Maravi

Sata seeks explanation on Malawi deportation

Sata seeks explanation on Malawi deportation
By George Chellah
Tuesday April 03, 2007 [04:00]

PATRIOTIC Front president Michael Sata was gravely embarrassed by the Malawian government's decision to deport him from that country, his lawyers have revealed. And Sata has appointed former Malawian Attorney General Ralph Kasambala to act on his behalf in the matter. Meanwhile, the PF central committee meeting on Saturday had an intense debate over the recommendation by the Wynter Kabimba-led disciplinary committee to expel Lusaka mayor Susan Nakazwe and councillor Boniface Musondamwaume.

In a letter dated March 26, 2007 to the Malawian Attorney General, Sata - through his lawyers Simeza Sangwa & Associates - stated that he was gravely embarrassed by their action to remove him from Malawi last month. He has since demanded that the Malawian government furnish him with grounds for his removal. "We act for Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, a Zambian national. Kindly therefore note our interest. Our client instructs that on Thursday 15th March, 2007, he undertook a private trip to Malawi and completed all required legal formalities both with the Zambian and Malawian immigration authorities," read the letter in part. "Our instructions are that to his bemusement, he was denied entry into Malawi on arrival at Chileka International Airport and instead he was without any justification detained and later escorted back into Zambia where he was further detained by the authorities for questioning over his removal from your country.

"Our client who has been gravely embarrassed both in Malawi and Zambia by your actions demands that you furnish us with grounds for his removal from Malawi by the immigration authorities. It must in the meantime be clearly understood that our client reserves all his rights in the matter."

And Sata has appointed former Malawian Attorney General Ralph Kasambala to act on his behalf in the matter. "We have already appointed Mr. Kasambala to act on our behalf that side," he said.

Meanwhile, the PF central committee meeting which was held on Saturday had an intense debate over the recommendation by the Wynter Kabimba-led disciplinary committee to expel Lusaka mayor Nakazwe and councillor Musondamwaume from the party. PF sources disclosed that PF member of the central committee for Central Province Davies Chama, chairperson for elections Ernest Mwansa and Samuel Mukupa opposed the recommendation to expel Nakazwe. "Mr Chama argued that there was need for forgiveness and that the Nakazwe case was just a trap set on us by the MMD. So by expelling her, we will just be pushing ourselves into their trap. He also said that we should forgive her especially that she was the first offender," the source revealed. "And Mr Mwansa also opposed the recommendation saying that, the party president and the secretary general Dr Guy Scott had prejudiced the matter because they commented on it before they Nakazwe and Musondamwaume exculpated themselves."

However, the source said Sata argued that Nakazwe was not remorseful for her action so she deserved to be expelled. "The president only said that Nakazwe was unremorseful over her actions and that even in her exculpatory letter, she maintained that she didn't see anything wrong with what she did by going to the airport despite the government saying that they didn't want PF," the source said. The source further disclosed that the debate went on for over 30 to 45 minutes. "The debate went on, so that's how the matter was subjected to a vote. And after voting, it was discovered that out of 21 members of the central committee who voted, 15 were for the expulsion and 6 were against the expulsion. So that's how the decision to expel the two was democratically passed," the source said.

But when contacted for a comment over his expulsion, Musondamawume said he would comment later. "I said earlier I would comment after the decision is made but I have postponed my comment. I will say something later," he said. And Sata would today hold a press conference at Lusaka's Taj Pamodzi hotel to announce the restructuring of PF.

Labels: MALAWI, SATA

posted by MrK @ 4:45 AM