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Rupiah is a very weak, scared person – Shakas

Rupiah is a very weak, scared person – Shakas
Written by Patson Chilemba and Lambwe Kachali
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 8:33:12 PM

RUPIAH Banda is a very weak scared person, expelled Katuba MMD member of parliament Jonas Shakafuswa charged yesterday. And MMD yesterday expelled Shakafuswa and Mpulungu member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo from the party for alleged indiscipline and bringing the party into ridicule.

Reacting to his expulsion from MMD, Shakafuswa said he would not seek legal action over his expulsion because he wanted to teach President Banda and his minions in the MMD a lesson.

He charged that President Banda managed to win a crooked election but the people of Zambia would now teach him a lesson. Shakafuswa vowed to tell the Zambian people who President Banda was.

He said it was sad that MMD members were following President Banda blindly even when it was clear that he was dragging the party down.

Shakafuswa warned that those supporting President Banda would go down with him during the Katuba Constituency by-elections and the 2011 general elections.

"Rupiah Banda thinks the [former] first lady [Maureen Mwanawasa] has formed a political party and that I'm supporting her but that is not true. If he thinks he can separate me from the first lady then he's lying," Shakafuswa said. "He won the elections through crookedness and in 2011 he will see. The people will teach him a lesson. He's a very weak scared person. I will show him that he's not a god, that he was born out of a woman."

And announcing the expulsion of Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo at a press briefing, MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba said the duo had repeatedly and arrogantly made pronouncements and conducted themselves in ways that had placed the party into disrepute.

"Their actions have become habitual. On the basis of this, it was unanimously resolved to expel Mr Jonas Shakafuswa and Mr Lameck Chibombamilimo from the membership of the MMD as a party with immediate effect," he said.

Asked if the expulsion was meant to silence members from exercising their right of expression, Kalumba said right of expression did not mean that people should be insulting the party leadership.

He said the expulsion of Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo was a practical step to bring discipline in the party.

"When there is respect for the institution and leaders we have elected to represent us at higher organs, when that respect and rules that we have given ourselves as a party is fractured, the party is weakened," Kalumba said. "When we start contradicting the same tenets that we stand for, I don't think we can be stronger that way. So, the party is trying to send a warning to every member that MMD will remain a disciplined party."

On calls from MMD members to discipline former finance minister Ng'andu Magande, Kalumba said the meeting yesterday did not tackle Magande's issue.

"As a party, we are procedural. These two individuals [Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo] have had a long history that has injured the party," he said.

Asked further if the expulsions were a clear manifestation that there was lack of intra-party democracy, Kalumba said intra-party democracy did not mean insulting the leadership of the party.

When asked on what action the party would take over MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande's alleged corruption, Kalumba responded: "About Mr Kaande, I think you will recall that the matter is under the treasurer's office to investigate the story and upon investigations, the treasurer will give me a report. So that is procedure."

Kalumba also said President Banda noted with commendation that the country had in the last few days witnessed demonstrations in support of the party and government leadership.

However, Kalumba said President Banda cautioned that those demonstrations should be non-violent, law abiding and respectful of the rights of other citizens.

Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo were last Thursday fired by President Banda from their positions as science and technology and energy deputy ministers, respectively, in front of MMD cadres that marched to State House to express their solidarity with the head of state. A visibly agitated President Banda also warned that he would take the duo's names to the party's national executive committee (NEC) where he would have them removed from the party and later follow them to their constituencies where he would defeat them.

Labels: JONAS SHAKAFUSWA, LAMECK CHIBOMBAMILIMO, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 8:34 PM