Maravi

Teta asked me to stand for presidency – Rupiah

Teta asked me to stand for presidency – Rupiah
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Solwezi
Thursday, September 10, 2009 4:05:23 AM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday disclosed that the late Benny Tetamashimba was one of the first people who requested him to contest the Republican presidency after the death of Levy Mwanawasa. And MMD cadres in Solwezi attacked UPND cadres who arrived at the airport singing and flashing their party symbol and the situation degenerated into a physical fight.

Addressing mourners at the burial of late local government minister Tetamashimba at Mutanda burial site, President Banda described late local government minister Tetamashimba as his biggest champion.

President Banda said much as some people regarded Tetamashimba as controversial and unpredictable, he regarded him as loyal.

"I can reveal now when our late president Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died, Tetamashimba was one of the first people that approached me to stand as a candidate for the Republican presidency. He did so with conviction and commitment to the campaign that followed. He marketed my presidential bid aggressively and his commitment was resolute and unflinching... he sacrificed a lot of his time even when his health began to fail him. He had complete faith in my presidency and he was always available," President Banda said.

"To his Cabinet colleagues and in government, he was a fearless warrior who was not hesitant to take on the many political challenges facing the country. We were all witness to his courage, once he was convinced of his course of action he stood firm. He was also an honest person, quick to admit where he was wrong and he was also a very likeable person. I feel sad that our country has lost such a man."

President Banda said Tetamashimba was an effective member of parliament whose contribution was formidable to the people of his constituency, Solwezi Central.

"As I stand here, I can see and feel the loss that all of you feel, it's difficult to accept his death," he said. "To his family, he was strong and a hard working family man who did all he could to secure their well-being."

President Banda said Tetamashimba's death was a call to duty to everyone in the MMD and everybody else to carry on with the programmes that he had started.

And speaking on behalf of Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa chairperson of parliamentary committees Mukondo Lungu said Tetamashimba spoke the truth without fear or favour.

Lungu encouraged people to remember Tetamashimba by carrying on with the ideals and principles that he stood for.

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga described Tetamashimba as his spade who executed the assignments that he gave him.

Mabenga said Tetamashimba took responsibility and was always drawing attention to enable people understand.

He asked the people of Solwezi Central to get a suitable replacement who would work with President Banda.

President Banda was accompanied to Solwezi by his wife Thandiwe and former president Frederick Chiluba and his wife Regina.

People cheered Chiluba at both the airport and the burial site.

As Chiluba went to lay wreaths on Tetamashimba's grave, people waved at him and he waved back.

Some MMD cadres were heard saying "uwakaele [the innocent one]."

But it was UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who received the most cheer when he arrived at the burial site.

One person almost caused confusion when he went to greet Hichilema who was seated in the same raw as President Banda and the Chilubas.

The man, only identified as Chishimba from Luanshya went to greet Hichilema but UPND cadres attempted to remove him by force. Chishimba then clung to a pole of the tent near where Hichilema was seated.

State police and senior MMD officials, including Chiluba's spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba went to remove Chishimba but he remained adamant.

Someone gave him K200,000 but still he remained adamant until he was given six packs of cream soda and was led away by Copperbelt MMD chairperson Joseph Chilambwe.

Meanwhile at the airport, before the plane carrying President Banda touched down, UPND cadres arrived singing solemn songs in honour of Tetamashimba.

An eyewitness who did not want to be identified said the singing infuriated MMD cadres who complained about the UPND's presence at the airport.

"A few cadres went to confront UPND cadres but they were restrained by MMD party officials. I saw Kadobi and Lusaka Province youth chairman inciting the cadres to go and chase the UPND officials but again they were restrained," said the eyewitness. "All of a sudden, a fight ensued. Apparently the MMD cadres went to near where the UPND and PF cadres were and they started fighting. The fight lasted for between five and 10 minutes. They were only separated by police officers who formed a cordon line to separate the two camps."

Tetamashimba died last Saturday at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, CADRES, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:08 AM