Maravi

Teta explains cancellation of Rupiah’s trips

Teta explains cancellation of Rupiah’s trips
Written by Gillian Namungala and Margaret Mtonga
Friday, November 14, 2008 7:56:31 AM

MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba has said wrong with the recent cancellation of President Rupiah Banda's trips. In an interview, Tetamashimba explained that the country was facing a lot of challenges that required President Banda's attention. "There are a lot of problems that need to be attended to. There is the issue of high mealie-meal prices, so he cancelled his trips to attend to this among others," he explained.

Tetamashimba denied speculations that the President had cancelled his trips because of tension in the country.

there is nothing President Banda on Friday last week abruptly cancelled his trip to Kenya to attend the regional head of state summit that was convened over the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to the programme released on Thursday, President Banda was scheduled to attend the summit in Kenya and later travel to South Africa to attend an emergency Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit over Zimbabwe.

On Monday, President Banda cancelled his trip to Mongu where he was scheduled to meet with the Litunga of the Lozi people of Western Province and MMD officials.

And Tetamashimba alleged that Patriotic Front (PF) millers were the ones hiking mealie-meal prices to cause anarchy in the country.

He accused the millers of increasing mealie-meal prices to bring insecurity in the country.

"We are aware that it is some PF millers that are hiking mealie-meal to cause confusion in the country," Tetamashimba said.

However, Tetamashimba assured the public of a reduction in mealie-meal prices from K55,000 to K45,000 per 25 kilogramme bag.

Tetamashimba also said the demonstration that was scheduled for tomorrow on the Copperbelt would not take place.

"I’m very surprised that Copperbelt police commanding officer has given the Patriotic Front (PF) a permit to demonstrate because as a commanding officer, he should have refused," he said. "How do you give a permit for people to demonstrate when the President has not yet put a Cabinet in place?"

Tetamashimba said the police should have denied the PF a permit because there were possibilities of violence erupting during the demonstration.

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 7:58 AM