Maravi

Banda to face arrest for corruption if Sata wins

Banda to face arrest for corruption if Sata wins
By Patson Chilemba in Isoka
Friday October 03, 2008 [04:00]

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has vowed to arrest Vice-President Rupiah Banda and those surrounding him for engaging in electoral corruption and abuse of office.

In an interview after addressing a huge rally at Isoka town centre on Wednesday, Sata said Vice-President Banda and those surrounding him had committed several electoral malpractices, which required investigation and prosecution.

He said some of the malpractices that Vice-President Banda engaged in were the distribution of sugar and the 'donation' of K15 million to National Revolution Party (NRP) to endorse his candidature.

"I will not abandon the Levy Mwanawasa anti-corruption crusade. I will deal with them and sort them out, sort them out clean," Sata warned. "There will be nobody spared. What we are saying, the Vice-President, if president Chiluba, a president for 10 years can appear in a court of law, what about a nominated Vice-President? Rupiah, we don't even need to go to Parliament to remove the immunity because he has none."

Sata also threatened to sort out works and supply minister Kapembwa Simbao, MMD election chairman Mike Mulongoti and local government deputy minister Benny Tetamashimba.

On Mulongoti's threats to sort out The Post after this month's presidential elections, Sata said it was abuse of authority for the information minister to attempt to stifle press freedom in the country. He said the MMD's plan was to arrest Post editor Fred M'membe.

Sata said Mulongoti would be arrested for trying to stifle freedom of the press and for dictating what the press should write. He said PF would make it impossible for the MMD to stifle press freedom and freedom of expression.

And addressing a rally earlier, Sata said Zambians were one and that it was therefore wrong for Dr Ludwig Sondashi to threaten to beat up anyone who mentioned his name.

Sata promised the people that he would develop water resources in the area. He said he would tar the 153 kilometre road linking Isoka West to Chama which the MMD abandoned after the 2006 elections and only recently commenced some grading works on it.

Sata further promised to construct two secondary schools, a college and a hospital at Sunda in Northern Province because of its important historical significance.

He said it was sad that the whole Isoka district had no filling station. Sata said he would enhance agriculture development by doing away with old-fashioned methods of farming.

He challenged Chiluba and Dr Kenneth Kaunda to show what they had done for the people of Isoka during their tenure of office. He said Chiluba privatised companies and that retrenchees had not received their dues.

Sata said every president that came to power should aim to be remembered for the good that they achieved.

Sata also said the conditions of service for civil servants in the country were appalling and that PF would change this once elected.

And Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, commonly known as GBM, said he was overwhelmed by the positive response that PF received in areas that were previously MMD strongholds.
GBM said PF was on the way to victory.

Labels: RUPIAH BANDA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 5:07 AM