Maravi

Rupiah responds to Namakando’s demand for Lozi Vice-President

Rupiah responds to Namakando’s demand for Lozi Vice-President
Written by Patson Chilemba

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said he is disappointed with Western Province MMD chairperson Simasiku Namakando for saying that the party in the province will only support the President in return for the vice-presidency.

Well-placed sources who attended the national executive committee (NEC) meeting at State House last week, revealed that President Banda said he had since written a letter to Simasiku Namakando over the same matter.

"President Banda told the chairman for Western Province that ‘I am very disappointed with you for issuing that statement, that we shall give the presidency to you when you give us the vice-presidency'," the source said. "The President said ‘I have even sent a letter to you on the same matter’. Namakando did not say anything, he just kept quiet."

But when contacted for comment, Namakando confirmed receipt of the letter but doubted if it was written by President Banda, saying the content of the letter was very bad.

"You know my brother, I'm travelling to Lusaka, I'll come and discuss with you. The contents of the letter, I don't think it's the Presidential language. I don't think the President could sink so low as to write that letter," Namakando said. "You see, the letter was faxed to the permanent secretary for Western Province, who unfortunately distributed the letter to some of his people. But the letter is very bad. I want to find out if it was written by the President or someone wrote it. I think it is Mr Akashambatwa [Mbikusita-Lewanika] and the permanent secretary for Western Province."

Namakando said he suspected that after President Banda had written the letter, Aka faxed it to the Western Province permanent secretary, who in turn distributed it to the districts in the province.

"I don't know if they want to incite people against the President. In the letter it is stated that the President did not solicit the support of the province. We don't think so. We believe the people of Western Province paid a lot in his Presidency," Namakando said. "We will field a vice-president for the convention. The Republican Vice-President is appointed by the President. That is his prerogative. But the vice-president of the party, we will field. That is our position."

Namakando said he would seek audience with President Banda to ascertain the authenticity of the letter, and depending on the outcome, the Western Province would take a position.

"If he tells me that he is the one who wrote that letter, then as a province, we shall take up a position," said Namakando.

Recently, Namakando said Western Province would support President Banda for party presidency but that they needed to be given the vice-presidency.

Labels: MMD, RUPIAH BANDA, WESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 2:50 PM