Maravi

Rupiah is divorced from reality – Mwewa

Rupiah is divorced from reality – Mwewa
By Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Mon 26 Oct. 2009, 04:01 CAT

CATHOLIC Diocese of Ndola treasurer general Fr Augustine Mwewa has said President Rupiah Banda is teasing Zambians by proclaiming that there are no problems in the country.

Commenting on President Banda's claims when he commissioned Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) last Monday that there were no problems in Lusaka, Livingstone, Kasama and Chipata, Fr Mwewa, who spoke in his individual capacity, said the head of state was divorced from reality.

"There's need for the element of sincerity and humility," Fr Mwewa said.
"When he says that there's no problem at all it's like he's teasing us on the Copperbelt who are going through difficulties. It's like he's not in touch with reality. That is why I have been talking about people standing up even in MMD.”
He charged that it was a lie for President Banda to claim that the problems that people read of were imaginary.

"I'm happy that on the Copperbelt people are watching Muvi TV and they know that what The Post has been writing is the truth,” he said. "During the by-election in Kasama, someone called me from there and people saw the corruption and some people beat those who were using government vehicles in campaigns so people are alert. I'll not be stopped to say he (President Banda) is telling a lie. I go to Kitwe every week sometimes twice a week. In Chambishi we have relatives and not all is well."

Fr Mwewa said he grew up in a former mining town and that the different areas on the Copperbelt were no longer what they used to be.

"Our roads are gone," Fr Mwewa said.

"Chambishi is no longer the same. Go to former mining towns, things are worsening; the infrastructure; our education standards are deteriorating. Our President; his advisors where are they? Mr. Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika where is he? I respect that man a lot but he's disappointing the nation. I know he can't come out and say ‘I have been advising the President but he is not listening to me".

"He said President Banda was not a leader of the MMD alone but of the whole country.

"He's leading the country as a President but the things he has been saying, he has a lot to lose; insulting the opposition," he said.

Fr Mwewa appealed to President Banda to do things and run the country correctly.

"He should not be a liability," he said. "Those surrounding him, they need to advise him properly."

Fr Mwewa urged President Banda to make political statements that did not ridicule him as head of state and asked him to be humble enough to admit the problems the country was going through.

Labels: AUGUSTINE MWEWA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:16 AM