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MMD is lying on $7m owed to Katumbi - Sata

MMD is lying on $7m owed to Katumbi - Sata
By George Chellah and Noel Sichalwe
Monday April 23, 2007 [04:00]

MMD is lying on the US $7 million debt owed to Katumbi, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata said yesterday. And Sata said President Levy Mwanawasa's tricks on the Constitution were too many. Meanwhile, Sata has urged street vendors to peacefully resist eviction from the streets because the Chinese and Lebanese have taken their space.

Commenting on MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba's statement that the ruling party has banned its members from discussing DRC's Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi's issue, Sata said MMD has banned discussions on Katumbi because they knew the truth about the maize deal.

"I have said it before that somebody was not telling the truth on Vernon Mwaanga's trip to DRC. It's clear now that somebody is lying. That's why they are now sending Tetamashimba to begin saying that 'don't talk about Katumbi'," Sata said. "They have banned talking about Katumbi because they know the truth. This is typical of this government, they always want to lie."

And PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said the MMD's US $7 million debt to Katumbi was a matter of public interest that should be discussed by all Zambians.

Lubinda said it was totally unacceptable for Tetamashimba to ban discussions on the MMD debt to Katumbi because the matter was in public domain and had created a lot of interest in people. He said the MMD's approach to Katumbi's issue was shallow and should not be tolerated.

Lubinda said in 2002, President Mwanawasa addressed a special session of Parliament where he alleged that Katumbi was suspiciously paid about US $20 million taxpayers’ money.
"Now if these issues were raised by the President, why should we not talk about them?" Lubinda asked. "President Mwanawasa should tell the nation when Katumbi will answer the charges.

Katumbi is claiming to have been owed US $7 million by the MMD. If President Mwanawasa is serious, he needs to explain how they will repay this debt. He should not use taxpayers’ money to pay the debt otherwise whether, I will be in Parliament in 2011 or not, I will be the first person to call for the removal of his immunity to face prosecution. A person elected to a position of leadership must be beyond blemish," he said.

Lubinda said Zambians have the right to question Katumbi's integrity following President Mwanawasa's allegations against him in 2002. He said former information minister Vernon Mwaanga testified in the presidential petition how MMD parliamentary candidates were supplied with cheaper maize by Katumbi in 2001.

"The MMD must come out clean and explain where they will borrow US $7 million to pay Katumbi," he said.

Lubinda also said Tetamashimba should not vilify Dr Kenneth Kaunda by saying he has no right to comment on the need for a new constitution because he did not leave a good constitution. He said Tetamashimba's thinking on the issue was myopic because Dr Kaunda was a father of the nation who deserved to be respected.
He said Zambians must allow Dr Kaunda to speak out on any national issues.

"KK has integrity and is the founding father of the nation," he said. "Why should they start protecting Katumbi and start insulting KK? As PF, we will continue respecting KK. We shall continue talking about Katumbi."

And addressing a public rally in Lusaka's Chawama compound on Saturday, Sata said it was only a new constitution that would assist the country.

"Mwanawasa's tricks on the constitution are too much. I told them that I will start and I am here today, I have come. Let's unite and start speaking because if you stop speaking, they will take you for granted," he said.

Sata said President Mwanawasa was hesitant on the enactment of a new constitution because they want to continue abusing national resources.

"In every ministry now they are stealing. K24 billion for expired drugs, that's stealing," he said.

Sata said he would soon instruct his supporters to march to push for a new constitution.

"I will give you a programme soon. We are going to march for the new constitution. We will march to Mwanawasa and tell him we want a constitution. If he fails to give us a constitution then he must resign," Sata said. "We need a constitution that will facilitate for better health and education. We want a constitution not in 2008. We want a constitution by the end of this year. We want by September Mwanawasa to give us a white paper. Alipola (he has now recovered)."

Sata said if Zambia had a better constitution, the MMD would not have taken government’s money money and entered into the maize deal with DRC's Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi.
Sata vowed to continue holding public rallies countrywide.

"We have started meeting like this so that we can tell Levy that it's time to go. You don't have to be violent. You didn't throw stones to remove Kaunda so do the same," Sata said. "Chiluba must be feeling pity for us wherever he is when he sees the problems he left us with in Mwanawasa. That's why it's only God who knows and will judge Levy's problems because he doesn't care about Zambians."

He also urged street vendors to resist eviction from the streets because the Chinese and Lebanese have taken their space.
"Don't beat the council police when they come to chase you.

Kumwebafye ati boi bulapo ulubalala uleya (Just tell them that 'my friend just get a groundnut and go'). Tell them that 'we are your bosses'," Sata said. "Masebo is cheating that she has markets for vendors. Let her take the Chinese and Lebanese to those markets in the bush since they drive. Sylvia Masebo keeps Levy's secrets of what he has eaten from Lebanon and China. That's why she is doing this.

"Masebo was deputy mayor in 1992, she didn't break any house or chase anybody from the streets. You want to chase a Zambian street vendor and bring a Chinese or Lebanese street vendor?"

Sata challenged local government minister Sylvia Masebo to read the local government Act he formulated in full to the people.

"The Act I formulated, I stopped people from urinating in public and I also gave licenses to hawkers. But I saw her on TV she just read a line let her read it in full," he said.

Sata also criticised President Mwanawasa over the land wrangles in Southern Province.

"Why should he fire Nyirongo? He should also go for giving land to Albidon in Southern Province," Sata said.

Sata promised better houses, schools, hospitals and universities once he takes over power.

"Ninenty days after Levy has gone, we don't want to fight for one university. Each province should have its own university. There should be better schools and hospitals in all compounds in Lusaka," he said.

He said when he demolished houses in Chibolya compound during his tenure as local government minister, he provided a plot to people before demolishing.

"When we were breaking in Chibolya, we were giving them a plot before demolishing. We used to tell them that this structure is illegal so if you don't demolish, we will assist you. But we were giving a plot before we demolish," Sata said.

And Dr Scott advised Zambian white farmers not to be cheated that PF would throw them out like in Zimbabwe once they form government.

"We are telling white businessmen and white farmers to stop this nonsense of telling scary stories to each other that PF will come and throw them out once we are in government," Dr Scott said. "PF is not a racist party. Do you think I can remain in a party, if it is a racist party?"

Labels: CONSTITUTION, Moses Katumbi, SATA

posted by MrK @ 5:51 AM