Maravi

Sata defends his deal

Sata defends his deal
By Patson Chilemba and Lambwe Kachali
Tuesday May 20, 2008 [04:00]

PATRIOTIC Front president Michael Sata has challenged politicians accusing him of compromising the role of the opposition to take over and become major political parties. Commenting on reservations that have been expressed following his reconciliation with President Levy Mwanawasa last Sunday, Sata said his reconciliation with the President would not compromise the opposition. He said if anything, PF was strengthening the opposition in that it now had direct access to the head of government.

"When you say you are weakening the opposition, how can one party weaken the other opposition political parties? How? But the whole point is why don't they take over to become major opposition parties? If anything, we are strengthening the opposition because PF has an alternative policy, which all these other political parties don't have," he said.

Sata said PF and MMD would not merge to form one political party. He said the mere fact that PF and MMD had reconciled did not mean that they would become one political party.

"We are two different political parties and the fact that we are talking to Levy Mwanawasa does not mean merging the two political parties. And the by-election in Milanzi will even be more helpful because of what we are dealing between me and Levy," he said.

Sata said time would tell whether his reconciliation was genuine or not. He said apart from MMD and PF gaining, the nation stood to benefit from his newfound friendship with President Mwanawasa.

Sata said most people were panicking because they survived on the bickering that existed between him and President Mwanawasa, and that they were panicking because they did not have an alternative policy.

Sata said he had no apology to make to people like United Liberal Party president Sakwiba Sikota and UPND president Hakainde Hichilema.

His remarks follow calls by UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma that Sata should publicly apologise to all the leaders he had called names in the past in the spirit of national reconciliation. Sata said it was surprising that most people were condemning him when he was not the only one who had entered into reconciliation.

"Is there anything for me to apologise because Hichilema has no alternative? That's why he's panicking," he said.

Sata said some of the things he would discuss with President Mwanawasa include the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) and the Industrial and Labour Relations Amendment Bill.

He said most people were cheating President Mwanawasa because in their greediness, they wanted to amass wealth using the NCC. Sata said with the newfound relationship, PF would not hesitate to expose corrupt and greedy elements both in government and the nation.

New Generation party president Humphrey Siulapwa called on Sata to avoid straining himself by retiring from active politics because the heart attack he suffered was more dangerous than the stroke President Mwanawasa once suffered.
However, Siulapwa welcomed the reconciliation between the two leaders.

And defence minister George Mpombo said Sata had secured himself a honourable place in the political history of Zambia. Mpombo said although he has had what he termed as ‘heavy political skirmishes’ with Sata on various national issues, he was happy that the opposition leader had taken a mature political position by reconciling with President Mwanawasa.

Mpombo said Sata had broken out of the mode of African politics, which he said were based on perpetual animosity and political blood curdling. He said of late, he was being prompted to react to Sata's statements on MMD because they were malicious and made the government's work very difficult.

Mpombo said his reactions to Sata were not in any way a reflection of hatred but were based on principle.

"I must admit that I have had heavy political skirmishes with Mr Sata on various national matters. I must also admit that Mr Sata's position on government was not fair and made it very difficult for us to operate. But that does not mean that I had a grudge against him," Mpombo said. "I have known Mr Sata for a long time when I was governor for Ndola rural as well as Masaiti member of parliament, while Mr Sata was a senior governor. Mr Sata has been my friend for a long time and his decision for reconciliation is highly commendable."
He said it was sad that the opposition parties had turned politics into martial arts.

Mpombo said unlike African politics, developed countries' opposition parties were free to consult and discuss national issues with the government as they planned the way forward.
Mpombo said Sata's new approach to politics had set a new horizon not only in the Zambian political system, but across Africa and the world at large.
"With this development, the country's political future is being set. Zambia will make rapid progress in terms of social and political development," he said.

However, Mpombo said Sata and the other opposition leaders should not stop criticising the government provided their criticisms were constructive and free of malice.

"The opposition should not perpetuate passion for politics of hatred because if they do that, they are plunging the country into irretrievable political and social chaos. We have a number of political parties which have become agents of political rumbling," Mpombo said. "Of course we must continue to differ constructively and not with malice because that will mean sowing seeds of anarchy in the country."
He urged Zambians to support the reconciliation between Sata and President Mwanawasa, saying it would bring political, social and economic development in the country.

Mpombo said Sata was a senior political citizen and deserved the required dignity now that he had taken a magnificent step in his political career. He also commended The Post for their coverage on the unfolding of events in the country.

"I must also commend you, The Post, in the way you have informed the country on this important development. I beg that we continue working together so that we can drive our country to greater heights," said Mpombo.

Labels: MMD, MWANAWASA, PF, SATA

posted by MrK @ 4:09 AM