Maravi

Banda has tasted his own dosage of tribalism – Kazabu

Banda has tasted his own dosage of tribalism – Kazabu
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe and George Chellah in Lusaka
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:20:08 AM

FORMER Kitwe mayor Luxon Kazabu has said President Rupiah Banda has tasted his own dosage of tribalism. And former defence minister George Mpombo yesterday urged President Banda to learn to contain himself at public functions and desist from using vulgar and unpalatable language as head of state.

Commenting on President Banda's call to Kasama residents not to vote for Kasama Central PF parliamentary candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba because he was a tribalist, Kazabu said President Banda's political quinine of tribalism that he prescribed for Zambians had come back to haunt him.

“It's this President that wrote a prescription about tribalism,” Kazabu said. “He's the one that went to Eastern Province last year and made those remarks that were meant to promote tribalism. So that political quinine he prescribed for us, he is being given a dose. He should be the last to complain about tribalism because he is the one who is in the forefront promoting it.”

Kazabu said he did not agree with tribal sentiments irrespective of who originated them, and that tribe should not be used to ascend to political office or any other position.

On President Banda's likening of Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) to a big sack of mealie-meal, Kazabu said President Banda had lost the standing of a statesman.

“Even though he’s gone to Kasama to campaign, he cannot describe one citizen as a sack of mealie-meal,” he said. “He can campaign but still use acceptable language.”

Kazabu said President Banda's administration had failed and urged Kasama residents to lead the way in MMD's exit.

“I get surprised when I hear people shower praises on this administration,” Kazabu said. “I begin to wonder that maybe there is something wrong with me but when I look I discover that I am on the right side of things. It is just these bootlickers that shower praises.”

Kazabu urged traditional leaders not to take political sides for them to retain the respect of their subjects. He accused the traditional leaders that campaigned for MMD of having nostalgia of the one party state in which they were obliged to support the government of the day in an environment where political opposition was non-existent.

And Mpombo said the nation expects President Banda to set very high standards in terms of using palatable language.

“Whatever the circumstances, we should use language which is considered to be palatable. The culture of insults should be avoided because regardless of what happens we are going to remain the same people at the end of the day,” Mpombo said. “We should avoid using blood-curdling language. People must describe each other in acceptable language. That language was improper, we must avoid vulgar language. The President should contain himself at these functions not to use disparaging language. He needs to sustain democratic tenets in the campaigns. If the President gets used to such a language then obviously a wrong message is being received.”

And Mpombo urged the MMD to uphold democracy.

“I will continue to agitate for democratic reforms in the party and I have no apologies to make to people like information minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha. Shikapwasha can go ahead and hatch plans and plots to throw me in jail on tramped-up charges if he wants,” Mpombo said. “If Kenneth Kaunda was jailed on tramped-up charges, who am I? It's the likes of Shikapwasha who are making the party unpopular because they have thrown all their principles.”

Mpombo said the diabolical skills of Shikapwasha would not work.

“He can go ahead. I would ask the President to replace Shikapwasha. It's important that good governance is maintained in the country. When you have people issuing threats to newspapers and all, that is a threat to democratic principles,” Mpombo said. “The time is now, it's important for the President to come in so that he could confirm all these statements from Shikapwasha. He should come in and restore sanity because these threats coming do not augur well. But my point is very clear, if Shikapwasha wants to execute his diabolical skills he can go ahead.”

Mpombo said unless the MMD changed its attitude and strategies, they would be severely depleted on the Copperbelt and that the MMD was under threat in Lamba land. He said President Banda must show leadership.

“If political chaos continues, it doesn't help the country. If you go on threatening people that amounts to incubating a boil, repression is seed for anarchy or resentment. If you repress people don't think you are okay, you are simply incubating a boil. The country should not live on threats, “ he said.

Mpombo said Vice-President George Kunda was a wrong person to talk about upholding the late president Levy Mwanawasa's legacy, particularly that he has abandoned his friend's beliefs and principles.

“He was together with Mwanawasa when they were establishing the Task Force on Corruption and all that but he has abandoned his friend. He is a wrong man to say he is following the legacy of Mwanawasa,” Mpombo said.

On MMD sympathiser Andre Mtine's statement that he should resign from the party, Mpombo said: “Mtine is just a cheap political hoodlum who is seeking the government's attention because his businesses have reached rock bottom. He is one gentleman with no integrity.”

And Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Dispute (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda said it was shameful that President Banda and the MMD who are supposed to protect the Electoral Act were the ones violating it in Kasama.

Habasonda condemned the donations, which the ruling MMD was making in Kasama ahead of tomorrow's parliamentary by-election.

“We are saddened that the head of state has not restrained the people in his team and himself from engaging in politics that are killing democratic elections in the country,” Habasonda said. “The government should take development to any part of the country at anytime than make these promises when there is an election.”

Habasonda wondered why the MMD had not condemned the tribal sentiments emanating from its camp. He also wondered why nobody has condemned former president Frederick Chiluba for campaigning for the MMD candidate.

“…You remember that when Dr Kaunda supported HH, the government threatened to cut his benefits. But we are not hearing anybody threatening to cut Chiluba's benefits,” Habasonda said.

Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, LUXON KAZABU, RUPIAH BANDA, TRIBALISM

posted by MrK @ 3:20 AM