Rupiah has gone beyond limit in abusing state resources - Caritas

Rupiah has gone beyond limit in abusing state resources - Caritas
By Maluba Jere and Chibaula Silwamba
Friday October 17, 2008 [04:00]

Caritas Zambia executive director Samuel Mulafulafu yesterday observed that Vice-President Rupiah Banda has gone beyond the limit in abusing public resources. And a Post reporter Lambwe Kachali on Wednesday had a personal encounter with Vice-President Banda's foreign image builders in Kasama where they complained about the state owned Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail's alleged failure to publish pictures of the Vice-President's alleged huge rallies.

Meanwhile, The Post has established that one of the image builders is a former army officer who at one time served as an aide to US army general Peter Schoomaker, the former head of the US army and press officer for the UN in Bosnia.

Commenting on a picture in yesterday's Post showing Vice-President Banda's image builders arriving in a vehicle belonging to the Ministry of Health at an MMD rally in Mbala on Wednesday, Mulafulafu challenged Vice-President Banda to explain to the nation his definition of a free and fair election because such acts were a total contradiction of his messages. He expressed disappointment that the ruling party did not seem to listen to concerns raised by various stakeholders on abusing public resources during campaigns.

"I think Rupiah Banda has gone beyond the limit. First, it was the issue of using three airplanes in his campaign trail and now there is the use of hospital vehicles," Mulafulafu said. "The Vice-President's behaviour is not in the spirit of free and fair elections because he is not refraining from abusing public resources."

Mulafulafu said Vice-President Banda's action had clearly defied all principles of a free and fair election contrary to what he had been calling for.

And when contacted for a comment by Muvi TV, information minister Mike Mulongoti said he did not know why the image builders were using a Ministry of Health vehicle adding that maybe they had a project with the ministry.

The MMD has hired five image-building consultants from the Bell Pottinger, a UK-based firm, to help improve Vice-President Banda's political image to the public.

According to sources in Vice-President Banda's campaign team, the image builders first came to Zambia in early August through Mulongoti but went back after a few days.

"But they returned to Zambia a few days after RB was elected as MMD presidential candidate by the NEC," the source said. "Among these consultants is Luke Chauveau who is a director in Bell Pottinger. Others are Lee Petterson, Jonathan Caine and Ms Rhi Price."

And according to information on Bell Pottinger's website, Luke - with 14 years experience in consultancy - specialises in advising companies and prominent individuals on their reputational and communication challenges.

"Examples include the former prime minister of Thailand on media handling in the UK, the Nigerian President Ura'Adua on his election campaign, as well as heads of state on their officials visits to the UK. He also advises the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Trafigura and Emirates Airline," read the website in part adding that Luke is a former aide to the US army general Peter Schoomaker, the former head of the US army and press officer for the UN in Bosnia. Luke, whose sector specialism is the defence industry, also worked at the Press Complaints Commission.

Jonathan Caine was a special advisor to two successive Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland from 1991 to 1995 and from 1989 to 1990 he was a member of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher's political office in 10 Downing Street. He worked alongside David Cameron in the Conservative Research Department from 1988 to 1991 and as a fellow supervisor from 1992 to 1995.

At various times, Jonathan was the principal advisor to successive leaders of the opposition and members of the shadow cabinet on Constitutional Affairs, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Jonathan also served as a member of William Hague's PMQ preparation and speech-writing teams.