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Banda has shown his true colours over Mabenga – Sata

Banda has shown his true colours over Mabenga – Sata
Written by Patson Chilemba and George Chellah
Thursday, July 09, 2009 5:34:02 PM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday observed that President Rupiah Banda has shown his true corrupt colours over the appointment of Michael Mabenga as lands deputy minister.

And Sata has asked what he terms as political mercenaries in PF and MMD to emulate principled men like former defence minister George Mpombo and Ludwig Sondashi by resigning from their parties rather than eating with both hands.

Commenting on President Banda's appointment of Mabenga, Sata said it would be a waste of time for the public to call on the President to U-turn on his position, saying he [Sata] told people last year not to listen to chants of "continuing with late president Levy Mwanawasa's legacy."

"I am vindicated because they are now seeing Rupiah Banda's corrupt true colours. I told them, they know it very well," he said.

However, Sata said President Banda had at least managed to silence Mabenga's voice just as he sealed Dora Siliya's lips through her reappointment as education minister.

Mabenga, who is also MMD chairman, abused about K30 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) during the 2001 elections.

The Supreme Court judgment arose from an appeal against a decision of the High Court where losing Mulobezi member of parliament Sikota Wina successfully petitioned the election of Mabenga due to alleged malpractices.

The Supreme Court commented on the misuse of CDF stating that, "this in fact amounts to theft of these funds. ...the learned trial judge cannot be faulted for arriving at the conclusion that K29,800,000 was withdrawn to finance the appellant's [Mabenga] election."

And Sata has told PF 'rebel' members of parliament to emulate Mpombo and Sondashi by not engaging in political prostitution.

He said Mpombo was a principled man who was willing to sacrifice his senior party and government position because he could not eat with both hands.

"He was occupying the most prominent position, and I think in Zambia he is the first minister of defence to resign. Because defence, finance, home affairs and foreign affairs, they are the most senior positions in all the governments. All these mercenaries should emulate Mpombo and not Mabenga," said Sata. "The post Mpombo had needs a rare breed to resign. That post is even more stronger than the office of Vice-President."

And Caritas Zambia executive director Sam Mulafulafu has said the appointment of Michael Mabenga as deputy lands minister was a mockery and a joke.

"It's a sad thing, it’s not really painting a good picture amidst the whole issues that surround Mr Mabenga. He was dropped in the first place he was a minister before," Mulafulafu said. "I don't think a government that professes to be fighting corruption should make such appointments. It's a mockery, it's a joke."

He said the resignation of former defence minister George Mpombo was a good thing.

"We all know that in the NEC most people have not supported the idea of the sole candidate. There are only a few people that are peddling that position of President Rupiah Banda being adopted as the sole candidate. We can't be in an era of sole candidates this is a competitive democracy. People should have a variety to pick from," Mulafulafu said. "We really have to have a say in what the political parties are doing and I think all those aggrieved by the decision being peddled by Benny Tetamashimba should speak out because that agenda of pushing Mr Rupiah Banda is being peddled by Tetamashimba. The problem is that people are cowards in the party I don't think that is a popular decision."

He said the abrupt resignation of Mpombo was a sign that all was not well in President Banda's administration.

Mpombo on Tuesday announced his resignation as defence minister to concentrate on studies.

Labels: MICHAEL MABENGA, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 4:21 PM