Tell the truth about Rupiah’s health, Sata challenges Shikapwasha

Tell the truth about Rupiah’s health, Sata challenges Shikapwasha
Written by Jane Mwakasungula
Saturday, June 13, 2009 4:07:27 PM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday challenged chief government spokesperson Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha to tell Zambians the truth about President Rupiah Banda's health. And Sata has criticised President Banda for prioritising the World Economic Forum (WEF) instead of addressing the strikes in the ministries of health and education.

Commenting on a statement released on Wednesday by special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere that President Banda successfully underwent a minor orthopeadic surgery for a knee problem in Cape Town, Sata said Lt Gen Shikapwasha should have told the nation prior to the operation just like he hoodwinked the electorate during the 2008 presidential campaigns that he (Sata) was critically ill and evacuated to South Africa.

Sata wondered why the nation was kept in the dark about the President's knee complication.

“Why didn't Shikapwasha tell us about the illness? When did he (President Banda) become sick and for how long has he been sick? When I was sick, Shikapwasha mocked me. It was them (Shikapwasha) and RB (President Banda) who in their campaign were saying Michael Sata is sick,” Sata said.

“They lied that I had been evacuated when I was in Katete. They used it effectively especially in Western Province where Mabenga (MMD national chairman) and Mulyata (North Western Province minister) succeeded in using the propaganda gimmick…Chitika (Elizabeth) told people in Kawambwa that I was going to die before elections. Why did Dickson and Shikapwasha find it easy to lie? And now he (President Banda) is using Jere to tell us that he had a successful meeting in South Africa when he has never visited striking nurses or teachers. He has said nothing and is now using Jere to make up stories.”

Sata said Jere and Shikapwasha found it difficult to hide President Banda's operation because they feared the South African government could blow the truth.