Maravi

Rupiah has lost moral high ground befitting a president, says Zukas

Rupiah has lost moral high ground befitting a president, says Zukas
Written by Lambwe Kachali
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 5:10:49 PM

VETERAN politician Simon Zukas has said President Rupiah Banda has lost the moral high ground befitting the status of a Republican president. And Zukas has welcomed the recent conviction of high-profile people, saying it is a plus to the country's fight against corruption.

In an interview, Zukas advised President Banda against running a government dictated by MMD cadres.

Zukas said any President worth his sort would not turn State House into a political platform to deliberately attack institutions like The Post in front of cadres.

He said the Republican Presidency was an important institution and that the one occupying it should retain high moral ground.

"...You can't run a show as dictated by cadres. These marches of cadres to State House are a deliberate move, being organised by MMD officials. It is embarrassing that he [President Banda] allows them. This reduces the status of State House," Zukas said. "I think as a President, any President worth his sort, would not do that and in particular President Banda will reflect that this is a wrong way we are heading as a democracy.

"There was a serious lapse [on MMD], where State House became a political instrument. That is regrettable. I am sure that President Banda will reflect on this and not repeat it. It's regrettable that he made himself to come down to that level, because once you are in State House, you are above your party politics. Addressing cadres the way he did, he lost it and became just a party politician. He lost the moral high ground of speaking for the country as a whole. He is supposed to represent all the political tendencies...represent the people as a whole."

Zukas also said MMD was no longer the same strong party because it had been split.

Zukas, who was one of the founding members of MMD, described the recent expulsion of Jonas Shakafuswa [Katuba member of parliament] and Lameck Chibombamilimo [Mpulungu member of parliament] as a disservice to the party.

"This reflects a split in MMD. To me the firing of these two and threatening others is a sign that there is a split in the party," Zukas said.

Over a week ago, President Banda vowed in front of MMD cadres who marched to State House to express solidarity with him that he would ensure that The Post was closed by the debt that it owes various government institutions.

President Banda also told cadres that he had fired Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo for issuing negative statements against him and the party. President Banda went on to say that he would take the duo's names to the MMD national executive committee where he would have them removed from the party after which he would follow them to their constituencies and defeat them.

The duo was later expelled from the MMD for alleged indiscipline.

And last Saturday, President Banda told students from institutions of higher learning - who were transported to State House to express their solidarity with him - that The Post owed US$30 million to the Zambian people. President Banda said he would ensure that The Post was investigated thoroughly because no one was above the law.

And Zukas said the magistrates were doing a commendable job and hoped that there would be no interference from the political front in the remaining high profile corruption cases.

"For quite a while, it looked as if magistrates couldn't exercise themselves over higher ranking people. Cases could be span up for years, and that higher ranking [offenders] thought that they could get away with it. So, we welcome the convictions and hope magistrates will continue to do their duty and that on the political side, there will be no interference with their work," he said.

Zukas appealed to the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) to help reduce the impact arising from the global economic meltdown.

He said the government should also take drastic measures such as reducing unnecessary expenditure on luxuries if the economy was to recover.

"They [government] should be serious. This is my disappointment. There is no belt tightening at government level," said Zukas.

Prior to the elections, Zukas flanked veteran politician and Lusaka lawyer Dr Roger Chongwe at a press briefing where the latter backed President Banda's candidature in last year's elections.

Labels: CADRES, RUPIAH BANDA, ZUKAS

posted by MrK @ 5:10 PM