Maravi

Shut up, Katele’s wife tells Teta

Shut up, Katele’s wife tells Teta
Written by Patson Chilemba
Monday, April 27, 2009 3:10:45 PM

MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba’s wife, Lumba, yesterday asked party spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba to shut up and stop making ignorant statements.

Reacting to Tetamashimba’s assertions that Kalumba should step aside because he had been put on his defence to answer corruption charges by Lusaka magistrate Edward Musona, Lumba said Kalumba had not been found guilty but was merely put on his defence to answer corruption charges.

She asked Tetamashimba to allow the court process to run smoothly without interference by avoiding commenting on the matter.

Lumba said her husband was a victim of political persecution which started during the late president Levy Mwanawasa’s tenure and had continued up to now.

“The more Tetamashimba comments on Katele’s court case, the more we become convinced that there is political persecution and interference. So he must shut up,” She said.

Lumba said Tetamashimba should be cited for contempt of court by making prejudicial statements when Kalumba’s cases were still ongoing.

She said moreover, Kalumba did not hold any ministerial position that would warrant him to step aside or resign.

Lumba said it was surprising that the public was still unaware that the K2 billion case where Kalumba was cleared had been closed silently.

“The K2 billion [which also involved Peter Machungwa and Gordon Mandandi] was closed silently. Mr Mwaba who had been wrongfully dismissed by ZNTB is now working I am told at Finance Bank. Katele is the only one who has not received a letter of clearance,” she said. “He was accused of having stolen K2 billion, he was found innocent. Why should Tetamashimba now say he should resign? What if he is found innocent, what will Tetamashimba do?”

Lumba said it was a blessing that Tetamashimba was not a lawyer because he was too subjective, and accused him of not knowing what justice was.

Tetamashimba last week asked Kalumba to step aside after being put on his defence by the courts of law to answer to corruption charges.

Tetamashimba said the MMD would not allow a person who had been put on his defence to continue administering the party matters and later on contest the MMD presidency.

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, KATELE KALUMBA

posted by MrK @ 2:12 PM