Maravi

People talking about tribalism will be crushed, warns Rupiah

People talking about tribalism will be crushed, warns Rupiah
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe in Mazabuka
Fri 11 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda on Wednesday warned that the few individuals talking about tribalism in the country will “sooner or later be crushed.”

And President Banda has revealed that he danced when the reactionary devilish forces failed to stop South African President Jacob Zuma from winning the presidential elections early this year.

Responding to a question on the tribal-anchored debate going on in the country, President Banda said politicians must guard against tribalism.

This was after the two heads of state completed the tour of the over K1 trillion Zambia Sugar Plc's Nakambala Sugar expansion project, an epitome of South Africa's direct investment which has lifted sugar output at the country's biggest sugar plantation to 450,000 metric tonnes a year from below at 200,000 tonnes prior to privatisation.

President Banda praised President Zuma for appointing a lot of women in key ministries, a move which earlier attracted cheers from a few Mazabuka residents that welcomed the South African leader at the ground where the two leaders addressed the gathering.

“My position on the issue of tribalism is very clear; I have said it clearly that it tribalism will take us nowhere and that every politician must guard against tribalism and racism as well,” President Banda said.

“You saw Mr President Zuma when you went to greet the people what they picked immediately was the number of distinguished ladies who are in your government.”

President Banda said unity was the greatest force for fighting all the country's challenges such as poverty.

“We must take deliberate steps to ensure that everybody is represented in this national cake…this army that is going to fight for unity in our country,” President Banda said. “In our country, there are few individuals who are talking about tribalism. I have no doubt in my mind that they won't go anywhere but sooner or later, we will crush them. We must at all times fight for unity and be above all these petty issues of this tribe; that tribe; that race this race…it is wonderful when you are all working together to develop your country.”

President Banda said the election of President Zuma to lead the biggest economy in Africa was a victory of good over the reactionary forces of evil.
President Banda said in President Zuma, Zambians must know that they had a great ally.

“He is a great friend of Zambia. When he won the elections, many of us were jubilant; many of us danced because we know that the forces of reaction did not want him to become President of that country,” said President Banda.

“They accused him of all manner of sins. They tried to bedevil him; to make him look like a devil. They told all kinds of stories about him but the South African people said we know better than that.”

Meanwhile, President Zuma said the South Africans came to the country to see how they could help Zambians to develop economically.

He said the Nakambala Sugar expansion programme which came after South Africa's giant sugar company bought majority shares after Zambia Sugar was privatised was a clear indication of the growth potential for cooperation between the two countries.

“Today, what we are coming to say to the brothers and sisters in Zambia, is to say to them 'what can we do together to make our lives better politically and economically,” President Zuma said.

“We came with a very big delegation of business people who have come to look for the opportunities to invest, to create jobs. Equally, we are looking for Zambian companies to come to South Africa to do the same. What we are doing together, the South African companies. This confirms that we are ready to work together. That we today need to use our strength, our knowledge…our everything, to try to change our lives for the better…all of us.”

Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe charged that breakaway political parties did not have the capacity to form political parties.

“…Because when president Levy Mwanawasa left this country, he had left a successor, a very good successor who he appointed as his vice-president,” Munkombwe said.

“We thank him even if he is late. We know that breakaway parties don't form government, very rarely and we have a lot of them here who are breakaway parties. We know that of late, some people in your country thought they would wrestle power from you. They even decorated themselves with a good name COPE Congress of the People, they didn't do it unfortunately. We want you to continue looking at business interests here…”

Earlier, Munkombwe caused laughter when he directed Zambia Sugar Plc head of corporate affairs Lovemore Sievu to change the title on the inscription that was expected to be unveiled for the official launch of the completed expanded works.

Just as President Zuma was completing to read the inscription, Munkombwe chipped in and directed Sievu to change the title from Mr to Dr, in reference to the honorary doctorate degree at laws conferred on the South African President by University of Zambia (UNZA).

“There has to be a correction on the title,” Munkombwe said while looking at Sievu.
“It should be doctor not mister. He has worked for it,” Munkombwe directed amid laughter from President Banda and President Zuma and their delegations.

During the event, local journalists complained of the 'second-class treatment' they received compared to their colleagues from South Africa.

“We don't even have a seat in the main marquee where President Banda and President Zuma are going to have lunch from,” one journalist complained. “Yet, there is a table reserved for South Africa media…this is an unacceptable.”

When the two presidents held the press briefing at the conclusion of the tour, President Banda's aide Dickson Jere directed members of the local media not to ask questions and “just watch” because the crew from South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and state-owned and government controlled Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) requested for the briefing.

This was contrary to the earlier invitation from the South African delegation for all journalists to the press briefing to meet the two presidents and get their impression of the tour of Zambia.

Labels: MMD, RUPIAH BANDA, TRIBALISM

posted by MrK @ 5:38 AM