NRP withdraws support for Rupiah

NRP withdraws support for Rupiah
By Maluba Jere
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]

INFORMATION minister Mike Mulongoti has contradicted Vice-President Rupiah Banda with his revelation that the MMD 'donated' K15 million to the opposition National Revolution Party (NRP) for filing nominations.

Vice-President Banda had earlier said that reports in The Post that he gave K15 million to NRP leaders for them to support him in the October 30 presidential elections were mere politics meant to scandalise him.

Former NRP secretary general James Lukuku revealed on Wednesday that NRP had received K15 million from Vice-President Banda to endorse his candidature.

And reacting to this revelation Mulongoti - during a press briefing on Thursday - confirmed that MMD had given the K15 million to NRP. He justified the 'gift', saying there was nothing wrong with offering assistance to small political parties.

Mulongoti said the MMD gave K15 million to NRP after its president, Cozmo Mumba, requested for financial assistance. He said it was sad that certain sections of the media wanted to politicise the money given to NRP to enable it file nominations.

"As campaign manager there are many people who have gone there to see me, looking for assistance because either the party is too small, they have no capacity or they are honest enough to realise that MMD we are a bigger and stronger party and that the political parties who are supposed to help them realise that it would be a waste of money to invest in a political party which has no chance of winning elections," Mulongoti said.

"And we are a bigger brother and we are proud to say that if people come and make a request as a political party, if we can help, we are free to help. It does not imply that we are corrupting anybody. There is no need to corrupt people because we have support all over the country. Those who are busy trying to undermine us by pretending that the people they are supporting are much more holier than us, we know who they are."

And according to the Times of Zambia yesterday, Mulongoti said Cozmo Mumba had in the past asked to be linked to Vice-President Banda's campaign. He said he had asked Cozmo what exactly he wanted to discuss with Vice-President Banda. He said Cozmo said he wanted to discuss matter concerning elections.

He further asked if Cozmo had any other business to discuss with Vice-President Banda. Cozmo disclosed that his party needed resources for transport from constituencies to the Supreme Court to file presidential nomination papers, food for 500 people, banners, public address system and fuel totaling K15.5 million.

Mulongoti said he advised Cosmo that he was not comfortable with the issue regarding resources in that the MMD also needed the same resources. He said the same day he had a telephone conversation with Cozmo, Mulongoti found Cozmo at Government House where he handed over a copy of NRP's budget to him.

However, Mulongoti's revelation was contrary to what Vice-President Banda said when he visited the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) offices on Thursday morning.

Vice-President Banda said media allegations that he bribed opposition party officials for them to endorse his presidential candidature in the October 30 elections were mere politics. Vice-President Banda said those who came up with the story carried in The Post on Thursday were merely trying to scandalise him.

Vice-President Banda said it was not possible to buy support to be a leader of a country. He said a person could only become president through people's wishes.
"People have to elect you as a legitimate president of the country," he said.

Meanwhile, NRP former secretary general James Lukuku said Mulongoti had exposed the corruption in MMD.

Lukuku said he had been vindicated by Mulongoti's statement.
"He Mulongoti has just exposed the corruption that is in the MMD and I would urge the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures," Lukuku said. "We are being ruled by people with no integrity. People must know that what goes round comes around and this is the bribery I was talking about."

Lukuku wondered why Mulongoti earlier denied having given money to the NRP, saying he had now contradicted himself.

"The information minister's statement on national television has vindicated me because he himself refused having given the party NRP money," Lukuku said. "The statement is most welcome because some sections of society thought I had orchestrated the story about the K15 million."

But Cozmo yesterday denied having received K15 million from the MMD and accused Mulongoti of being a liar. He said both Mulongoti and Lukuku were liars with hidden agendas.

"I never met Mulongoti to talk about anything but I had a meeting with the Vice-President and in our meeting, there was no money involved. We talked about other things but nothing to do with money," Cozmo said. "I challenge Mulongoti to confess if he gave me any envelope. Maybe he gave it to Lukuku and if he Lukuku got that money then he should return it."

Cozmo also said he had resolved to withdraw his earlier support for Vice-President Banda, saying people had misunderstood his endorsement.

"The indication right now is that we were going to support Mr. Rupiah Banda because of the same money. We have now relinquished our support because it seems we were bought to rally behind Rupiah Banda," Cozmo said.

"We have also boycotted the elections and I would like to advise all my members not to vote in the presidential election but rather support our candidate in Ndola Central Constituency. We will not support anyone, whether it is Mr. Banda, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema HH or Patriotic Front Michael Sata but support our candidate in the parliamentary election."

Cozmo also urged the ACC to investigate the matter and ensure that culprits were brought to book.

When contacted for comment yesterday over Cozmo's statement, Mulongoti said he did not have time for immoral people before cutting the line.

"I have no time for immoral people. That's all I can say," said Mulongoti.
But Lukuku warned Cozmo to stop denying having received money from the MMD, saying he would expose him of other things.

On Wednesday, Lukuku revealed that NRP had received K15 million from Vice-President Banda to endorse his candidature.

Lukuku said the NRP had a meeting with Vice-President Banda where they presented their budget of K80 million but that the Vice-President told them that they had only prepared K15 million for them.

Lukuku said Vice-President Banda then asked them to collect the money from William Banda who was outside his office with Mulongoti. According to Lukuku, the envelope containing the K15 million was wrongly given to Victory Ministries founding pastor Nevers Mumba but that it was later retrieved with the help of William Banda.

Lukuku then differed with Cozmo over his decision to support Vice-President Banda because the NRP had earlier resolved to endorse Hichilema's candidature.
When they didn't agree, Lukuku resigned from the party.

And when contacted for comment on Wednesday, Cozmo said Lukuku had been fired from the party about four days before his meeting with Vice-President Banda.

However, he confirmed having met Vice-President Banda where they discussed continuity, the genuineness of the K30 billion Youth Fund as well as the involvement of young people in national development.

Cozmo denied having received money from the Vice-President.
William Banda said Cozmo did not meet Vice-President Banda, adding that if he went to Government House, he could have definitely seen him.
Mulongoti was very upset when contacted to comment on the matter.

"Do you think I have a job like that of being an usher? I am asking you. You think with my status I can be an usher?" asked Mulongoti.

"That man is an Acting President. He has protocol officers. Will it be in order for me as a minister to turn into an usher? You are just being malicious because you know that at my level I can't be an usher."

Mulongoti said his presence at Government House did not mean he was ushering in people that wanted to meet the Vice-President.

"You mean I should not be at Government House? If I am there, I am meeting the Revolution Party?" Mulongoti asked before hanging up.