Maravi

Rupiah’s clan has taken over the economy – Kavindele

Rupiah’s clan has taken over the economy – Kavindele
By George Chellah
Mon 02 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

FORMER Republican vice-president Enoch Kavindele has said President Rupiah Banda and his sons' greed is about to bring Zambia's economy to its knees. In an interview on Saturday, Kavindele blamed President Banda for the current fuel shortage the country was facing.

“It's unacceptable that Rupiah and his sons' greed is about to bring the economy of Zambia to its knees,” Kavindele said. “Banda must immediately give the same concessions he has given to his sons to the oil marketing companies OMCs so that we have fuel,” he said.

He said President Banda was overloading his sons with businesses that were too big for them to handle.

“If Dalbit can get a government contract to bring fuel into Zambia, let him extend also to the oil marketing companies that have got capacity to bring fuel. Otherwise this economy will be on its knees,” Kavindele said.

“His sons can't handle Zamtel privatisation, optic fiber, then fuel, arms procurement and many more other state procurements all at once. You add maize to the long list.”

He said everything was now being done within President Banda's clan.

“We accept that his sons may have been in business for a long time but those are perhaps small businesses that they have been handling not these big issues. Everything is now within the clan,” he said.

Kavindele warned that if President Banda were not careful, his would be a failed administration.

“He must give the same opportunity he is giving to his children to many other young people who are struggling to make ends meet. The nature of business is such that if Rupiah does not manage his children well with their business activities, those that they are dealing with will start blackmailing him and holding him hostage,” Kavindele said.

“What I mean is that some of these businesses his sons are involved in are so big that if for example, there is pressure on him President Banda and he decides to cancel them, they will now start blackmailing him.”

He maintained that President Banda and his sons' greed and selfishness was unacceptable.

“The economy will suffer because they want to do everything as a clan, his children, relatives and friends,” said Kavindele.

“For instance, this is a period for planting, now there is no diesel to enable farmers prepare their fields and this could cause food shortages next year.”

Labels: ENOCH KAVINDELE, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:30 AM