Maravi

We'll repossess land govt is allocating to foreigners - PF

We'll repossess land govt is allocating to foreigners - PF
By George Chellah and Patson Chilemba
Tuesday April 24, 2007 [04:00]

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has said PF would repossess the vast land which President Levy Mwanawasa’s government is currently allocating to foreigners. And Sata wondered who was more dignified between Moses Katumbi and former president Frederick Chiluba, particularly that the Zambian government has opted to handle Katumbi’s corruption allegations away from the public.

Meanwhile, PF national chairperson Chitalu Sampa urged PF youths to launch out as soon as Sata blew the whistle to march for the enactment of a new constitution.
Addressing a public rally in Lusaka’s Mandevu compound on Sunday, Sata said there was need for Zambians to also access land.

He said there was no way locals could be squeezed in shanty compounds whilst there was vast land in the country.

“Don’t even talk about Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwean president). Let me warn all those who have gotten a lot of land from Mwanawasa like Albidon (in Mazabuka), we will come and get the land back,” Sata warned.

He further warned that his government would also grab the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZNCB) from Rabobank.

“I will chase Rabobank, they will have to go back because Zanaco is our bank,” he said.

Sata accused President Mwanawasa of cheating Zambians over the issue of DRC’s Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi.

“If Tetamashimba says Katumbi’s case is at top level, who is more dignified in Zambia between Chiluba and Katumbi? Chiluba was president of Zambia and it’s him who brought Mwanawasa,” Sata said. “Let’s put pressure on Mwanawasa because the constitution and Katumbi’s issue can force him to succumb. Mwanawasa is a very temperamental man so he might just say okay!”
Sata said street vendors were good investors.

“Why should they bring a Chinese street vendor? If investors want to come, let them come and start making things for us to sell, not them selling,” Sata said.
He urged his supporters not to be violent.

Sata said once in government, he would provide better housing, schools and hospitals.
“After I die, I want to go and tell God that, ‘Lord, I have increased happiness amongst your people on earth’,” Sata said.

Sata also read out to the crowd the court cases that PF was handling.
“All those whose houses where broken in Kamwala South, we are going to court on Tuesday and street vendors whose goods were stolen we are going to court on Wednesday,” he said.

And Sampa urged PF youths to launch out as soon as Sata blew the trumpet calling for the enactment of a new constitution as soon as possible. He said if the youths of the pre-independence era managed to get independence, nothing would stand in the way of today’s youths.

“No one told him that appoint the Constitution Review Commission (CRC). he stood up himself,” Sampa said
PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said President Mwanawasa had surrounded himself with people like Tetamashimba who think Katumbi is above Zambian politics.

“That’s why they think Levy is above the constitution,” Lubinda said. “Levy has surrounded himself with people who don’t think...saying Hallelujah Levy Mwanawasa.”
And PF vice-national chairperson Henry Mtonga wondered why President Mwanawasa has spared suspended Commissioner of Lands Frightone Sichone.

“The one who used to sign title deeds was Sichone,” Mtonga said. “When are they going to arrest Sichone? We are waiting for him to do that.”

Mtonga further challenged the government to disclose the names of government officers involved in the stealing of K36 billion.

“They said they would give us the names but they have not...so who is a thief?” asked Mtonga.

Labels: LAND, SATA

posted by MrK @ 3:58 AM