Maravi

MMD’s use of govt vehicles in Chitambo infuriates PF

MMD’s use of govt vehicles in Chitambo infuriates PF
Written by Patson Chilemba in Serenje
Monday, August 10, 2009 2:07:44 AM

THERE was confusion in Chitambo last Friday when Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata attempted to check on the alleged government vehicles being used by the MMD in their campaigns. The vehicles were found parked at the residence of one of the MMD councillors, Derrick Chalwe.

This provoked Sata, who was on his way to address a rally, to drop by to inquire why the vehicles were being used for the MMD campaigns.

However, just as Sata, his party officials and PF cadres attempted to draw closer to the vehicles, a horde of MMD cadres emerged from several huts and others from the councillor's house.

This led to a heated exchange of words from both sides.

Sata's side argued that it was shameless for the MMD to continue with the use of government machinery in their campaigns.

But the MMD cadres said although the vehicles belonged to the government, there was nothing wrong with using them because they were a ruling party.

"Who told you to come here without permission iwe chi [you] Sata? Kuti nakutoba nechilibwe [I can hit you with a stone]," said one female MMD cadre who held a stone in her hand.

As the argument intensified, cadres from both parties tried to go at each other, but before the situation could get out of hand, Sata left the scene to address a rally at a nearby school.

His cadres and party officials followed suit.

However, some MMD cadres were seen throwing stones at the retreating PF cadres.

The situation only normalised after all the PF cadres had left the scene of the violence and joined other party members who had converged for a rally. Unconfirmed reports revealed that a woman was injured in the process.

Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba's vehicle was almost stoned by the MMD cadres.

And drumming up support for PF Chitambo parliamentary candidate Mutale Chanda, Sata said leaders who came from Serenje District such as Vice-President George Kunda and Central Province minister Ackimson Banda were just like Judas Israriot because they had betrayed their own people.

He said while Vice-President Kunda and Banda were waxing in fat, most people were afflicted with abject poverty.

Sata wondered how most people would attain quality education since most of the schools in the area were basic schools.

He said it was sad that the entire Serenje only had one secondary school because the government did not care to build more schools.

Sata said Chitambo could be developed into an attractive tourist destination because that was the same place where the famous British explorer and missionary David Livingstone died and some of his remains were buried there.

And Sata on Saturday asked information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha not to link the Catholics and The Post to the genocide of Rwanda.

He said it was in fact Lt Gen Shikapwasha who was a danger to the peace of the nation because of his government's irresponsibility to the many challenges faced by Zambians.

Sata said Lt Gen Shikapwasha was just a disgraced general who failed to defend the nation during the Solo Uprising.

"To try and win sympathy from [former president Frederick] Chiluba, he had to become a fake pastor," Sata said in an interview. "Before Ronnie Shikapwasha was born, the Catholic Church all over the world has been speaking the truth and equality. And if Ronnie Shikapwasha, who is from Central Province, can come and see the poverty in Serenje and expect the Catholics to keep quiet, he should go back to hide in Munali hills."

Sata said Lt Gen Shikapwasha should feel ashamed that despite Central Province having more Cabinet ministers in relation to its population, the province was still under-developed.

He asked Lt Gen Shikapwasha not to hide his government's inefficiency in the Catholics and The Post.

"Rupiah Banda remembers very well how Shikapwasha behaved during the Solo Uprising, that's why he removed him from home affairs and gave him a less sensitive ministry of Mike Mulongoti [Ministry of Information]," he said.

Sata also revealed that he knew when former defence minister George Mpombo would resign from the MMD.

Sata said Mpombo wanted to see what empty heads like President Banda, works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti and local government minister Benny Tetamashimba would do to him before he could resign from the MMD.

"He's not resigning now. We know when he will resign. He is not in a hurry. He's not in a hurry, he wants to see what Rupiah Banda and Mulongoti and Tetamaboza [Tetamashimba] will do to him. They won't do anything. George Mpombo is honourable George," he said.

Asked if he had been in contact with Mpombo over his earlier statement that the former defence minister was a very good friend of PF, Sata responded: "Ask George. He is very happy."

Sata said since President Banda and his friends had found comfort in using his rebel members of parliament, he would also work with those the President had discarded.

"The only difference between me and Rupiah Banda is that none of my rebels would retain any seat, but I would get all the seats of those he had discarded," Sata said. "I challenge him [President Banda] to ask [PF Luapula rebel member of parliament [Peter Machungwa] to resign so that we can go and knock him out."

On Chiluba, Sata said Chiluba's support over the Zamtel privatisation was rubbish.

He said Chiluba knew very well that he was advised against the sale of Zamtel when he served as president.

"We told him that you can't privatise Zamtel, Zanaco and Zesco, and he listened. So what is he talking about? Instead of privatising Zamtel, why don't they privatise ZAMPOST? Zamtel still has liquidity," Sata said.

However, Sata said he understood that Chiluba was a crook, whose main preoccupation was defending his fellow crooks such as those who were itching to privatise Zamtel in order to personally benefit from the loot.

"He doesn't stand for anything. At least Dr Kenneth Kaunda has maintained his international standing on AIDS, but Chiluba doesn't stand on anything," Sata said. "Tell me, where have you heard Chiluba anywhere in the world since he left office?"

Sata said had Chiluba continued where Dr Kaunda left, Zambia would have been "untouchable" in terms of development.

He said Dr Kaunda had a vision where he wanted to take the country to.

"If they said we privatised, where did the money go? They just put it in their pockets," Sata said.

And on Saturday afternoon, Sata who addressed joint rallies with UPND president Hakainde Hichilema in Chitambo, told the electorate that Vice-President Kunda's government had sold their land and animals to foreigners.

He told the residents to eat the animals that would be taken to settle on the land people have been displaced from.

"Let him take them [animals] to Chibale [Vice-President Kunda's village]. Why should he remove people and replace them with animals?" Sata asked.

He said Lalas were good people but with uncaring leaders such as Vice-President Kunda, Electoral Commission of Zambia [ECZ] director Danny Kalale and Central Province minister Ackimson Banda.

"Niba mwankole [they are crows]," Sata said.

He said chief Chitambo of Serenje who recently said he had never voted for an opposition party in 20 years, should realise that he was voting for poverty.

Hichilema said it made no sense for President Banda to donate maize to Zimbabwe when millions of Zambians were hungry.

"Rupiah Mubwezeni Kumunzi Banda is taking maize to Zimbabwe," Sata said.

Hichilema said the UPND and PF had listened to the people's demands by forming a pact and now it was up to the electorate to elect PF parliamentary candidate for Chitambo Chanda Mutale as member of parliament.

He said the MMD had been surviving because of fragmentation in the opposition.

Hichilema said people should not vote for MMD candidate Dr Solomon Musonda on the basis that Vice-President Kunda was Lala.

He said people would not be able to eat Vice-President Kunda.

"When MMD brings chitenge, get, and when they bring money demand more, because that is your tax-payers money. The secret is in your heart," said Hichilema.

PF vice-president Guy Scott said the PF would fight through Parliament, the land government had repossessed from the people and sold to Chinese and animals.

Notables among those who attended the rallies included PF members of parliament, Willie Nsanda [Chimwemwe] and Esther Banda [Chililabombwe]. UPND members of parliament included Godfrey Beene, Stephen Katoka, and other officials from both parties.

Labels: MMD, PF, SATA

posted by MrK @ 1:09 AM