Sata Reflects on Rupiah’s one year in office

Sata Reflects on Rupiah’s one year in office
By George Chellah and Patson Chilemba
Tue 03 Nov. 2009, 15:58 CAT

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata yesterday said President Rupiah Banda’s one year of the presidency has been one of crisis upon crisis and frequent trips abroad.

Reflecting on President Banda's one year in office, Sata said Zambians have been subjected to numerous hardships in the past year President Banda has been at the helm.

“The one year of his presidency has been marked with fuel shortages, the indirect closure of universities…like now they have deregistered some university students and these students are the ones who were saying they don't want the Minister of Education Dora Siliya, and many other crises’,” Sata said.

“So his presidency has just been full of crisis upon crisis and frequent presidential trips. Zambians must know that as he enters his second year, it will even be worse because the man doesn't even care. He only cares so much about the presidential jet so that he keeps traveling all over.”

Sata said President Banda enjoyed trips more than anything else.

“That's why whenever there is a crisis, him is comfortable. He enjoys seeing Zambians suffering. He wants to prove to the Zambians that he doesn't care,” Sata said. “No wonder he is always on the plane, even when there is a crisis at home. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he will be going somewhere soon.”

Sata said President Banda had also managed to compromise the opposition during his one year in office.

“He has compromised people like United Liberal Party (ULP) president Mr Sakwiba Sikota. He puts him on his presidential jet and checks him into a hotel in New York. How can such an opposition leader speak out?” Sata asked.

He said even the price of mealie-meal was currently high.

“This price is unreachable for an average Zambian citizen so that's what Rupiah's presidency been all about. Just one more thing about this presidency…we also hear that Moses Katumbi was recently in the country and that during his visit here, he was being driven by one of Rupiah's sons who even took him to State House.

I am sure he came to celebrate the acquittal together with Chiluba. Now, the question to ask is, if Katumbi came here on official business, why wasn't he being driven by foreign affairs or the DRC embassy? Anyway, that's Rupiah's presidency for you.”

And Sata said President Banda was scared of firing energy minister Kenneth Konga because he might reveal the true story behind the fuel crisis.

“When he Konga spills the beans, it will go round his President Banda's neck. Banda is lying to say Konga has misled him, it's not true. Banda knows the whole truth, because the offence which Konga committed is a far much serious economic sabotage than what Jonas Shakafuswa and Lameck Chibombamilimo committed,” said Sata.