Some MPs, govt officials are scared of losing jobs - Teta

Some MPs, govt officials are scared of losing jobs - Teta
By Lambwe Kachali
Friday September 05, 2008 [04:00]

MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba yesterday said some ministers and other government officials are scared that they will lose their jobs when Vice-President Rupiah Banda is elected Republican President.

Addressing the press at Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka, Tetamashimba said Vice-President Banda was more than mature and that his major aim was to unite the party and the country as a whole.

He said no Zambian would be victimised by Vice-President Banda once elected as Republican President in the forthcoming presidential by-election.

“There have been false statements that RB will dismiss people related to the former first family. Others are scared of their jobs. The RB camp has been linked to people believed to be plunderers,” Tetamashimba said. “We are not and we don’t want anybody to put words in our mouths. Ours, through RB, is reconciliation and forgiveness through the church mother bodies. RB is more than mature and can’t do this. Those that are scared of their jobs, let them be sensible. Our team when we win the by-election will be forgiveness and reconciliation of Zambians through the Church.”

Tetamashimba urged NEC members not to take Zambians for granted by going against their wish. He said Zambians supported Vice-President Banda because they knew that he would unite them and that he would follow the footsteps of President Mwanawasa.
He said that Vice-President Banda had been in MMD for many years and that he vigorously helped the party to win popularity in the Eastern Province.

Tetamshimba said it would be difficult for the MMD to sell finance minister Ng’andu Magande.

“My brother Hon Magande has no constituency, as Southern Province is without doubt the strongest voter base for UPND president and his members of parliament, and to allow Hon Ng’andu Peter Magande to be MMD presidential candidate is to think that a presidential candidate can win from other people’s areas losing in his own village or province,” said Tetamashimba.