Maravi

HH has assaulted Rupiah’s integrity, says Mpombo

HH has assaulted Rupiah’s integrity, says Mpombo
Written by George Chellah
Friday, May 08, 2009 5:00:10 PM

DEFENCE minister George Mpombo yesterday said Hakainde Hichilema's statement that President Rupiah Banda wanted a 'cut' from the US $53 million deal is an assault on the President's integrity and borders on defamation.

Reacting to UPND leader Hichilema's statement that the US $53 million mobile hospital deal was a white-collar crime in which President Banda wanted to get a commission, Mpombo said Hichilema's attacks were demeaning to President Banda.

"They are totally unacceptable. It's unacceptable assault on the President's integrity and Mr Hichilema must have a piece of humanity when dealing with other human beings. You can't just pass those cruel and scurrilous remarks on a colleague without actually getting the facts," Mpombo said.

"This conduct by Hichilema is a serious threat to Zambia's democracy because leaders will just wake up and start yapping. Surely, is the nation going to continue to be fed on a diet of character assassination?"

Mpombo said Hichilema's remarks borders on defamation of the President. "Absolutely, it borders on defamation of the President. It's a cruel remark because he must be sensitive. Even Mr Hichilema knows that he is a human being but surely to stand up and say those offensive words without...you know I think Mr. HH has an injured or a moribund conscience. His conscience is not functioning," he said.

Mpombo further said Hichilema's remarks were highly malicious and irresponsible.

"It's also a vivid manifestation of Mr Hichilema's low calibre leadership. It's saddening that he could make such a sweeping statement because it is totally unfair and totally inhumane to say what he has said on a colleague. How does one say that Mr Banda wants a cut from that?" Mpombo asked.

"It doesn't make sense because these things, he is not right to assume that by virtue of him being President he is behind any transaction in government or he originates those transactions."

Mpombo said Hichilema's remarks were morally and politically unacceptable.

"Furthermore, it is an unacceptable assault on the President's integrity, totally unacceptable. I think it's cheap leadership. Mr Hichilema, I know he got into politics by virtue of being anointed. He didn't come through a normal political process, he was anointed and he came with very little experience but let him check the way democracy works," Mpombo said.

"He must see how these issues are handled in the UK and also in the US in civilised democracies. You don't just make up those injurious remarks about a colleague because those are very, very serious remarks to say he wants to get a cut."

Mpombo questioned Hichilema's integrity.

"The challenge is that he should look in his rear view mirror regarding privatisation and things like that. Let him look at his role in the privatisation exercise before he starts attacking innocent people. He should first remove his 'logjam' in his eyes before he starts talking about other innocent people," said Mpombo.

"He is an inconsequential political figure and he would disappear from the Zambian political scene just like a puff of smoke. He is just puffed up with cheap pride."

On Wednesday, Hichilema urged the nation to squarely put the blame on the Zambian government and President Banda in particular on the government's planned procurement of mobile hospitals from China.

Hichilema's remarks came in the wake of a statement by visiting Chinese government special representative on African Affairs Ambassador Liu that his government did not play any role in the mobile hospital deal.

According to a letter dated April 28, 2009 and addressed to Department for International Development (DFID), health permanent secretary Dr Velepi Mtonga stated that President Banda indicated during the official opening of the National Assembly that the government would procure mobile clinics from a friendly country to complement efforts to construct 15 hospitals in the 19 districts that did not currently have any.

And last Sunday, President Rupiah Banda said the concept of mobile hospitals was a "damn good idea" from the Chinese.

Labels: CORRUPTION, GEORGE MPOMBO, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MOBILE HOSPITALS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:02 PM