Judges are afraid of Rupiah – Sondashi

Judges are afraid of Rupiah – Sondashi
Written by Speedwell Mupuchi
Tuesday, July 07, 2009 3:05:38 PM

JUDGES are afraid of President Rupiah Banda and are finding ways of acquitting those he favours like Dora Siliya, Lusaka lawyer Ludwig Sondashi has charged. Launching his political party, the Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA) at Kitwe’s Hotel Edinbugh on Sunday, Sondashi said those who hoped that President Banda would improve on the Levy Mwanawasa legacy were disappointed at the level of incompetence, mediocrity and discrimination prevalent in the new government.

“The current government does not inspire confidence in Zambians. It would appear impunity and misuse of public resources is the other name for the MMD. It is criminal for the government to allow so much impunity and abuse of public resources, especially with what happened at Ministry of Health,” Sondashi said.

He said problems in Zambia were as a result of excessive concentration of power in the presidency adding that his party would clip those powers. Sondashi said Parliament and the judiciary could not flourish in a country where the President enjoyed excessive presidential powers.

“That’s why you see when the President says, uyu (this) Dora is the best woman I want to be in government, what has happened? … Everyone, including judges, is fearing the President. Judges are finding ways to acquit Dora,” Sondashi said.

“Follow me very carefully, I am the only one who is prepared to reduce presidential powers when I become president. Once we reduce presidential powers my brothers and sisters, this country will be a very progressive and developing country.”

Sondashi said excessive presidential powers undermined development and good governance.

“The President is easily compromised because of being both Head of government and head of state. The current arrangement makes the President the dispenser of patronage which potentially makes him corrupt,” Sondashi said.

“We advocate the separation of functions of head of state and head of government with the creation of position of prime minister as head of executive powers to run government. The President must remain without executive powers and should not be political. If government does not move. National Assembly can move a vote to remove the prime minister with his government. But under the current arrangement, you can’t remove a president from governing because he is head of Parliament and head of the party and head of state. Why give one man all these powers? That’s why we are in dilemma.”

Sondashi said the MMD must be removed from power saying 20 years was too long a time for a visionless party to monopolise national politics.

“There is no doubt about that and I know that that is what other political parties are agitating. But with FDA, we go further than just removing MMD out of power. If you remove it out of power, what next?” asked Dr Sondashi.

He said the MMD must be removed and replaced by a government that would rule properly. Sondashi said the eight months of President Banda’s rule had witnessed political acrimony, corruption and abuse of office by public officials and reduced confidence in the MMD government.

“We are convinced that the MMD has lost its national appeal, it no longer enjoys its popularity it had in the period 1991 to 1996 and it has run out of ideas to govern. In two years time, MMD would be in power for 20 years. That’s too long for a party which has no vision to monopolise national politics,” Sondashi said.

“It would be understandable if MMD policies contributed to social economic transformation but instead we have witnessed an increase in poverty in the country whereby eight in every 10 Zambians live in abject poverty.”

Sondashi promised to devolve power to provinces and districts for effective governance. He also promised to introduce a system where Presidents come from provinces on rotation basis.

“We propose that ministries be reduced to 14 and that this be provided in the constitution to avoid a President creating ministries. This will also involve establishment of regional assemblies just like in South Africa. … The current concentration of power in Lusaka undermines popular participation and has led to most resources being given to urban areas at the expense of rural areas,” he said.

Sondashi said leaders who despised debate and harassed those that opposed them had seriously compromised Zambia’s democracy.

“As a result, our people have lost confidence in politics and politicians in general. Politics has acquired a dirty meaning, it is associated with dishonest, sycophants, demagogues and bootlickers,” he said.

And Sondashi said Copperbelt residents had gone through trials and tribulations at the hands of the MMD coupled with the global crisis that had seen in excess of 90,000 people affected. He said the government had been silent on problems and destitution resulting from retrenchments as if everything was fine.

“While we recognise government efforts to find an equity partner to take over Luanshya Mine, FDA believes that the problems of the Copperbelt are much more complex than simply replacing one investor with another. It is our pledge to the Zambian people that once elected we will review the mines and minerals development Act to ensure that investors will not close at the slight sign of trouble,” Sondashi said.

“We shall ensure that when a person or company wants to open up a mine, that person or company should deposit money which that company will not take away once they close the mine, it will remain in Zambia.”

Sondashi also said the strike by nurses and teachers exposed President Banda’s lack of political skills saying the matter was poorly handled and showed lack of compassion and sensitivity. He said it should have been possible to adjust the salary from 15 per cent to 20 per cent especially when one considered the high tax levels and inflation in this country.

“For sure the 15 per cent which has been given is a mockery as it will be wiped out by tax and inflation. To appreciate the demands by teachers, one needs to know their take-home-pay against the cost of transport, rentals, food and other basic necessities. It should be recognised that our teachers and health workers and even police officers are among the least paid civil servants and often work in deplorable conditions. A responsible government should listen to their plight than threaten them with dismissals,” Sondashi said.

“Listening from Rupiah Banda, he was even saying we could even recruit people from Zimbabwe where he was born. Now if you consider recruiting people from Zimbabwe and you leave your own nationals suffering, these nationals have children and relatives to look after, then you bring in people from Zimbabwe who have buggered their country to come here and start working and enjoy life. Can you think that you have entrusted responsibilities in the hands of a right thinking person?”

Sondashi said it was paradoxical for government not have money and but pay mid-term gratuities for members of parliament and also set up a salaries review commission that would gobble billions of kwacha. He said savings could be made through reducing government ministries to 14 and government fleet of motor vehicles. He said the government was top heavy and the treasury could not sustain it.

He also promised to integrate the chiefs’ roles into the local government system, enhance role of House of Chiefs by raising it to an upper chamber of Parliament to be called senate to have legislative powers.

“The senate will be expanded to include other members like eminent persons, like former presidents, vice-presidents, judges, so that it is a reservoir of knowledge,” he said.

Sondashi also said his government would improve agriculture and food sufficiency by distributing free fertiliser to rural people to be administered by chiefs.

“We shall ensure with that free fertiliser, an individual will be able to grow at least one hector of food crop,” he said.

Asked why he did not join the Patriotic Front and UPND pact, Sondashi remarked: “You can only go to a party with similar ideology and ideals as yours. I haven’t seen their ideals. If they ask me, I will say I have to be the leader because I have a vision.”

Sondashi also claimed there were big names and businesses behind him but were not willing to come out in the open for fear of presidential powers.