Maravi

Chishimba is no longer a rebel MP, says Sata

Chishimba is no longer a rebel MP, says Sata
Written by Patson Chilemba and Laura Mushaukwa-Hamusute
Wednesday, December 03, 2008 9:21:15 AM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has said Kasama Central member of parliament Saviour Chishimba is no longer a rebel.
And Chishimba has discontinued his case against Sata and secretary general Edward Mumbi.

Speaking after holding reconciliatory talks with Chishimba and Mufulira member of parliament Marjory Masiye at the PF secretariat on Monday, Sata said time to bury the past had come because what he wanted was to have a more effective representation in Parliament.

He said he held fruitful discussions with Chishimba and Masiye and that the two had shown genuineness.

Asked if he still considered Chishimba, Masiye and other parliamentarians participating in the NCC as rebels, Sata said Chishimba was no longer a rebel.

"My MPs are still rebels until they are proved to be contrary," Sata said, as Chishimba responded: "I'm not a rebel."

Sata agreed by saying: "Oh this one is no longer a rebel. He says he's not a rebel."

Chishimba announced that he would discontinue the injunction that he filed restraining the party from expelling him.

He said he was back to his political base.

"Normally if you stand on no man's land, there are dangers that you become like a toilet into which anybody can walk in and walk out," Chishimba said. "Whatever was going on was against my conscience. So it's either you resign or join another party."

Chishimba said party parliamentarians participating in the NCC should resign if they did not want to follow the party's directive.

He said his participation in NCC was to have a feel of what was happening there. "At first president Mwanawasa said the people will decide, but remember on the 50 plus one, he called for a caucus at State House and cautioned against the 50 plus one," Chishimba said. "NCC is a time bomb. Already they are talking about...you will see what will happen. They might extend it to 2010."

Chishimba said some people were attending the NCC because of the love for money.

"That's why for me, I didn't go there out of love for money, and those who are there let them show us how they use that money to help the people," he said.

Chishimba said he could not continue to be antagonistic against Sata because the PF leader had promised to call for a convention.

Asked if he would challenge Sata for the presidency, Chishimba said what mattered was to serve people.

Masiye said she could differ with Sata in opinion but that did not mean that she ceased being a party member.

Masiye said she would make her position known whether to withdraw the injunction or not.

And Chishimba yesterday discontinued his case against Sata and Mumbi.

This is in a case where about 26 PF members of parliament sued Sata and Mumbi seeking an injunction preventing the duo from expelling them from the party, following their decision to participate in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

Last week, six members of parliament discontinued the same action against Sata bringing the number to seven.

The matter comes up on December 5, 2008.

Labels: PF, SATA, SAVIOUR CHISHIMBA

posted by MrK @ 9:21 AM