Kalaba says he is the next President, laughs at his expulsion
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Harry Kalaba says his expulsion from the Patriotic Front is a non-issue as he has set his eyes on the presidency, which he will win without doubt.
Contacted to respond to information that the ruling party has expelled him, Kalaba said: “Wow, they have expelled me, finally” and burst into laughter.
He said he has already gone past “that stage” and that he would be making a statement today.
Asked to elaborate, Kalaba said: “I am running for office of President in 2021 and so that (expulsion) is a non-issue.”
He said it was not for him if the PF now want his Bahati seat.
“Me I am saying it’s a non-issue and I am saying we have passed that stage. What you should know is that I have decided to run for office of President in 2021 which seat I am going to win without doubt,” said Kalaba. “I can’t issue a statement now, I will deal with it when we have buried honourable Lupando Mwape. I am just coming from the house of mourning, so I can’t be dealing with politics now. Because in our culture, we don’t respond to things like that when there is a funeral, the nation has lost a gallant man, so let us now mourn honourable Lupando Mwale. After we mourn honourable Lupando, the nation will know my exact position.”
Yesterday, PF secretary general Davis Mwila announced Kalaba’s expulsion from the ruling party following a resolution of the central committee meeting.
“The Central Committee of the Patriotic Front met today (Saturday) for a special sitting to receive and deliberate on the Report of the Party’s Disciplinary Committee regarding the case of Honourable Harry Kalaba, PF Member of Parliament for Bahati Constituency. I wish to announce to the people of Bahati Constituency and the nation at large that Central Committee unanimously agreed to expel Mr Harry Kalaba from the party and by virtue of this decision, the Honourable Speaker will be notified to declare Bahati parliamentary seat vacant,” Mwila said.
He said the central committee was acting on a recommendation from the Luapula provincial committee.
“The Central Committee received a recommendation from the Luapula Provincial Committee during the Central Committee meeting held on 24th March 2018 to expel the Bahati member of parliament, honourable Harry Kalaba from the party citing various reasons. The central committee referred the matter to the disciplinary committee of the central committee for further action. In the process of reviewing the grounds advanced by the provincial committee against honourable Kalaba, the disciplinary committee took judicial notice of newspaper statements attributed to honourable Harry Kalaba, which statements bordered on utter disregard and disrespect for the party, its leadership and party constitution.”
Mwila said on October 15, 2018, he wrote a letter to Kalaba asking him to exculpate himself on four charges levelled against him arising from newspaper statements attributed to him.
“Honourable Kalaba responded to my letter through on 16th October 2018. In the said letter, honourable Harry Kalaba failed to exculpate himself as he failed to address to the allegations that were leveled against him. On 14th of January 2019, as secretary general of the party, I wrote a letter to honourable Kalaba inviting him for a disciplinary hearing at the party secretariat on the 22nd of January 2019,” he explained.
Mwila said Kalaba did not present himself before the disciplinary committee.
“On 22nd of January 2019, the disciplinary committee held a meeting to deliberate on the case of Mr Kalaba. The disciplinary committee found Mr Kalaba guilty on several counts: acting in a manner that is likely to bring the name of the party into ridicule or contempt or disrepute. This is as per regulation (29c) of the Patriotic Front constitution. Spreading false information or rumours, which tend to injure the reputation of the party, or any of its leaderships contrary to regulation 29(h) of the Patriotic Front constitution. Committing any act which in the opinion of the central committee is not in the interest of the party contrary to regulation 29 of the Patriotic Front constitution,” Mwila said.
“Looking at the factors above, central committee heard that Mr Harry Kalaba had grossly misconducted himself and has continued to do so with impunity. Central committee also heard that the respondent had no respect nor regard for the party leadership as he even decided to stay away from the disciplinary hearing without giving reasons.”
Mwila said the central committee further noted that Kalaba had been accorded procedural fairness in the case by providing opportunity for him to be heard.
Source: The Mast Newspaper