Maravi

Rupiah tells Mswati lies

Rupiah tells Mswati lies
Written by Mutuna Chanda and Mulimbi Mulaliki and Mwala Kalaluka.
Monday, July 20, 2009 7:37:55 AM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday misled King Mswati III that he got 100 per cent of the votes in North Western Province during last October’s presidential by-election and his opponents got zero.

Speaking on arrival at Solwezi Airport together with King Mswati, President Banda said that he chose to take the Swazi leader to North Western Province because of the development that was taking place there and that the people in the area were wonderful.

“I am really very happy that you are here and I want to explain why I chose to bring His Majesty coming to visit Zambia; if I sent him an invitation would he accept? He said. “Of course I look forward to it.’ I made a bit of surveys through his people what he would like to see when he is here. One of the things that he said was he wanted to see a mine. He has heard about the copper mines in Zambia. I chose to bring him here deliberately because this province and these people are witnessing unprecedented development in mining and also they are wonderful people. We in the last election, Your Majesty, can claim to have won a 100 per cent of the support vote in the last election here, my opponent got zero. All the councillors you see in blue, all of them they are from my party. All the members of parliament, who are in parliament, there is no one from this province who is not MMD. They are all ours. I think it is a special province.”

However, according to the figures from the 2008 presidential election, President Banda got 60 per cent of the votes cast in Chavuma Constituency, Mufumbwe (70 per cent), Kabompo East (50 per cent), Kabompo West (55 per cent), Kasempa (72 per cent), Mwinilunga East (39 per cent), Mwinilunga West (52 per cent), Solwezi Central (65 per cent), Solwezi East (62 per cent), Solwezi West (61 per cent), Zambezi East (59 per cent) and Zambezi West (44 per cent).

Out of the 12 constituencies in the province, 10 are for the MMD while two - Mwinilunga East and Zambezi West - are represented by UPND parliamentarians, Stephen Katuka and Charles Kakoma, respectively.

President Banda said even the chiefs had gone to welcome King Mswati to Solwezi.

“Which they have not done to me because I am their subject,” he said.

Solwezi mayor Peter Chikatula conferred King Mswati with the status of the free man of the municipality.

King Mswati said in an interview after touring Kansanshi Mine that he was impressed with the safety levels at the copper mine.

And King Mswati has commended Zambia’s active bravery in addressing the many regional challenges when the country held the chairmanship of SADC.

During a state banquet hosted for him and his wife, Inkosikati Make La-Magongo, at Inter-Continental Hotel on Friday night, King Mswati also said Zambia’s heroic sacrifices, which led to the liberation of many sub-regional states would remain indelible in the history books.

“On the regional front, I wish to commend Zambia for having been exemplary when the country held the chairmanship of SADC. Zambia was brave and active in addressing some of the many challenges within the region, amicably,” King Mswati said. “The formidable challenges that are faced by our region makes it imperative as SADC we should continue working together and our unshaken solidarity remains a guiding pillar to our success.”

King Mswati pledged that his kingdom would remain committed to the principles and protocols of SADC that promote dialogue as a catalyst for peace and regional stability.

King Mswati said Swaziland and Zambia had always enjoyed close and warm ties that have prospered since the time of his father, King Sobhuza and former president Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

“This strong bond of friendship was further strengthened under the leadership of president Levy Mwanawasa, who sadly passed on a year after a memorable visit to the Kingdom of Swaziland,” he said. “Although the distance between our two countries may be vast, history tells us that we are, but one people. And I am happy that we have continued to nurture these historical ties.”

King Mswati said he still had vivid and fond memories of his first state visit to Zambia in 1989, because it was one of his very first external visits following his coronation.

“These visits are important as they enable us to exchange ideas, share experiences and identify opportunities for cooperation and mutual growth of our people,” King Mswati said. “The growth of our region can only be realised if we allow our two peoples to also interact in business since we have healthy relationships at our level.”

King Mswati also commended Zambia over its resilient and sacrificial contribution towards the emancipation of many southern African states.

“We recognise that such sacrifice came at a huge cost to the people and overall economy of this great nation, but you stood firm to your goal,” he said.

King Mswati said he was pleased to note that Zambians have continued to maintain their nationalism, patriotism and spirit of unity.

“This is attested to by the successful presidential elections leading to a smooth transition that saw Your Excellency becoming the fourth president of the republic of Zambia,” King Mswati said, as some MMD cadres in the banquet hall broke into applause while raising their party symbol. “At a time when some countries in the continent and some parts of the region are experiencing leadership disputes that have led to human suffering, it is encouraging to note that Zambia can provide valuable lessons of political transition through unity.”

King Mswati said he had come with some business people from Swaziland that would share experiences with their Zambian counterparts whilst viewing investment opportunities.

And President Banda said, as peace-loving nations that adhere to the rule of law, Zambia and Swaziland should continue to promote peace and stability within the region.

“It is in this context that my government welcomes the holding of a special summit of the African Union in September 2009, which I hope will come up with possible solutions and achievable results,” President Banda said. “I wish to seize this opportunity to make an earnest appeal to the international community to reconsider their position on Zimbabwe and lift any selective sanctions or restrictions they may have imposed in the recent past. The Zimbabwe unity government has demonstrated its determination to bury its past and move forward. Let the doubting Thomases quietly leave the stage and let men and women of hope take over now.”

President Banda said recently in Livingstone that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was a role model to many African leaders, who had withstood his enemies.

President said during the state banquet that King Mswati’s acceptance of his invitation was a confirmation of the warm relations, which exist between Zambia and Swaziland.

“Your visit symbolises the desire of the two peoples to celebrate their common ancestry,” President Banda said. “It is befitting that we, in Zambia today, should pay tribute to you and the people of Swaziland for the exemplary leadership you have continued to display.”

President Banda said King Mswati was a wise leader who has successfully blended traditional and democratic governance.

“While you allow traditions to guide the Swazi Society, you have alongside ensured that the Swazi people benefit from economic development and actively participate in the election of their representatives in the government of your majesty,” he said. “We pay tribute to you personally and your people for the successful conduct of the elections last September, which contributed to the democratic rule not only in your kingdom but also the SADC region as a whole.”

President Banda called for the revival of the bilateral framework of the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation at the earliest opportunity.

King Mswati is on a three-day state visit in the country at the invitation of President Banda.

Former president Frederick Chiluba and his wife, Regina, were accorded high-table status during the state banquet.

Others in attendance were former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa, senior chief Nzamane of the Ngoni people of Chipata, Cabinet and deputy ministers, among others.

Labels: KING MASWATI III, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:38 AM