Maravi

Chiluba accuses The Post of hatred

Chiluba accuses The Post of hatred
By Sandra Lombe
Wednesday May 23, 2007 [04:00]

FORMER Republican president Frederick Chiluba, through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, has attacked The Post and accused it of hatred and having an agenda against him. Speaking on Muvi TV's Eyeball to Eyeball programme on Monday, Mwamba said reports in some newspapers was driving hatred against Chiluba.

"I will restrict my comments on The Post. Some editorial comments haven't been fair, such that Dr Chiluba stands prejudiced... Why would anyone push the agenda of hatred?" he asked.

Mwamba said the people that had spoken about Chiluba's judgment did not hold representative capacity of Zambians.

"The key issue missing are Zambians. Are the people who have spoken, speaking for Zambians?" he asked. "The Post, I don't think they have spoken any good of Dr Chiluba."

Asked whether Chiluba hated first Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Mwamba responded: "Dr Chiluba doesn't hate KK, he is a Christian. People get amazed at this, look at the speech in The Post, he handles them well. He loves Mr. M’membe, he loves Mwanawasa.”

Mwamba said there were some people who were with Chiluba, and had sent him messages of encouragement.

He said some people did not want to be seen to be siding with Chiluba fearing that they would be attacked through editorial comments by The Post.

Interviewer Chellah Katwishi showed Mwamba several copies of The Post which carried headlines on Chiluba and sought his comment but Mwamba said the newspaper had an agenda.
He also said there was an attempt to wash away the 10 years that Chiluba ruled the country.

And Mwamba said it was sad that Chiluba was not well enough to answer some questions for himself.
He said the fact that Chiluba held a press briefing did not mean he was well.

“It is not him but doctors saying that he is not well. He requires specialist treatment. He wanted to highlight to the Zambians that he was unfairly treated,” he said.

“He addressed with difficulty. The matter was so grave that it didn’t need a substitute like me. We had to get Dr Chiluba from his bed. I can’t be a substitute to Dr Chiluba because he was the one who ruled this country.”

He said Chiluba stood prejudiced and that the consistent writings in the papers would make people believe what was being written was true.

Mwamba said Chiluba did not hold the press briefing to defend himself.
He said Chiluba was not given an opportunity to defend himself at the time his immunity was being lifted in Parliament.

He said it was their fear that Chiluba stood prejudiced because he had been tried through newspapers.
Meanwhile, Mwamba said Chiluba had not been formally served with the documents of the London High Court judgment.

“Dr Chiluba has not been formally served with the documents, so we can’t start counting the 14 days now,” he said.
Mwamba said it was a trying moment for the Chiluba family.
He said Chiluba had not enjoyed his retirement because everyday he was going to court and police.

“But they (Chilubas) stand in prayers and are with God it doesn’t matter who is against them,” Mwamba said.
Mwamba said there were celebratory moods from some certain quarters that the judgment had vindicated them.

He also said the government had used institutions to try Chiluba.
Mwamba attacked Dr Kaunda saying he was an eternally aggrieved person because he thought Chiluba had rigged the 1991 elections.

About three weeks ago, the London High Court established that Chiluba had defrauded Zambia of millions of dollars and gave him 14 days within which to pay at least 85 per cent of US $41 million.

Labels: CHILUBA, THE POST

posted by MrK @ 8:12 PM