Maravi

Kitwe mayor urges honesty among politicians

Kitwe mayor urges honesty among politicians
By Zumani Katasefa and Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Tuesday August 26, 2008 [04:00]

KITWE mayor Divo Katete has urged political chameleons to learn to be honest and appreciate those in office while they are alive.

Speaking when he signed the book of condolences, which was opened yesterday at the district commissioner’s office in Kitwe, Katete said it was unfortunate that some politicians had painted a bad picture about President Levy Mwanawasa when he was alive thereby misleading the masses.

“Leaders must begin to be honest, they criticised President Mwanawasa giving a picture that he was not good leader,” he said.

Katete said now that President Mwanawasa had died, those who were criticising him had come in the open to appreciate his good works.

“If they were open enough, and appreciated his work whilst he was alive, they could have encouraged him to even work harder to improve the economy,” he said.

Katete added that the sentiments coming from opposition leaders, civil society organisations and other members of the public clearly showed that the late President was loved.

“We must be honest and not deceive our people for the sake of gaining political mileage,” he said.
Katete added that late President Mwanawasa would be remembered for his good works.

He said the late President worked extremely hard to ensure that the mining sector made tremendous improvements.

“I do not know whether we are going to have a President like President Mwanawasa. The man has given food for thought,” Katete said.

And Kitwe town clerk Ali Simwinga, who was the second to sign in the book of condolences, said President Mwanawasa would be best remembered for various developmental projects that he brought to Kitwe.

He cited the construction of ultra-modern markets in the city as some of the major projects initiated by President Mwanawasa.

Other prominent figures who signed the book of condolences are Kitwe High Court judges Evans Hamaundu, Royd Siame, Catherine Makungu and Ernest Mukulwamutiyo and Wusakile member of parliament Barnabas Chella.

Meanwhile, Sinazongwe district MMD information and publicity secretary Chileshe Mwamba in a walk-in interview said those talking about President Mwanawasa’s succession should put national interest before self.

Mwamba said some people lobbying for particular candidates to succeed late President Mwanawasa were doing so because they knew that such candidates if elected would protect their jobs.

“They should choose a person whom the President himself would have backed if he was alive,” he said.

Mwamba urged the MMD leadership to adopt a person who would be interested in the plight of youths as a way of honouring President Mwanawasa’s legacy.

Mwamba said President Mwanawasa was a leader who tried hard to incorporate the youth in the governance of the country and that whoever would succeed him needed to emulate his style of governance.

Labels: CORRUPTION, DIVO KATETE, MAYOR

posted by MrK @ 3:33 AM