‘Children are scared of Rupiah’s appearance’

‘Children are scared of Rupiah’s appearance’
Written by Patson Chilemba in Mkushi
Tuesday, August 04, 2009 2:15:41 AM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday charged that it is in fact President Rupiah Banda's cheeks, tummy and general appearance, which scare away children and investors. And Sata said former president Frederick Chiluba has been trying hard to be President Banda's blue-eyed boy so that he could be pardoned in the event that he were convicted by the courts.

Reacting to President Banda's attacks that Sata's red eyes scared children and that was the reason why they attended his rallies and not his, Sata said it was sad that instead of using the rally in Chitambo to explain what the government had done or intended to achieve, President Banda in his usual manner found comfort in insulting him.

He said President Banda was just bluffing instead of telling the people of Serenje why his government had failed to connect Chitambo Constituency to the Great North Road.

Sata said since the President had attacked him on his eyes, he [President Banda] should also be kind enough to tell people whose face and tummy scared them more.

He said investors probably failed to come to the country because they feared the President's appearance.

"When you take my face and Rupiah's, including cheeks, tummy and the way he walks, who scares children more? Between my cheeks, face and walking, and those of Rupiah who has got a scaring face? Rupiah Banda was talking about my red scaring eyes, but can children, adults and investors alike tell us which face and cheeks scares them," Sata said. "He is supposed to tell the people of Chitambo what he is going to do for them. And I am told he was with the chiefs at the rally, instead of protesting over the lack of development in their areas, they went to be with him. How much did he give them? He is the one who is supposed to follow them to their palaces."

Sata said President Banda was trying to divert people's attention instead of explaining to the nation why his wife Thandiwe had continued getting paid when she was no longer teaching.

"Because she is like him who has been getting paid without working for three years," Sata said. "He is not telling the nation that before the judge Dennis Chirwa tribunal, Dora Siliya went to Dubai to meet a Dr Serato on the sale of Zamtel."

Drumming support for MMD candidate in the Chitambo by-election, Dr Solomon Musonda, at Gibson Basic School in Chitambo, President Banda said Sata was a desperate man who had resorted to insulting him just to get to State House.

He said Sata's big red eyes scared children and that was why they preferred to attend his rallies and not Sata's

On President Banda's statement that he had done something for the country because he fought for its independence from as young as 17, Sata said President Banda was lying because he was in Zimbabwe then.

"Maybe he fought for the independence of Zimbabwe. The only thing we remember about him during independence is when he attacked Simon Kapwepwe," he said.

On Chiluba's argument that President Banda had done a fantastic job to privatise Zamtel, Sata asked Chiluba to learn to keep quiet over certain issues, saying he would lose even the little respect he had.

He said Chiluba was a very desperate man who would try to please President Banda because he knew that his time of reckoning had come.

Sata said a normal person could not support the sale of Zamtel.

"Ever since Rupiah Banda announced his pardon in Luapula Province, Chiluba has been trying hard to be a blue-eyed boy to canvas for pardon when he is convicted," said Sata.

On Sunday, Chiluba described President Banda as a wise man over the sale of Zamtel, saying he would have done the same if he were in office.