Maravi

Sata challenges Banda to allow vote recount

Sata challenges Banda to allow vote recount
Written by Lambwe Kachali and Katwishi Bwalya
Friday, January 09, 2009 5:22:13 AM

RUPIAH should withdraw the affidavit from the Supreme Court and allow the recount and scrutiny of votes to determine his self-acclaimed popularity, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata said yesterday.

And Sata charged that President Rupiah Banda and local government minister Benny Tetamashimba are running a government of men, departing from that of laws.

Reacting to President Banda's statement that he is more popular than Sata who polled zero votes in some parts of the country, Sata said President Banda had a very short memory that he could not remember his previous actions and utterances.

Sata said President Banda's political naked lies would never end.

He wondered why President Banda asked the Supreme Court to quash PF's request to have a vote recount when he claimed that he was more popular and won the October presidential election overwhelmingly.

Sata said as far as PF was concerned, President Banda's popularity could not match his.

"Rupiah cannot remember what he said or did yesterday. Once Rupiah becomes very excited, he even forgets what he said yesterday. I am very grateful to President Rupiah Banda for telling the people of Zambia that he is very popular and for confirming that there are certain areas where I received zero vote; and he received overwhelming votes," Sata said. "Now, Rupiah is forgetting the he has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, opposing PF's request to recount and scrutinise the votes. So if he is very confident about his self-acclaimed popularity, why is he scared of the recount?"

He challenged President Banda to withdraw the affidavit from the court and accept a vote recount and scrutiny so as to confirm his popularity.

Sata said Zambians would soon know who was more popular than the other once the court allowed him to go ahead with the recount.

"Recount and scrutiny of votes is the only best way to determine Rupiah's popularity or unpopularity. If indeed he is popular as he claims, he might end up with a lot more than 35,000 votes and I will be the first person to compliment and congratulate him. I will fully cooperate with his government. I will not reconcile with him but I will cooperate with his government," Sata said.

However, Sata said it was not possible for him to absolutely get no vote in any constituency because PF was more popular than any other political party in Zambia.

"I can get one or two but not zero vote," he said.

Sata also instructed his lawyer Bonaventure Mutale to write to President Banda, asking him to withdraw from the Supreme Court his opposition to a recount and scrutiny.

"President Banda's claim is a contradiction from his affidavit against a recount and scrutiny. Would you please write to him, asking him to withdraw his opposition for the recount and scrutiny, so that the Supreme Court can order for a recount and scrutiny on 21st January, 2009 to confirm his boasting," Sata stated.

On Tuesday, President Banda, who was addressing MMD supporters at Kasama Airport, said he was more popular than Sata who polled zero votes in some parts of the country.

And on Tetamashimba's directives to Livingstone City Council not to renew town clerk George Kalenga's contract, Sata said Tetamashimba's ignorance about the law had become more dangerous in the operations of the council.

He recalled that the local government Act of 1992, removed powers of the minister from interfering with any personnel matters in the local authorities.

"Tetamashimba has no powers to direct any council not to renew or renew contract for any town clerk but he can only persuade. And in this case of Livingstone City Council, if they don't want, they can reject his persuasion the way councillors have rejected the postponement of mayoral elections," Sata said.

He said PF would protect Kalenga should the Livingstone City Council victimise him following Tetamashimba's directives.

"Tetamashimba does not know what he is doing. For example, in Solwezi, the council has found its town clerk wanting but Tetamashimba is interfering and wants the contract of that town clerk renewed. But since Kalenga is at the side of law, Tetamashimba is against him. On the other hand, Tetamashimba and Rupiah Banda are tribalists," Sata charged. "So, Kalenga should not even bother about Tetamashimba's rumbling. If the council victimises him on Tetamashimba's orders, we offer to protect him."

Sata also questioned the reduction of mealie-meal prices, saying the price was still high for ordinary Zambians.

"Mr Rupiah Banda is going to provinces, cheating people about the politically reduced maize and mealie-meal. Reducing the commodity to K45,000 is not enough because majority of unemployed citizens cannot afford it. Civil servants whose salaries are peanuts cannot afford to buy at this price. Mealie-meal should be reduced to less than K25, 000," suggested Sata.

"PF will only rest when mealie-meal is reduced to less than K25,000. And also PF will only rest when fuel like diesel is reduced to K3,200 per litre and K3,500 for petrol. Otherwise we shall continue fighting for the people."

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, ELECTIONS, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 5:23 AM