Maravi

Munkombwe dares Teta

Munkombwe dares Teta
By Noel Sichalwe and Patson Chilemba
Sunday August 26, 2007 [04:00]

SOUTHERN Province MMD chairman Daniel Munkombwe yesterday dared MMD spokesperson Ben Tetamashimba to 'collide' with him if he thinks he is an angel. Tetamashimba yesterday said he would 'collide' with Munkombwe if he continued supporting corrupt people. Reacting to several people that have roundly condemned him for saying people facing corruption charges before the courts could stand for MMD presidency, Munkombwe said Zambians lived under the laws which did not consider anybody alleged to have committed an offence at face value but from a legal perspective.

"If we are going to condemn anyone before they are found guilty by the courts of law, then it will be very dangerous," Munkombwe said. "These people condemning me, I don't know why up to now but I am not tired yet and I will defend what I said.

Who is an angel to condemn others before the courts can do so? In various allegations against people, are we going to group people together and condemn them?"

He said what was true was that the MMD would not get anybody from prison to make him or her president of the party.

"Those people saying I am tired should know that I am not tired yet and I can never be tired," Munkombwe said.

"Nobody can call me that. They are not hearing from me for the last time. I respect their views but I am not tired."

On Tetamashimba's comment that they would collide if he continued issuing such statements, Munkombwe said it was wrong for a spokesperson of a party to make such a comment.

"If he is an angel himself, then he should collide with me," Munkombwe dared.
But Tetamashimba said party members that have been convicted of corruption were not fit to contest the position of party president.

"If Munkombwe is supporting corrupt people, we shall collide with him in the field. For Katele Kalumba he is not convicted but for those convicted President Mwanawasa will not support them. You have a list you The Post of those that have been convicted by the Supreme Court," Tetamashimba said.

"For me I have not hidden it even from Michael Mabenga that I shall not support any convict of corruption."

Munkombwe on Thursday said party leaders facing corruption charges in courts of law were free to contest the MMD presidency.
In an interview, Munkombwe said the law presumed any accused person innocent until proven guilty.

He was commenting on the possibilities of Kalumba and Mabenga contesting the party presidency.

Kalumba is facing corruption charges in the magistrate's court with others while the Supreme Court in 2004 found Mabenga guilty of misappropriating about K27 million from the Constituency Development Fund.

However, Munkombwe said the MMD would determine at a later stage as to who should contest for the presidency.

He said what was clear was that the party would not choose mediocre leadership to take over from President Mwanawasa.

Munkombwe said although there could be people going around campaigning for the party presidency, the right time would tell as to which candidate would be best for the MMD presidency.
"The party constitution provides for any person to be elected to any position," Munkombwe said.

"In our justice system, a person is innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, even those accused of corruption can stand for the party presidency. If they are not found guilty by the court of law, they are not guilty. But those convicted will not be allowed to contest for the MMD presidency from jail. If they are not convicted, they can stand for elections and then the convention will either receive or reject them."
Munkombwe's remarks were followed by wide condemnation from various interest groups, including from the MMD itself.

Finance deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa said Munkombwe was tired and should rest.
Shakafuswa - who is also Katuba MMD member of parliament - said politics should be measured by morality.

"There should be morality in politics," Shakafuswa said. "The old man Munkombwe is entitled to his own opinion but politics should be measured by morality. As much as I respect the old man, I think he is tired...let him rest."
He said people lose confidence in politicians because some of them do stupid things like engaging in corruption.

MMD elections chairman Mike Mulongoti advised leaders vying for the MMD presidency to use their moral judgment before deciding to contest the position.
Mulongoti said while the constitutional provision of presumption of innocence existed, it was important for leaders to use their moral judgment to consider whether their circumstances would allow them to participate freely.

"The constitutional provision is that you are innocent until proved guilty. However, there is a moral addendum to it," Mulongoti said. "The moral side is that yourself as a leader, you must examine your standing whether you think your status or your circumstances allow you to freely participate in the fight for the presidency of the country. So it is not up to the law enforcing officers, it is up to us as leaders to examine our conscience and examine our circumstance."

Mulongoti said there was a thin line between the provisions of the law and morality.
"As far as I'm concerned, I don't mind that the Constitution provides that you are assumed innocent until you are proved guilty. But from the moral position the individuals must examine themselves."

Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) chairperson Reverend Moses Mwale said the Church would de-campaign any politician intending to contest for public office while facing corruption charges or found guilty of such offences.

Rev Mwale said there were discrepancies between what President Levy Mwanawasa and the MMD leadership say on corruption.

And Tetamashimba disclosed that it was the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) that convinced President Mwanawasa to stay on until 2011.

He said this was done in order to safeguard unity in the party.

Tetamashimba said the party would only choose the national presidential candidate at the convention, which he said would be held by early 2009.

"It's not actually President Mwanawasa who wants to continue leading, he must continue to unite the party. NEC are the ones who convinced the President to stay until 2011," Tetamashimba said.

"The one who wins the presidency in 2011 will automatically take over from President Mwanawasa and because of that President Mwanawasa would be able to contain the divisions that may arise."

He further said the position of party deputy national secretary would be vacant by Monday next week after the departure of Major Richard Kachingwe who is going to Nigeria as deputy High Commissioner.

"The President can nominate somebody to act in the position, then the NEC can accept," he said.

Tetamashimba said so far no one has been nominated for the position.
However, Tetamashimba said President Mwanawasa would soon be nominating someone for the position.

MMD sources disclosed that among those interested for the party's position of national secretary were finance deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa, Chisamba MMD member of parliament Moses Muteteka, and former science and technology minister Judith Kapijimpanga.

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, MMD, UPND

posted by MrK @ 4:45 AM