Maravi

Rupiah stops Post journalist from asking questions

Rupiah stops Post journalist from asking questions
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Thursday, February 12, 2009 5:11:19 PM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday declined to take questions from The Post, saying he wanted to take a rest from the news publication. And President Banda has said it is too early to talk about whether he is going to contest the presidency during the next general elections in 2011. Meanwhile, President Banda said there is nothing wrong with Zambians debating the issue of genetically modified food.

During a mini press briefing at the Lusaka International Airport after his arrival from Lilongwe, Malawi, President Banda said The Post was always given chance to ask him questions and he asked this reporter to give chance to other journalists.

This was after a journalist from Muvi Television asked him a question on whether his government was changing goal posts on the GMO policy. No sooner had this reporter introduced himself as per requirement at such events than President Banda interjected: "Can we rest from The Post, we always give you a chance first. Can you get others because every time we always ask The Post and now they think they are the only paper [laughter]."

President Banda asked State House chief analyst for press and public relations to point at other journalists in the lounge, who posed a few questions.

Subsequently after he realised that questions from the other journalists were running out, President Banda asked The Post reporter to ask his question.

"I will give you a chance to...because always Post, Post. He can have his question," he said.

However, President Banda curtailed the author from asking a different question following his explanation that the major question he wanted to ask had been posed.

President Banda told The Post reporter that he would have his chance next time, as the room broke into laughter.

President Banda's remarks come barely a few weeks after he told another Post reporter, Chibaula Silwamba, that he always had an agenda whenever he asked him questions.

Earlier, Jere told journalists not to ask questions on the government's intended partial privatisation of ZAMTEL.

And President Banda, who apologised to Vice-President George Kunda and other government officials for keeping them waiting at the airport for a very long time, said issues for 2011 should be left for that period and that the country should concentrate on the current problems.

"No. I think it is too early to talk about that. How can I know that I have done so well so quickly? I have only been President for three months and the other time I was only acting and also it is not for me to say I have done well. I think that the people will have to say that," he said.

"So I would suggest that we leave the issues of 2011 and concentrate on the problems that are facing us. Like now, one of the problems we are talking about is fertilizer support. Any other question? Because if there isn't we will give it to The Post."

Meanwhile, President Banda said he did not think that countries should block themselves from discussing the issues of GMOs.

"I haven't said what I think should be done. I have said that these matters should be matters of discussion, for instance, if I asked you really about GMOs, you might stand out as ignorant as me. You do not know much about it," President Banda said. "There is nothing wrong about Zambians having knowledge as to what are the problems of GMOs. So I have changed nothing."

President Banda also said he could also have a foul mouth and say the same things that members of the Patriotic Front say about him, but he felt that someone should be above board in such matters.

President Banda arrived at 15:04 hours while Vice-President George Kunda arrived at the airport to welcome him at 11:00 hours.

Labels: RUPIAH BANDA, THE POST

posted by MrK @ 5:11 PM