I’ve no regrets defending dad’s legacy – Patrick

I’ve no regrets defending dad’s legacy – Patrick
Written by George Chellah
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:06:35 PM

PATRICK Mwanawasa yesterday said he felt obliged to speak out and defend his late father's legacy as the late president's eldest son. In an interview, Patrick said what prompted him to issue the initial statement were the innuendoes being peddled by people who showered praises on president Levy Mwanawasa while he were alive.

"I have said what I have to say and if I offended anyone I am sorry but I have no regrets for saying what I said. All I can say is that, we can all see today what we are doing amongst ourselves as family members, dad's political allies and friends in remembering the Levy Mwanawasa name and legacy.

I only felt that since the old man is not here and there are these innuendoes being made, I felt right to come out and protect my old man," Patrick said. "Some of the people saying bad things about the old man's legacy... the ones who have turned around today and are making those innuendoes were the same ones who were showering him with praises when he was alive. But now that he is not here they want to say bad things about him and his legacy. I reiterate that if anybody was offended by my statement I apologise but I don't regret issuing it. I felt obliged as the first born son to speak on behalf of my dad who is not here with us and I am an adult who fully understands what is going on and being an adult I cannot be used by anyone."
Patrick maintained that he spoke out to defend his late father, saying people must not divert from the main issue, which were the innuendoes being peddled.

"I am concerned that dad is not being attacked by the masses but by the very people who were praising him with some even saying that they were ready to die for him. Anyway, I have made my point and for now I will keep quiet," Patrick said.

And former home affairs deputy minister Kennedy Sakeni urged people that were issuing all sorts of statements about the late Mwanawasa's rule to stop for the sake of the children.

"Even in politics surely there should be morality. You cannot start saying that about a dead man. Someone who is gone and is no more, surely let them just let our departed president rest in peace. I support Patrick's concerns because it's very unfair on the children and the widow," Sakeni said. "It's not even a year since the man died and people are already behaving like this. We should have a heart and feel for the deceased's children when will they heal from the loss if such things keep coming up about their father?"

Sakeni, who is a former home affairs deputy minister, said it was strange that people that were solidly behind the late president when he were alive were today expressing ignorance about his rule.

"Some of the people who have been saying things about Mwanawasa were behind him during his time in office. But now that he is no more they want to say all sorts of things. Let's be principled and feel for the children like I have said. What is clear is Mwanawasa tried to do whatever he could do under the circumstances," he said.

Sakeni said it was high time the nation put a stop to some of the ill things.

"Fishing in the wilderness does not help. Let's just go forward and clean up the mess. This is not the way of handling national matters. There comes a time when you have to forget these things," Sakeni said.

On Sunday, Patrick said the MMD wanted to use the Mwanawasa name when it was convenient for them.

Patrick urged people making innuendos about his late father's rule to let the deceased president rest in peace.

"Like on Wednesday June 3rd, 2009, there was a document on the internet and an analysis in one of the state-owned newspapers where they compared the late president's government and Mr [Frederick] Chiluba's government. They made innuendos that the late president's government was more corrupt than Mr Chiluba's. Fair enough, campaigns are underway but there is a danger of waking up a ghost, which they can't sustain," said Patrick. "Recently, both sides of the political camp have been saying a lot of things about the old man and yet not even a year has passed since the old man passed away. They will never bring Mwanawasa back for him to stand in court or to exonerate himself. They should let the old man rest in peace. I know some people might question why I am coming out now. I am a nobody but I just happen to be the son of the deceased president."

Over the weekend, MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba called for a thorough probe into the dealings of government officials who served under president Mwanawasa's regime.

Tetamashimba said many people pocketed public funds on the pretext that they supplied goods and services to the government and that President Banda was being blamed for these misdeeds.

"We have to look through the seven years of president Mwanawasa. We have to find out the wrong that the people did so that our former head of state may rest in peace," Tetamashimba was quoted as having said in the Times of Zambia.