Maravi

Rupiah is lying - Lukuku

Rupiah is lying - Lukuku
By Patson Chilemba, Noel Sichalwe and Lambwe Kachali
Friday September 26, 2008 [04:00]

OPPOSITION National Revolution Party (NRP) former secretary general James Lukuku yesterday said Vice-President Rupiah Banda is lying by saying that he cannot buy the presidency with money.

And Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka reminded Vice-President Banda and those surrounding him that the jobs and promises they were allegedly offering to some people visiting Government House would become the albatross around their necks.

Lukuku's comments come in the wake of Vice-President Banda's statement yesterday that he would not buy the presidency.

Vice-President Banda, who visited the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) offices, 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.

Vice-President Banda said his visit to the ACC demonstrated his commitment towards the fight against corruption and hoped that other presidential aspirants would emulate him. He said the visit to ACC meant that he had also visited other institutions fighting corruption like TIZ and others.

"I am committing myself to the fight against corruption," Vice-President Banda said. He said jobs for ACC employees were assured because they were working on behalf of Zambians.

Before getting in his official vehicle, Vice-President Banda was mobbed by street vendors that complained that council officials were confiscating their merchandise.

In response, Vice-President Banda said he could not do anything until he talked to the council to understand why they were taking such an action.

But Lukuku maintained that Vice-President Banda gave NRP K15 million in order to secure their endorsement of him in the October 30 presidential election.

"If he is saying he cannot buy the presidency using money, why did he give us K15 million? Before we went there, the K15 million was already waiting for us. I cannot do a fabrication over him, and what benefit is it for me to make all sorts of accusations against him?" Lukuku asked. "What is he going to do if it is found to be true?"

Lukuku said the truth shall be established that Vice-President Banda gave K15 million to NRP for the party to endorse his candidature. He said Vice-President Banda gave his former party an initial amount of K15 million with a promise to give them K40 million for campaigns after he files his nomination papers today.

Lukuku said he also expected former Republican vice-president pastor Nevers Mumba and William Banda to be honest.

Lukuku also revealed that he had received several anonymous calls from people who were asking for his whereabouts after his revelations that Vice-President Banda paid them K15 million in The Post yesterday. He warned that he would report the matter to the Anti-Corruption Corruption and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for investigations.

And Reuben Lifuka said Zambia was at a crossroads in terms of fighting corruption. He said Zambia risked reversing all the gains made in the last few years on account of greed for power by various political players.

"We are worried that Zambia can easily be mortgaged to the highest bidder just for the sake of ascending to power," Lifuka said. "A few days ago, Transparency International Zambia launched the TI Corruption Perception Index for 2008 and we did indicate that there was some positive movement on the CPI. It is a pity that today, we are learning of serious allegations that could wipe out several years of the crusade against corruption, which has been implemented at great cost to this country."

Lifuka said TIZ found the allegations of impropriety on the part of Vice-President Banda and his campaign team to be serious and needed an immediate response.

He challenged Vice-President Banda to state his position on the matter and also requested ACC and ECZ to investigate the allegations as a matter of urgency.

"We need to see immediate action before other political players take up the cue from the ruling party and engage in wanton political corruption, thus diluting the whole essence of democratic elections," Lifuka said.

He warned all political parties participating in the October 30 elections to desist from corruption.

"You may lose an election by being clean but you will gain the respect and admiration of the majority of Zambians for your stance.

Our elections in the past few years, have lacked role models. We have had too many hypocrites who say one thing about fighting corruption and do the opposite under the cover of darkness," Lifuka said. "It is a pity that in this year's elections, we are yet again witnessing politicians who have a fragile veneer of integrity."

Lifuka said the 2008 elections should be different and politicians should not disregard the principle of gaining power on a convincing political platform. He said that vote-buying and other forms of political corruption served as a catalyst to the general loss of faith in politics, politicians and political parties.

"We wish to remind the Acting President and the people around him that the jobs and promises that they are alleged to be offering to some of the people visiting Government House will become the albatross around their necks," said Lifuka. "The Zambian people are watching and the impact of such political corruption is clearly understood; and in due time the Zambian people will demand for answers."

Labels: JAMES LUKUKU, NRP, RUPIAH BANDA, TIZ

posted by MrK @ 5:18 PM