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Rupiah, not me, should be blamed for violence – Sata

Rupiah, not me, should be blamed for violence – Sata
Written by Patson Chilemba

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday said President Rupiah Banda, not him, should be blamed for the violence and tension that has gripped the country.
Reacting to recent statements from the government that the PF leader was fanning anarchy in the nation because he had not accepted the presidential election results, Sata said he had petitioned the election because he believed that President Banda won a fraudulent election.

"They did not win elections and I will not accept for the sake of it. If the people knew that I was manufacturing stories and Rupiah won a genuine election, there wouldn't be all these problems. The whole point is I've been consistent, I don't believe in violence," Sata said. "If they are provoking violence, they should not bring me into it. They should not use me as a scapegoat for the inefficiency and stolen election."
On the arrest of Radio Icengelo station manager Fr Frank Bwalya by police in Kitwe last Wednesday, Sata said the arrest was the beginning of trouble and intolerance from President Banda and his government.
He said freedom of speech should be allowed to prevail in Zambia.
"If Fr Bwalya would have said that Rupiah Banda was well-elected, he [Fr Bwalya] would have been a hero. He would have been at State House receiving awards," Sata said. "On what happens next, let's not speculate because when you start speculating, you are playing into their hands."
Asked to comment on the moves that are being made to regulate the media, Sata said President Banda would suffer an embarrassing defeat on the matter.
He said it was not the first time government had attempted to stifle The Post because even Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba tried to do the same but failed.
"They want to single out Sata and The Post of inciting violence. Rupiah Banda will just try and fail," said Sata.

Labels: ELECTIONS, RIOTS, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 9:16 PM