Maravi

Beating up journalists isn’t part of Levy’s legacy, says Mumbuwa

Written by Ernest Chanda
Friday, August 21, 2009 4:58:29 PM

FORMER commissioner of prisons Jethro Mumbuwa has said beating up journalists is not part of the Levy Mwanawasa legacy. In an interview following the first memorial for president Mwanawasa, Mumbuwa said it would be good to honour the late president with the values he stood for.

"First of all we should thank God for giving us Levy Mwanawasa for president. He took over the presidency at a time when the country had numerous economic problems. But he tried his best and left us on a good footing economically. Just like in the Bible, God sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel but he himself never reached the promised land; equally president Mwanawasa put us on a good economic path but he did not live to finish his term of office," Mumbuwa said.

"President Mwanawasa was an advocate of the rule of law, not the rule of man. He never tolerated tribalism and nepotism; and this is attested to by how he picked his vice-president Rupiah Banda from the Eastern Province. President Mwanawasa was not a discriminatory person, he believed in equality. And beating of news reporters is not part of his legacy. Attacks on the Catholic Church are not part of the Mwanawasa legacy because he believed in opportunity for everyone."

Mumbuwa asked all those wanting to emulate the late president to live with integrity.

"President Mwanawasa never spared anyone who was found to be corrupt. And he tried his best to promote unity among politicians. But it's sad today to see politicians insulting each other. Let's have respect for one another and we want to see unity in the nation, just as Levy was a unifying factor," said Mumbuwa. "He believed in the rule of law and not a compromised Judiciary. This is because he wanted everyone to see justice at the end of the day. In short, we don't want to see total diversion from his legacy. When Chiluba defeated Kaunda, we saw a total diversion from the Kaunda legacy, and the results are there to see. But now we don't want that experience because there is a lot the country can learn from President Mwanawasa's leadership."

Labels: CADRES, JETHRO MUMBUWA, MWANAWASA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, PRESS FREEDOM

posted by MrK @ 4:00 PM