Maravi

Mukuni approves of Rupiah’s holiday

Mukuni approves of Rupiah’s holiday
Written by Constance Matongo
Saturday, January 03, 2009 7:17:30 AM

SENIOR chief Mukuni of the Toka Leya people in Southern Province has said it is medicinal for President Rupiah Banda to have taken a break from office after facing challenges.In an interview, chief Mukuni said it was okay for President Banda to have taken a break with a large number of his family members despite the country’s economic challenges.

He said since President Banda had been under pressure, the laughter he would have with his family would act as medicine.

“I sympathise with this new government because it has found bad luck, the global financial crisis has hit us and the new government has to find ways of addressing the crisis,” he said. “But since it’s global, let’s hope by the time the whole world gets out of it, we too would come out of it. So it is important that President Banda took a break with his family members.”

President Banda had gone on a 10-day holiday in Mfuwe with his wife Thandiwe, older children – Nenani and James, with their spouses and children. However, the older children and their spouses returned just after Christmas following public pressure.

And chief Mukuni has described Zimbabweans as docile people, saying they had themselves to blame for bringing down their economy.

He said Zimbabweans had nobody but themselves to blame for allowing an individual to mess up their country.

“You see, there is an adage that says, silence means satisfaction. Since the Zimbabweans are not saying anything, President Robert Mugabe thinks all is well. That is the message he is getting from the silence,” Chief Mukuni said.

He said Zimbabweans could make a change if they wished because their “docility” was costing them.

“Their docility is costing them so much, their economy has gone down and cholera crisis has taken the lives of so many Zimbabweans,” chief Mukuni said. “When I compare the Zimbabwe then and what it is now, in particular Harare, it is regrettable the city that was a masterpiece has turned out to be a sorry site.”

Chief Mukuni said the problems Zimbabweans were facing now could only be solved by local people as opposed to western military intervention.

“We saw what happened in Iraq; Saddam was said to have killed millions of people but when western countries intervened, they killed more people than the ones Saddam was said to have killed. In short, military solution is never the answer,” said chief Mukuni.

“Zambians should continue being nice to Zimbabweans and guard the peace enjoyed in Zambia jealously because the country can easily get into a crisis.”

Labels: CHIEF MUKUNI, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 7:17 AM