Maravi

Western Province helped MMD survive Sata - Kunda

Western Province helped MMD survive Sata - Kunda
Written by Nyambe Muyumbana in Mongu
Thursday, April 02, 2009 3:48:09 PM

VICE-President George Kunda on Wednesday said the Western Province is a special place because its people helped the MMD survive PF leader Michael Sata's wrath during the last presidential election. And Litunga Lubosi Imwiko II has begged Vice-President Kunda to consider the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) as government's agents in the distribution of relief food in the province following the wash away of crops by floods.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Litunga Imwiko at his Limulunga Palace in Mongu, Vice-President Kunda admitted that the MMD was frightened during the counting of votes when Sata was neck to neck with Banda.

Vice-President Kunda, who said his visit to the province was not only to assess the flood situation but also to thank the people for having voted for President Banda, said the MMD was only saved from Sata's wrath when the results from Western Province started pouring in.

"The votes we got from here were key to ensure that we survive the last presidential elections ...when we were neck to neck with one of the opposition candidates Mr Sata, we were very frightened but when the results from here came we were saved," Vice-President Kunda said. "The people of Western Province are very special, you provided us with the vote that made us go through the last presidential elections. I also have a massage from the President, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda for you. He sent me to communicate to you that he will be coming for Kuomboka Ceremony and will be the guest of honor."

Vice-President Kunda said the government would continue to support the Kuomboka Ceremony, which he described as a national event and tourist attraction.

"We will provide food for the ceremony and meat, wildlife animals. That is the message from the President to you," Vice-President Kunda said.

Vice-President Kunda was accompanied by agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo, gender minister Sara Sayifwanda, education deputy minister Clement Sinyinda and MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande, among others.

And speaking through Ngambela Imasiku Lyamunga, Litunga Imwiko said the government should consider the BRE as food relief distribution agents because they knew where their people were.

"His honor the Vice-President, I want to make this passionate appeal to you that you make humane effort not only to send relief food to the province but to send sufficient quantities of food. I'm also asking you your honor to offer the BRE as agents in food relief distribution for the area," he said. "Our involvement in relief food distribution will ensure that relief food is distributed equitably among our affected communities. You should offer us because we know our people's locations and where their villages are."

Litunga Imwiko also said the floods being experienced in the province had not only affected the ordinary people in the province but his more than 50 indunas as well.

Litunga Imwiko observed that this year's floods had washed away crops and destroyed several buildings and that they could only be likened to the floods of 1958, which left a lot of misery on the people.

Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, MMD, SATA, WESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 2:48 PM