‘Rebel’ MPs are blackmailing Banda – Sata

‘Rebel’ MPs are blackmailing Banda – Sata
Written by Lambwe Kachali
Monday, January 26, 2009 5:10:43 AM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday charged that the PF ‘rebel’ parliamentarians are blackmailing President Rupiah Banda using the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) because he lacks a party programme.

In an interview, Sata said revelations that the legislative committee of the NCC adopted a proposal that members of parliament expelled by their political parties should not lose their seats in the House was nonsensical.

Sata said any meaningful political party would not condone indiscipline from its parliamentarians.

He said the adoption of such a proposal would encourage what he termed "political nudity" among parliamentarians as they would not be afraid of their party rules and regulations.

Sata said since President Banda had no political platform and programme, members of the NCC would adopt anything to suit their political egos.

"During the October campaign, Rupiah Banda was very excited to have all political parties, and he was boasting, 'I am the only one endorsed by all opposition political parties in Zambia'. Even [works and supply minister Mike] Mulongoti said 'we have 22 rebels who are campaigning for Rupiah Banda'. The people who are spearheading this trick of saying members of parliament expelled from their political parties should not lose their seats in parliament are PF rebels. Because these rebels haven't been given jobs, they have started blackmailing him. They are using the NCC, knowing there is nothing Rupiah can do," Sata said. "This boy, [Malole independent member of parliament Emmanuel] Munaile, was the first PF rebel because we did not adopt him to contest on PF ticket in Malole, and he stood as independent. Therefore, they are now being vengeful, because they know very well that Rupiah Banda has no political party and because he has no political party, he will support them since they also supported him in the last election. They are blackmailing Rupiah Banda because he has no platform. Rupiah Banda has no programme, has no manifesto, so they want to do what they want."

He said there was no Parliament in the world that was controlled by independent parliamentarians.

Sata charged that some independent members of parliament did not have programmes as they were more interested in serving their pockets.

"For example, Munaile wants to eat from NCC; wants to chew from Parliament and from FAZ. He has nothing to do with Malole Constituency whatsoever," Sata claimed. "The reason why taxpayers pay these MPs is to speak for them; to provide roads for them, to provide clinics for them, provide drugs in hospitals and all other amenities. But if they are found wanting, taxpayers would not mind. The taxpayer would be comfortable with a more effective representation in Parliament than political mercenaries at the NCC."

He said with the inclusion of such dirty clauses, Zambians should judge the type of a constitution that the NCC would produce.

"Thanks to the media for bringing out this constitutional scandal. And if the media is not going to bring out more on what these political mercenaries at the NCC are doing, we are in for a rude shock. After all, they can propose all sorts of rubbish, and will pass because the entire Parliament with an exception of 20 PF members of parliament supports NCC," he said.

The legislative committee of the NCC last week adopted a proposal to allow parliamentarians that are expelled from their political parties to remain as independents in the House to reduce on unnecessary by-elections.

And Sata said it was unfortunate that the Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa had continued to dare PF by supporting expelled rebel parliamentarians through appointments to sit on parliamentary committees.

He cited Matero member of parliament Faustina Sinyangwe whom he said had been appointed to sit on three committees despite her expulsion.

"The Speaker is encouraging truancy. By protecting them, he is encouraging misbehaviour. And these members of parliament want to maintain their seats despite expulsion, it’s better we also scrap Parliament. Because there is no way you can have members of parliament who can't be controlled. They are clearly telling us that they are not there for service, but for their own pockets. Their main concern is not the cost of the by-election; their main concern is to lose to their pockets," he said.

Meanwhile, Sata commended local government minister Benny Tetamashimba for nominating MMD provincial chairpersons for Western and Central provinces Simasiku Namakando and Boyd Mutonka as board chairperson and board member for Western Water Sewerage Company and Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company respectively.

"These people have been very consistent politicians. These people understand problems of water because they live among the people. Namakando and Mutonka have not in any way benefited from the 17 years of corrupt MMD government. So if they maintain their decency, they will do a better job for their people," said Sata.