Maravi

‘PF rebel MPs met Rupiah’

‘PF rebel MPs met Rupiah’
Written by Patson Chilemba
Friday, April 03, 2009 6:49:39 PM

BAHATI Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Besa Chimbaka on Wednesday confirmed that ‘rebel’ parliamentarians met President Rupiah Banda before the elections.

Reacting to PF president Michael Sata’s assertions that he had evidence that President Banda met the ‘rebels’ last year at Government House and they were given K20 million each to campaign for him, Chimbaka said the rebel parliamentarians met the President but declined to disclose what they discussed.

Chimbaka said even Sata did not disclose what he used to discuss with late president Levy Mwanawasa.

He said it was unfortunate that the main opposition leader in the country lied about others.

Chimbaka challenged Sata to justify his claims on the K20 million.

“I have been referred to as having donated a generator. I have received a lot of donations. That generator was donated to me by Amanita Mansa Batteries,” he said.

Chimbaka said Sata was forcing his members of parliament to beg from other people to develop their constituencies because he was very mean.

He said Sata had a lot of money which he received from donors.

“There is no way a party can fail to have bicycles. So he’s forcing us to begin to beg from other people when he has got a lot of money,” Chimbaka said.

Luapula PF member of parliament Peter Machungwa said there was no truth in Sata’s claims.

Machungwa said Sata had brought up the matter because members of parliament participating in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) had obtained an injunction restraining the party from expelling them.

When contacted for comment, Kawambwa PF ‘rebel’ member of parliament Elizabeth Chitika-Mulobeka responded: “Spare me the comedy.”

PF Lukashya member of parliament Elfreda Mwamba said it would be important to ask those who openly campaigned for President Banda over the K20 million. She said she did not receive the K20 million because she had already made up her mind a long time ago to campaign for Sata and PF.

On Tuesday, Sata said he had ‘former rebel’ members of parliament who were ready to come out on record should President Banda and the rebel parliamentarians deny the assertions.

And reformed Kasama PF member of parliament Saviour Chishimba said President Banda’s government planned to use disgruntled civil society organisations such as those which were vocal on Zambian Airways to ask Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to establish a tribunal against PF members of parliament who were not taking part in the NCC.

“The MMD has mobilised three main known stooges to commence action against us. The purpose is to have us suspended or be completely expelled from Parliament. I will be commencing a court action seeking that declaratory order to ask the court that that clause which requires all members of parliament to be members of NCC is unconstitutional,” said Chishimba. “It’s me to choose whether I want to be part of it or not.”

Labels: BESA CHIMBAKA, MMD, PF, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 5:50 PM