Doctors may discharge Sata from hospital today

Doctors may discharge Sata from hospital today
By Staff Reporters
Wednesday April 30, 2008 [04:00]

PATRIOTIC Front president Michael Sata may be discharged from hospital today, his wife Dr Christine Kaseba said yesterday. In a telephone interview from Johannesburg, Dr Kaseba said Sata had made very good progress and was expected to be discharged today.

“But we are not coming back immediately because he will remain an out-patient for about a week,” said Dr Kaseba.

And commenting on Patriotic Front (PF) vice-president Guy Scott’s statement that Sata had indicated that he would refund the government all the money that would be spent on his specialist treatment in South Africa, Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba said Zambia was so unfortunate that it had leaders who were only good at making careless statements but could not provide quality leadership.
Hikaumba said the statement by Dr Scott was irresponsible and showed that he did not have the heart for his party president.

Hikaumba said leaders would only gain and hold the confidence of the people, once they start issuing statements that would provide leadership and enhance unity in the country, especially in times of problems like sickness.

“In the Zambian culture, when someone is sick, we put aside our political issues and work towards helping that sick person. But as ZCTU we were disappointed that Dr Scott could politicise the evacuation of his party president to South Africa. The statement or remarks by Dr Scott were very unfortunate and it makes any sane and patriotic Zambian to be very disappointed. It also showed how unfortunate we are as a country to have leaders who do not have empathy,” Hikaumba said.

And MMD Copperbelt provincial chairman Jerry Mukonkela advised Zambians to seriously analyse statements from some opposition political party leaders and make their own conclusions.

Mukonkela said he was sure that if Zambians carefully analysed certain statements from some political party leaders, they would be in a better position to tell who was a good leader and who was telling lies to gain political mileage.
Mukonkela said Zambians should not entertain lies from politician who issued statements just to be heard in the press.

And the PF in Mazabuka hailed President Levy Mwanawasa’s decision to facilitate the evacuation of Sata to South Africa for specialist treatment.
Party district chairman, Donald Zulu said PF cadres were happy with President Mwanawasa for demonstrating true statemanship.

Zulu said the gesture by President Mwanawasa showed that no matter how leaders differed politically, they still had love for each other.

Chief Mwanachingwala of Southern Province cautioned Scott against issuing statements that would divide Zambians.
He said Sata as a leader of the largest political party in the country was entitled to specialist treatment.

Chief Mwanachingwala said there was nothing wrong for the government to have facilitated the evacuation of Sata, adding that President Mwanawasa’s action was a true reflection of a leader.

And MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba reminded Scott that Sata was not a PF party cadre.
Tetamashimba said Sata was a leader of the biggest opposition party in the country and should be respected.

He said MMD was not pleased with Scott’s sentiments.
“Scott should not have said that Sata will refund the government all the money that will be spent on his specialist treatment in Johannesburg,” he said.
Tetamashimba also said he was saddened by the death of Sata’s son, Chilufya.