Maravi

Rupiah is attracting bad omen on himself, says Nawakwi

Rupiah is attracting bad omen on himself, says Nawakwi
Written by Patson Chilemba
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 3:19:13 PM

EDITH Nawakwi has said President Banda is attracting bad omen on himself and MMD for refusing to listen to advice, saying those who campaigned for him are being blamed for bringing trouble to the nation.

In an interview on Tuesday, Nawakwi , who is opposition FDD president and campaigned heavily for the President during the 2008 presidential elections, said it was disappointing that an elderly man like President Rupiah Banda had literally failed to listen to advice on every national issue. She cited government's move to purchase mobile hospitals and sell 75 percent shares in Zamtel as some of the issues President Banda had exhibited deafness.

Nawakwi said President Banda should call on the Church fathers and go for a retreat in order to reflect seriously on how he was governing the nation, saying he had set himself on a path of self destruction which would also have devastating consequences on the nation.

"He is talking about mobile hospitals being an offer. If someone offers you a chalise of poison, do you drink it? We don't need mobile hospitals, we want fixed buildings. If the President can go incognito on the streets, we his friends are being abused that your friend doesn't listen. So why does the President want to drink this poison from this friendly government, which government we don't know, because the Chinese have refused? What is it that the President needs to be advised to go on the right path?" Nawakwi asked.

"What language should people speak for him to listen? He's on a very destructive path, and not only to himself but to the general group. It's disappointing that we have one of the elder statesmen who can't listen. He is not behaving like someone who is elderly. What we know is that people acquire wisdom through the years. He is behaving like a young man on a motor racing tract. For those who are younger than him, like he refused to listen to my brother Hakainde Hichilema, we are lost on how to advise him."

Nawakwi said President Banda should not claim that the mobile hospitals were an offer from a foreign country because even then, there was nothing which was free in the world. He said donor help always came with conditions

"Whether it is from Chinese government, when they give you something, you see a horde of Chinese on the streets. That's not free. He can't say they [mobile hospitals] are free. This costs money and this will be paid at a future date, maybe not in his lifetime," Nawakwi said.

"You members of the press, I hope you will use a different language because we in politics have failed to advise him. He's bringing a lot of bad omen to his side, whether as MMD or himself. Tabomfwa [He doesn't listen]."

Nawakwi said President Banda had a fixed position on almost all the issues which he thought was right. She said she was completely at a loss regarding what President Banda wanted to achieve for the nation. Nawakwi said President Banda had gathered so much emotion against him in the last eight months for refusing to listen and it was clear that he was not enjoying peace. She said President Banda would not find peace for as long as people were complaining.

Nawakwi said President Banda should listen to advice because God usually speaks through his people.

"Munshebwa aile nefiko kubuko [He who doesn't listen went with dirt to their in-laws]. Ask Mr. Sata, he knows that saying. Even staunch supporters of MMD are saying "imwe mwalituletelela ubwafya [you have brought trouble in this nation]". He should slow down, pick up a phone and call the fathers to go for a retreat, not with his family. That way he will find peace and direction. At the moment there is no direction," Nawakwi said.

"Why is he bent on self destruction? It is like he is in love with mobile hospitals to the extent that he will be destroyed this lack of peace will bring about destruction."

And Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata said President Banda wants to make quick money over the purchase of mobile hospitals and the sale of 75 percent shares in Zamtel. He charged that President Banda wanted to become like his friend Frederick Chiluba who amassed many shoes and suits such that it became difficult to choose what to wear.

On Monday, Sata charged that President Banda President Banda was lying over the mobile hospitals and deserved a medal for being the best liar the country has ever had for President.

Last Friday, President Banda said mobile hospitals were an offer from a foreign country.

But Chinese government special representative on African affairs Ambassador Liu Guijin in May said the Chinese government did not play a role in this [US$53 million mobile hospital] deal, and it might be a business dealing between the Zambian government and a private Chinese company.

Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:19 PM