Maravi

Simusa challenges Teta over mayoral elections

Simusa challenges Teta over mayoral elections
Written by Kelvin Tembo
Thursday, December 25, 2008 10:27:30 AM

NCHANGA PF member of parliament Wilbur Simusa says the arrogance being exhibited by local government minister Benny Tetamashimba on mayoral elections shows lack of planning and insincerity on the part of the government.

In an interview on Wednesday, Simusa challenged Tetamashimba to come out in the open and tell the nation why he was postponing the elections.

“It is sad and frightening for a cabinet minister to express such arrogance and lack of planning and insecurity,” he said.

Simusa said before parliament adjourned, Tetamashimba in a ministerial statement told the house that all mayoral elections would be conducted by December 5, 2008 and installation by December 12, 2008.

He said Tetamashimba told parliament that by end of December, all local council budgets should be ready.

“But within less than two weeks, he is turning around and interfering with mayoral elections. He says he wants the budgets submitted first,” he said.

Simusa said that was the reason why Chingola council went ahead and conducted the mayoral elections where they elected the mayor Simon Chanda of Nsansa ward and his deputy Catherine Zulu of Chikola ward on December 17.

And Simusa also challenged Tetamashimba to pay over K3.5 billion that was owed to more than 120 council retirees since 2000.

“Sixty of these retirees have since died and only 66 were alive and it is unacceptable for the government not to pay the retirees for this long,” he said.

Simusa said it was unacceptable for the council to pay the town clerk who retired recently while there were retirees who had not been paid.

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, PF, WILBUR CHIMUUSA, WILBUR SIMUSA

posted by MrK @ 10:27 AM