Maravi

Some PF MPs are mercenaries - Sata

Some PF MPs are mercenaries - Sata
By George Chellah
Wednesday April 04, 2007 [04:00]

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday said some of his members of parliament were mercenaries. And Sata has incorporated all former United Liberal Party (ULP) officials, who are now PF members of parliament into the PF central committee. Meanwhile, Sata commended the four Copperbelt mayors - who left Ndola airport on Sunday where they had gone to welcome President Mwanawasa after MMD cadres started chanting anti-PF slogans - for their maturity and patriotism.

Addressing a press briefing at Lusaka's Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Sata accused some of his members of parliament of not propagating party policies. "Some members of parliament are showing signs of infiltration but we will check that. We have reached a stage at which we are knowing each other. They propagate the policies of MMD than the MMD itself. We are knowing each other now because we were getting anyone even those we didn't know, but we are watching," Sata said. "I am glad we didn't go to State House because if we did, we would have made more mistakes than this government. We would have appointed people we didn't know to positions, people who could have failed to work. But God delayed it that, 'you won't, first you cleanse yourselves.' We still have a lot of mercenaries."

When asked to clarify his statement that PF still had a lot of mercenaries, Sata responded:"What I meant was that some people jumped on the bandwagon of the popularity of PF. We didn't know them. For example, a number of members of parliament we didn't know them. Probably that's why when they are debating in parliament they debate contrary to party policies," Sata said. "Even the mayor Nakazwe, we didn't know her but she was in Lusaka. She was just thrust on people. But we have dealt with a little mercenary in Lusaka so we are knowing them now." He also criticised the Members of Parliament's debates in the House.

"I expected people in parliament to talk about Rabobank but you are just there busy making interjections. I expected our colleagues in parliament to support the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ). "I expected our colleagues to take the government to task, Nyirongo (former lands minister) has been dismissed even Muteteka has been dismissed but the Commissioner of Lands has been suspended. Even on the issue of Finance Bank, you should raise questions. When you are MP, you should talk about national issues and not just your constituency. "Our Parliament has let me down. You are busy talking about removing street vendors, what type of people are we? PF's policy we said we will build houses and then demolish. Our parliament is so quiet, we are talking about things that are irrelevant."

And Sata praised the four Copperbelt mayors who left Ndola airport on Sunday where they had gone to welcome President Mwanawasa after MMD cadres started chanting anti-PF slogans. "I would like to commend the PF mayors for their maturity and PF patriotism, which they did. If you want to be liberal, go out! You can't be liberal in PF. Be confrontational but without violence," Sata said. "I am accepting the apology from them (government) on behalf of PF because Sylvia (local government minister Sylvia Masebo) is not a woman who easily apologies unless she is knocked down and she has been knocked down."

He said it was only a civic duty to welcome the President when he goes for official duties. "But when he goes to his farm, that’s private. Mayors are not going to accompany him to count the number of bags he has produced. When he goes to meet Copperbelt Province MMD chairman Terence Findlay Mr. Findlay that's not a civic duty," Sata said. "Some people have been saying Sata and Guy Scott are dictators, yes! We are democratic dictators. We are just democratically dictating in the right direction. We are democratic dictators. I would like the party to come first."

Sata also announced the restructuring of the PF central committee. "We are not forming a shadow cabinet and it's not that they are the best but we are reconstituting the party. We have looked at the contribution of the people we are allocating positions," he said. According to the new PF central committee structure, former secretary general Dr Guy Scott is now vice-president, Nchanga member of parliament Charles Chimumbwa is the new secretary general and UNZA lecturer Dr Chileshe Mulenga will be his deputy.

Sata also incorporated all former ULP officials - who are now PF members of parliament - into the PF central committee. Henry Mtonga is now the vice national chairman as well as chairperson for national security while Given Lubinda and Elfrida Mwamba are party spokesperson and chairperson for lands respectively. Others appointed into the central committee are Dr Peter Machungwa and Alex Chama as chairpersons for transport and energy respectively.

Labels: MPs, PARLIAMENT, PF, SATA

posted by MrK @ 4:19 AM