(LUSAKATIMES) Teta challenges Katele over presidency

Teta challenges Katele over presidency
Sunday, June 7, 2009, 10:49

Benny Tetamashimba MMD chairperson for Information and Publicity, Benny Tetamashimba, has challenged party national secretary Katele Kalumba to come out in the open and declare his alleged “well known” candidature for 2011 presidential election.

Mr Tetamashimba was reacting to media reports quoting Dr Kalumba as saying that the MMD needs a “winnable candidate” in the light of the United National Party for Democracy (UPND) and Patriotic Front (PF) pact.

In a statement made available yesterday, Mr Tetamashimba said Dr Kalumba was supposed to have known that President Banda was the MMD’s winnable candidate for the 2011 elections.

“I wish to agree with Dr Katele Kalumba that MMD needs a winnable candidate, but differ with him on the choice of a winnable candidate because unlike his insinuation that President Rupiah Banda is not a winnable candidate in the light of the UPND/PF pact. President Rupiah Banda is the only winnable candidate,” Mr Tetamashimba said.

He accused Dr Kalumba of having ambitions to challenge President Banda at the MMD convention.

“If President Rupiah Banda is not a winnable candidate, then let Dr Katele Kalumba tell the party members who a winnable candidate is.

For people like me, I know that Dr Katele Kalumba or any other MMD member are far from being winnable candidates,” he said.

Mr Tetamashimba said any MMD candidate can only win when NEC members from each province deliver their provinces to the MMD candidate.

He said the MMD needs strong candidates at parliamentary level and campaigners in 2011 for President Banda to win.

“Those against the candidature of Rupiah Banda are spoilers and want the MMD to be in the opposition after 2011 elections, and we shall not allow that,” he said.

He said the PF/UPND pact is nothing tangible but an exercise in futility, as the two leaders and their members do not support the pact except as a political exercise to try and sow a seed of discontent in MMD.

“Let him know I have no problems with the purchase of the items which I will deliver to every province for the poor people to be taken to the grave yard decently. At no time did I state that Honourable Sylvia Masebo was corrupt,” he said.
“I know of MPs in the two opposition parties who are not willing to be led by any of the two leaders.

The pact is supported by people who lost elections in 2006 who feel that they may have a chance this time around,” he said.

He said the MMD will win 2011 general elections as people trust President Banda and the MMD because of its performance and fight against corruption.

Mr Tetamashimba also condemned PF leaders who beat up their colleagues at a press briefing on Friday.

He appealed to the police to arrest those who beat up the two PF leaders and the leaders who authorised them.
“We challenge Mr Hichilema Hakainde to tell the nation whether his party accepts what he saw on television,” he said.

Commenting on Mr Charles Milupi’s statement over hearses bought by Government, Mr Tetamashimba said he had no problem with the purchase of the vehicles.

“Let him know I have no problems with the purchase of the items which I will deliver to every province for the poor people to be taken to the grave yard decently. At no time did I state that Honourable Sylvia Masebo was corrupt,” he said.

Mr Tetamashimba said Mr Milupi is free to learn more on the issue by going to the Ant-Corruption Commission or waiting for the Auditor General’s audit.

[Zambia Daily Mail]