Maravi

PF cadres, councillors annoy Teta by calling him Tetamalilo

PF cadres, councillors annoy Teta by calling him Tetamalilo
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Sunday, May 31, 2009 3:59:57 PM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) cadres and councillors last Friday annoyed local government minister Benny Tetamashimba after they called him Tetamalilo, katenga malilo [hearse] during the installation of Lusaka mayor Robert Chikwelete. Town Clerk Timothy Hakuyu had called on Tetamashimba, who was the guest of honour at the Civic Centre, to install Chikwelete as the new mayor.

As Tetamashimba walked over to where Chikwelete was for the installation, the cadres raised their party symbol and shouted "katenga malilo [hearse]." However, Tetamashimba was not distracted and went ahead to install Chikwelete.

When Tetamashimba was called to install the deputy mayor, the cadres again called him katenga malilo. "Manda manda boy... Katenga malilo endesa [hurry up hearse]. Tetamalilo," the cadres and some councillors shouted. Tetamashimba only responded when he was called upon to deliver his speech.

"I heard some of the people talk about katenga malilo... it's not in my speech but when people mention it, they are asking me to make a comment," Tetamashimba said as the cadres shouted, "it's not a rally."

In response, Tetamashimba said, "it is not a rally but you mentioned it in the background including there [pointing to where councillors where seated] so I have to explain."

He said it was his responsibility as minister of local government and housing to ensure that the dead were buried in a decent way.

"I want to say this that honourable Guy Scott member of parliament [who was present], when he was young he knows that councils were providing katenga malilos [hearses] for the poor to be buried. I know that and therefore I can tell you that even this time, we are going to provide. We are going to give them hearses to the councils so that the poor who sometimes fail to pay for exorbitant costs for burial will be taken in those katenga malilos," Tetamashimba explained.

"We are going to do that but if the council of Lusaka, the councillors of Lusaka say they are not interested, I will be very happy to take those hearses to another place because we want to give the poor a decent burial by taking them from the mortuary to the graveyard. Ministry of Health their job is to provide ambulances for you to be taken to the hospitals but when you die it is my responsibility to take you to the graveyard."

Tetamashimba urged the councils to use their power and ability to reflect seriously on how they would assist the public to improve their living standards.

He said the existence of street vendors could not be justified but that the vendors would only be removed from the street when the new Soweto market is opened.

Tetamashimba said it was unfortunate that the mayors would only be in office for three months and that they should prepare themselves for another election in September.

And Chikwelete said the council could not carry out any road constructions on its own due to lack of funds.

Chikwelete appealed to the government to release grants timely to the council for implementation of developmental projects.

"I wish to appeal to the government through you minister to release timely all grants due to the council to enable us implement our programmes," he said.

Chikwelete also pledged to work with all the other councillors for the benefit of the residents of Lusaka.

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, PF, ROBERT CHIKWELETE

posted by MrK @ 3:03 PM