Maravi

PF, UPND will move impeachment motion against Rupiah – Simuusa

PF, UPND will move impeachment motion against Rupiah – Simuusa
Written by Mutuna Chanda and Mulimbi Mulaliki in Solwezi
Monday, July 13, 2009 7:35:49 AM

NCHANGA Patriotic Front (PF) member of parliament Wylbur Simuusa has said his party and UPND will move an impeachment motion against President Rupiah Banda when Parliament reopens tomorrow.

During the newsmakers forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post in Solwezi on the sustainability of the PF and UPND pact last Saturday, Simuusa said President Banda's reappointment of Dora Siliya as education minister was an impeachable offence and that the PF and UPND would cooperate over the matter.

"We are bringing an impeachment motion when we open Parliament and we shall use our numbers," Simuusa said. "The President swore to protect the Constitution... Supreme Court judges made a ruling that Dora had breached the Constitution, meanwhile Rupiah Banda appoints her as minister and disregards the Constitution! That's an impeachable offence."

He described as arrogant and incompetence for President Banda to have claimed that he did not need the students' approval to appoint Siliya as education minister.

"Rupiah Banda appoints Dora Siliya as minister when Supreme Court judges have said that the minister made a mistake and he says I don't have to consult anybody; that's arrogance. When somebody speaks like that ninshi atutola [he has looked down on us]," he said.

Simuusa pledged to forward concerns raised by members of the audience over how their interests would be protected in the pact.

And UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa said it would be folly for the two parties to feature as single entities in the 2011 elections.

He charged that the MMD stole the 2001 and 2008 elections and that it would do the same in 2011 if PF and UPND participated as single entities.

He urged Zambians not to focus on Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema if they wanted to progress but to instead look at their sufferings.

Kalusa also urged UPND and PF members not to worry about who was going to be the presidential candidate in 2011.

He said it would work to the pact's advantage not to reveal the presidential candidate until such a time when elections were near.

Kalusa said what was important now for UPND and PF members was to sell the pact such that even if a frog were to be put as presidential candidate, it would win an election.

Labels: IMPEACHMENT, PF, RUPIAH BANDA, UPND, WYLBUR SIMUUSA

posted by MrK @ 6:35 AM