Politics of appeasement shouldn’t be encouraged – Nonde

Politics of appeasement shouldn’t be encouraged – Nonde
Written by Lambwe Kachali
Friday, November 07, 2008 3:45:48 AM

FEDERATION of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Joyce Nonde yesterday said politics of appeasement should not be encouraged in Zambia because they breed segregation and quarrels among citizens.

Commenting on former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa's rejection of a house that the government offered to rent for her in Roma township, Nonde observed that it was not right for Maureen to reject the house.

Nonde said as much as it was important for Maureen to be given decent accommodation, she should not dictate to the government.

"We know it's the first time we lost the president in office but we need to be guided... We are getting more confused. Is the former first lady going to choose what the government should give her or it's the government to follow the provisions of the law? Because if my employers say I am entitled to a 4 x 4 car, I can't reject it and demand for a car of my choice. Otherwise if everybody was to choose their benefits, I am sure this country would be worse," Nonde said. "So if the former first lady should be choosing, then our country is not going to be safe...because the government has to say that ‘this is your entitlement’, rather than playing hide and seek."

Highly placed sources at Cabinet Office and State House on Wednesday disclosed that Maureen had rejected a house that the government had earlier offered to rent for her in Lusaka's Roma Township on grounds that she wants a modern house.

The sources said after the burial of president Mwanawasa in September, Maureen had agreed to move into a house in Roma that the government had offered to rent for her.

Sources said this followed President Rupiah Banda's instructions that the government should take proper care of Maureen and the family by offering her the accommodation she deserved.

Sources said President Banda also said Maureen should not be disturbed and that she should only move from State House after government finds a house of her choice.

Sources said it was difficult to search for a much better house that would please the former first lady because of the election campaigns.

Sources said the government's aim was to please Maureen so that she could overcome the loss of her husband.

They said now that President Banda was supposed to occupy State House, the government had decided to temporarily accommodate Maureen at one of the lodges in Lusaka's Kabulonga residential area. The sources said the government had rented an entire lodge for the former first lady and that they had found another house in Kabulonga, which they hoped she could move to in the next two weeks.

On September 1, 2008, Attorney General Mumba Malila explained that Maureen is entitled to a salary equivalent to 50 per cent of that of a serving head of state following president Levy Mwanawasa's death.

Malila said Maureen is also entitled to a diplomatic passport and a fully paid foreign trip once a year.

Malila said Maureen is also entitled to a house to be constructed in an area of her choice by virtue of her being the widow of the former head of state.

According to the former presidents benefits Act No. 21 of 1998, the widow is allowed to enjoy such benefits jointly with children below the age of 21 until she dies, as long as she does not go into politics or joins the government.

Maureen is also entitled to a vehicle, a driver and a house servant.

The two former first ladies of Zambia have not enjoyed this facility because their husbands are still alive and enjoying their benefits as provided for by the law.