Maravi

Rupiah, Katele differ over Shakas expulsion procedure

Rupiah, Katele differ over Shakas expulsion procedure
Written by Patson Chilemba
Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:36:40 PM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda and several NEC members on Tuesday opposed MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba's proposal to follow procedure in handling the matter involving Jonas Shakafuswa and Lameck Chibombamilimo. MMD national executive committee (NEC) sources who attended an emergency meeting at State House disclosed that President Banda and other NEC officials who included works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti opposed the setting up of a disciplinary committee to allow expelled members of parliament Shakafuswa [Katuba Constituency] and Chibombamilimo [Mpulungu] to exculpate themselves.

The sources said the procedure was for a disciplinary committee to be constituted whenever there was any disciplinary charge involving any member

"You see Katele wanted us to follow procedure that we should form a committee where they can exculpate themselves and it was shot down by most provincial officials," the sources said. "They thought in their own minds that Katele was trying to overrule H.E [His Excellency, Rupiah Banda]. They said 'iyai, iyai [no, no]'. A lot of the members remained quiet.

"On the issue, President Banda said 'it was like whatever I propose, people say we must do this first'."

The sources said despite the opposition from some NEC members, MMD chairman for legal Bwalya Chiti still insisted that the party follow procedure in handling the matter involving Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo

"Bwalya said legally, we know how things should be followed," the sources said. "But Mulongoti insisted that Chibombamilimo and Shakafuswa should go because after all, issues like the one involving [Christine] Moonga were quickly done. He said Shakafuswa had committed many mistakes in the past and several committees were raised but Katele failed to discipline Shakafuswa."

The sources further revealed that MMD Northern Province chairperson Griever Sikasote said Chibombamilimo had committed many wrongs in the past but could not be disciplined for "obvious reasons."

"Chibombamilimo's wife is a niece to Marvis Muyunda, a relative of late president Mwanawasa," the sources explained. "You heard what Chibombamilimo said that 'my clansmen are punishing me'. Because after Sikasote, [tourism minister Catherine] Namugala insisted that whatever treatment Shakafuswa gets, it's the same treatment Chibombamilimo should get."

The sources also revealed that former local government minister Sylvia Masebo and finance minister Ng'andu Magande did not attend the meeting.

The MMD on Tuesday expelled Shakafuswa and Chibombamilimo from the party for alleged indiscipline and bringing the party into ridicule.

Announcing their expulsion at a press briefing, Kalumba said the duo had repeatedly and arrogantly made pronouncements and conducted themselves in ways that had placed the party into disrepute.

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 NEC where he would have them removed from the party and later follow them to their constituencies where he would defeat them.

But reacting to his expulsion from the party, Shakafuswa said President Banda was a very weak and scared person. He 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.

Labels: JONAS SHAKAFUSWA, KATELE KALUMBA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 9:37 PM