big Boys are there”.
Its not easy to run a Political Party.
NAREP has become mute as a Party she knows tht she cant oust the “BIG GUYS”. Work humbly ba Mulongoti who Knows u maybe the Next President the World is full of Surprises.