Maravi

Ministers are not dull, says Kaingu

Ministers are not dull, says Kaingu
Written by Maluba Jere and Chibaula Silwamba
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 3:20:15 PM

FOUR Cabinet ministers yesterday rebuked Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata over his statement that President Rupiah Banda’s ministers are dull and ignorant.

Home affairs minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa, sports minister Kenneth Chipungu, works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti and community development minister Michael Kaingu were reacting to Sata’s assertions that President Banda’s current problems were self-inflicted because he had appointed dull and ignorant ministers like local government and housing minister Benny Tetamashimba.

Kaingu said Sata should not extend his quarrels with Tetamashimba to all Cabinet ministers.

“If Mr Sata has got a problem with one minister, he should not generalise issues. You can’t attack Cabinet because you have a problem with one person, isn’t it? We don’t know why he has a problem with the minister of local government. Why should that affect the minister of agriculture or health or community development?” Kaingu asked. “It’s normal in life to quarrel with people. But if I quarrel with you does it mean I have quarrelled with everyone at The Post? No! So definitely the answer is categorical no. We are not dull. You know that I am not dull. He can’t say we are dull and ignorant. We know our work and we are working very hard all of us to show leadership.”

And Chipungu said Sata had insulted the appointing authority by saying ministers were dull and ignorant. Chipungu described Sata’s statement as unfortunate, saying there was no minister who was dull and ignorant.

“It is unfortunate that people who are aspiring for the leadership of the nation can stand up and call ministers as being dull,” Chipungu said. “It means you are insulting the person who appointed this person you are calling dull. What is required is working together. As a team, we may differ in opinions but at the end of the day come together as one.”

He said it was unfair for Sata to call ministers in President Banda’s administration dull, saying if he became president of Zambia, he would need their support.

“President Rupiah Banda’s government comprises men and women of integrity most of whom were left by late President Mwanawasa. President Banda has only made a few reshuffles,” Chipungu observed. “Insulting the ministers is not the answer and I am insisting that if we have to develop the country we must work together. Mr Sata should know that if at all he becomes leader of this nation, he will be seeking the same support from the opposition so we must just work together. Running the nation must not be left to the government alone it calls for collective responsibility.”

Chipungu observed that it was unfair to call Tetamashimba dull and ignorant because he was one of the ministers who articulated issues very well both inside and outside Parliament.

“He is a very intelligent minister. The truth is that he is very frank and open and Zambians don’t like such people and so the President made a right choice to appoint Tetamashimba,” Chipungu said. “People must give him a chance to work because what he is doing right now is correct.”

Chipungu also said President Banda’s extension of an olive branch to the opposition was an opportunity for them to discuss national issues and give advice to him.

And Dr Mwansa said Sata’s attacks were unfair.

“I think everybody has seen the Cabinet that President Banda has put up. I don’t think one can describe the Cabinet as full of dull people. I don’t think Mr Sata means it. It’s not fair and far from reality,” Dr Mwansa said. “What we expect from Mr Sata is to work with the government which has been constituted.”

He, however, commended Sata for calling off the planned demonstration over the high mealie meal prices in the country.

“I want to thank him for being magnanimous to call off the demonstration that he intended to call and has chosen dialogue which we all want to see,” said Dr Mwansa.

And Mulongoti said as much as Sata was entitled to his opinion, he and other ministers also had serious opinions about the outspoken PF leader.

“He has got his own views like all of us; we are also entitled to our own views about others and him,” said Mulongoti, an outspoken critic of Sata. “All of us as citizens have commitments to our country and we would rather be seen to be performing than exchanging words in newspapers. All I am saying is that he is entitled to his opinion as we are also entitled to our opinion over him.”

Labels: KALOMBO MWANSA, KENNETH CHIPUNGU, MICHAEL KAINGU, MIKE MULONGOTI, MINISTERS, SATA

posted by MrK @ 3:20 PM