Maravi

Mpombo warns of shocking fallout over Levy’s legacy

Mpombo warns of shocking fallout over Levy’s legacy
Written by George Chellah
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 5:26:56 PM

FORMER defence minister George Mpombo yesterday warned that there will be a shocking fallout in the ruling MMD if offensive attacks on the late president Levy Mwanawasa's legacy continue.

Reacting to MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba's statement that he was creating divisions between himself and the party for nothing, Mpombo, who is also Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament, said Tetamashimba should know that he was among the people that were dividing the MMD.

"It's people like Tetamashimba that are dividing the party. The idea of trying to scandalise Mwanawasa's legacy has ghastly political consequences. If they continue insulting Mwanawasa, the political consequences of that will be too ghastly to contemplate," he said.

He said the people on the Copperbelt Province, especially Ndola rural, could no longer continue to be used as political doormats.

"Somebody should intervene and stop this idea of harassing the legacy of Mwanawasa. If they continue with these attacks on Mwanawasa's legacy, the fallout that will develop from this will be shocking. Let's not bring Mwanawasa's name into cheap debate," Mpombo said.

"A lot of people are offended if they don't know. Especially where I come from in Ndola rural, they are asking that 'what sort of people are these?' This is morally and politically unacceptable. If they continue, this will invite a sharp reaction from people."

He maintained that people like Tetamashimba were dividing the MMD through their reckless reactions.

"If they want unity in the party, they should stop attacking Mwanawasa's legacy. This world is a difficult world, how do you attack a defenceless man? Let him just rest in peace. Let them stop those tactics of insulting Mwanawasa's legacy. I will never abandon Mwanawasa, I will always be there to defend his legacy and attempts to scandalise his name is a futile attempt," Mpombo said.

"People are annoyed, in politics there has to be morality. Continuous attacks on Mwanawasa by certain government officials have given a bad taste in some people's mouths. It's creating a serious backlash especially on the Copperbelt."

He said the reasons being advanced by some government officials concerning works and supply permanent secretary Lieutenant Colonel Bizwayo Nkunika's notice for him to vacate the government house were laughable.

"If anything, we even left the government house about two days ago. My wife is already on the Copperbelt at the farm. I have also left and I am now staying at Parliament Motel. I am just waiting for transport from the Copperbelt to come and collect our katundu [property], which we packed a long time ago. Tetamashimba and others must not paint a picture like I am stranded," Mpombo said.

"We have adequate and decent accommodation at our farms in Ndola rural. I am a Ndola man myself I can't remain here in Lusaka. And if Tetamashimba wants to visit our farm, let him come, we will host him very well. In fact, if Tetamashimba was to come and sleep at any of our farms and in the night he develops his usual diarrhoea, he is assured that he will not go outside the house... in the bush to go to the toilet because all the facilities are available in the house."

On works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti's outline of his education background when he officiated at the Rotary Club dinner to convince people that he was not a buffoon or twit as earlier suggested, Mpombo wondered why Mulongoti has not been admitted to the bar if he were a lawyer.

"I have seen what he said but if you pass an exam it doesn't mean...anyway, I also passed my second semester with flying colours for my MBA and I have almost wrapped up my degree in political science so what is he talking about? All I know is that he has been struggling with law. If he is that good like he is putting it why hasn't he qualified as a lawyer?" Mpombo asked.

"Why hasn't he been admitted to the bar because almost all his colleagues have been admitted to the bar? If he is a lawyer why hasn't he been called to the bar because most of his friends are now magistrates or lawyers? Mulongoti is just a braggadocio."

Earlier, Tetamashimba said the decision to invite Mpombo to go and campaign for the party in the Chitambo parliamentary by-election was not made by the national executive committee (NEC).

"His reaction should not be taken that he doesn't want. It's just that two days before he is told to vacate the house and you want him to go instead of allowing him to organise accommodation for his family. It was ill-timing for Jeff Kaande to ask Mr Mpombo to go to Chitambo," he said.

However, Tetamashimba said Mpombo overreacted on the issue of the government house.

"When you resign or you are fired, you are supposed to vacate a government house. You are given about 14 days. I am aware that Mpombo did surrender the vehicle to works and supply. Even Sylvia Masebo when she was dropped she immediately said 'get the vehicle, I don't want the vehicle.' I expected Mpombo to write to Mulongoti if Mulongoti had refused then he should have reacted the way he did," Tetamashimba said.

"I don't think Mulongoti would have pushed him out of the house. He is creating divisions between himself and the party for nothing. He was going overboard. He was reacting too fast he must have some problems within himself. I was very disappointed when I read the articles. We are going to take Mpombo as a member of the party. He must not think that we hate him. He was overreacting by calling his young brother a buffoon, a twit and all that."

He insisted that the MMD secretariat should have inquired from Mpombo over the problems he was facing concerning the government house.

"He [Kaande] should have understood the predicament which Mpombo was going through...leaving a family which he thinks might be evicted to go to Chitambo and campaign?" wondered Tetamashimba.

Mpombo revealed that he had refused to go to Chitambo to campaign for the MMD in readiness for the forthcoming by-elections.

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, GEORGE MPOMBO, MWANAWASA

posted by MrK @ 4:26 PM