Maravi

CHILUBA ADVISES MPS

CHILUBA ADVISES MPS
By Noel Sichalwe, Lambwe Kachali and Patson Chilemba
Tuesday March 25, 2008 [03:00]

Former president Frederick Chiluba yesterday advised members of parliament not to forget that they always had a moral, political and spiritual aspect to consider. Addressing journalists at Lusaka International Airport upon arrival from South Africa where he had gone for medical review, Chiluba said it would be sad if members of parliament had turned National Assembly Motel into a brothel. He hoped that the members of parliament and the Zambian citizens would handle the challenge.

"I am hopeful that our humble members will rise above that. If indeed that happened, it will be sad. They should know that they have a duty as leaders and I am sure that they are very aware that they will handle the problem. I can only hope that the challenge to the leaders and citizens is not allowed to be destroyed like that," Chiluba said.

Chiluba has been in South Africa for about two weeks where he was undergoing medical review at Garden City Clinic in Johannesburg. And some members of parliament yesterday said some parliamentarians are abusing their rooms at National Assembly Motel.

However, the parliamentarians said the motel had not been turned into a brothel.
In an interview, Kabwata PF member of parliament Given Lubinda said it was undisputable that some parliamentarians engaged in immoral activities.
Lubinda also said the issue of immorality at the motel was not being raised for the first time.

He said it was sad that leaders who were supposed to behave in an honourable way were creating a bad precedence for the country's political future.

"Three years ago if not mistaken, you The Post wrote about a certain member of parliament who was beaten by the wife after being found with another woman at the motel. So, to me the issue of immorality at the motel is not strange. There are some members of parliament, others very senior people with high positions of leadership whose moral character is highly questionable. That's a known fact," Lubinda said.

He said there was need for leaders to behave in an honest manner both at Parliament and outside and to help fight HIV/AIDS.

However, Lubinda said although he agreed with the concerns raised by Chikankata member of parliament Munji Habeenzu on what was happening at the motel, it was also wrong for him to suggest that the motel had been turned into a brothel.

Lubinda said Parliament was a respected institution and it was wrong for its name to be dented just because of a few members of parliament who were in the habit of engaging in illicit sex.

"The problem is that the impression that has been created is as if all members at the motel are immoral. This is not correct because maybe just a few of them are immoral. Habeenzu should not have generalized his statement. We have people with good personality and it is very unfortunate that their names will be destroyed because of a few members," he said.

Lubinda condemned finance deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa's behaviour towards Habeenzu.

Kawambwa PF member of parliament Elizabeth Chitika-Mulobeka said although she had not seen any parliamentarians dragging women into their rooms, she was aware that a lot of bad and dirty things were happening at the motel.
"I agree with Hon Habeenzu. He is very correct. Personally, I have not interacted with many male parliamentarians to establish the exact things some of them do, but I can confirm that I have heard many stories and I believe that there is no smoke without fire. Immorality should be high at the motel," Chitika-Mulobeka said.
She said it was important to investigate and inform the Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa so that disciplinary measures could be taken against the culprits.
"I think there is also need to inform the deputy Speaker Hon Mutale Nalumango who is the head of the 'privilege of committee' to look into the matter. This is a serious issue because as parliamentarians, we are required to behave in an honourable way and help fight HIV/AIDS," said Chitika-Mulobeka.
Siavonga UPND member of parliament Douglas Syakalima urged parliamentarians not to think that their status had been degraded but instead face reality.

Syakalima said the essence of the matter bordered on morality and that parliamentarians should lead by example in addressing the problems related to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

He said what Habeenzu debated in Parliament was moral persuasion and not confrontational.

Syakalima said Zambian parliamentarians should learn from their Ugandan counterparts who were currently leading the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He said Zambia faced a big problem because leaders were too pretentious.
"We as leaders need to scale up the fight if people are to see us as true leaders. This fight can never be won if we don't take a leading step. It is our problem and we need to speak out openly," Syakalima said.

Mazabuka Central UPND member of parliament Garry Nkombo said there was need for the media to expose wrongdoing if the fight against HIV/AIDS was to be won.

Nkombo said although he did not lodge at the motel it was imperative that parliamentarians help in the fight against the pandemic.
Nkombo said Habeenzu did not err by raising the issue of immorality at the National Assembly Motel and that Shakafuswa should not have behaved in the way he did.

Roan PF member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili said although Shakafuswa's behaviour was uncalled for, Habeenzu made a mistake because most people would be disrespecting members of parliament.
Kambwili said it was wrong to suggest that all parliamentarians at the motel were engaging in extra marital affairs.
"People like me don't even drink at the Motel. I just go there, have my food that's all. What will my wife who is in England think about me now? She will think that I am also one of those who play with women at the motel while I am not even doing that. While, it is good to expose such things, Habeenzu made a mistake to make a general statement," said Kambwili.

Meanwhile, finance deputy minister Jonas Shakafuswa's son, Christopher has asked the nation to accept his father's apology for threatening Habeenzu over his remarks that National Assembly Motel has been turned into a brothel.
Christopher, a student in Business Administration at Cavendish University and business development manager with Print Image, said since his father apologised, it would only be prudent for the nation to forgive him.

"Dad apologised for the remarks because he said he was drunk, and as human beings, we all err and what he did in yesterday's Post is he asked for forgiveness," said 26-year-old Christopher.

Christopher said the statements alluded to his father were not a true reflection of the respect he had for women.

He said all his father did was to defend the integrity of the National Assembly.
Christopher said his father has been affected because he never meant what he said during the argument with Habeenzu.

"Dad is a very loving parent, he loves our mother so much. He respects our mother," said Christopher. "As a family we were equally hurt with the sentiments and our father explained to us. He apologised and so I ask the nation to accept his apology."

Last Thursday night, Shakafuswa threatened to beat up Chikankata UPND member of parliament Munji Habeenzu over his remark that National Assembly Motel has been turned into a brothel by members of parliament.

This follows Habeenzu's statement, two weeks ago during the debate on the policy statement of the 2008 budget estimates for the Ministry of Health, that even parliamentarians were engaging in extra marital affairs at the motel where they were being accommodated.

However, Shakafuswa on Saturday apologised for threatening Habeenzu over his remark that National Assembly Motel has been turned into a brothel.
But Habeenzu has since maintained that he will not forgive Shakafuswa over his unwarranted behaviour and would write to Speaker Mwanamwambwa over the matter.

Labels: CHILUBA, HYPOCRISY, MPs

posted by MrK @ 7:25 AM