Sata is a major player in Zambian politics – Mpombo

Sata is a major player in Zambian politics – Mpombo
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Monday, December 29, 2008 9:16:56 AM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata is a major player on Zambia's political scene and should not be ignored, defence minister George Mpombo has said.
In an interview, Mpombo said it was in that vain that Sata should cooperate with the government in finding solutions to the current problems if the country was to move forward.

He said there was need for political leaders to exercise humility by talking to each other and break what he called “political brinkmanship”.

“Let Mr. Sata bring his ideas on the table for all Zambians to benefit and let Mr Hichilema bring his ideas on the table so that we can move forward as a country,” Mpombo said. “Let's rise above cacophony of political noise in order to move as a country and we need leaders who will talk to each other and break this political brinkmanship because our conduct here has a big reflection on the outside world in terms of investment for this country.”

And Mpombo said although Sata had called him all sorts of names in 2008, he never minded him because he believed in unity as a way of developing the country.

He said he understood Sata whenever he said bad things about him because he was coming from losing an election.

“You could understand Mr Sata because these elections, at least there was some smell of power in his nostrils; you could understand him from that point and it was a painful loss for Mr Sata. But he should understand that it is not the end of the world. So I urge him to show maximum maturity so that this country can move forward,” Mpombo said.

He said the painful loss that Sata had gone through in the just-ended election that saw President Rupiah Banda emerge victorious had created some problems for him.

“In the context of African politics, you could understand his agitation. But you see, to be in leadership, it is not a question of how many votes do I go in and by what margin have I lost. It is to look at a bigger picture and exercise restraints, humility and leadership. That is the only thing,” Mpombo said. “But we should break this mould of African politics where democratic results are not easily accepted. So I do understand it was a bitter and painful loss but he should pick up his pieces and forge ahead”

Mpombo also urged Sata to refrain from blame games in the new-year because they were counter-productive.

“It just sows seeds of despondency in the country, it just divides the country. So next year, we hope Mr Sata and his colleagues in the opposition, can show mature leadership in dealing with issues because Mr Sata is part and parcel of Zambia, other political parties are part and parcel of Zambia. Let them take a leaf of what happens in the US,” he said.

He said Zambia was a slice of heaven and that Sata had a role to play in preserving the peace that the country was enjoying.

In the run up to the October 30 presidential elections, Mpombo, in a slip of the tongue, asked Mpongwe residents to vote for Sata.

Mpombo was interpreting United Liberal Party president Sakwiba Sikota's speech at a rally in Mpongwe.

"Umuntu tulukufwaya niba Michael Sata, pa 30 October tuka votele ba Sata [the person we want is Michael Sata, on 30th October vote for Sata]," Mpombo said.

However, Mpombo immediately retracted his statement.

"Oh sorry, sorry umuntu tulefwaya ni ba Rupiah Banda [the person we want is Rupiah Banda]," said Mpombo as the multitude of Mpongwe residents broke into laughter.

Meanwhile, Mpombo said the year 2008 was a turbulent one for Zambia as the country faced so many challenges.

“It was a year in which we lost president Mwanawasa and it was a big blow to the country. But we have also seen major economic indicators such as the rise in investment especially in the tourism industry and the construction industry. Even here in Lusaka, the construction industry also is a vivid manifestation of the economic growth and you look at the general investment in the country and Livingstone and also the general investment in the agriculture industry has been quite enormous,” said Mpombo.

He said the biggest achievement for Zambia was that Zambians had demonstrated that they are a mature democratic nation by going through presidential elections without violence.