Maravi

Ronnie can’t judge my popularity – Magande

Ronnie can’t judge my popularity – Magande
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 15 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

Former finance minister Ng'andu Magande yesterday said information minister Ronnie Shikapwasha cannot judge his popularity when he just got his own vote during the NEC elections for the MMD presidential candidate in 2008.

And Magande said it was time for the investigative wings to be honest enough by announcing that they have been unsuccessful in their investigations against him on Zambian Airways.

Reacting to Shikapwasha's assertions that no one in MMD was scared of Magande because he is not as popular as he claims, Magande said Shikapwasha could not be a good barometer to measure other people's popularity.

“He is a NEC member as well, but you know the last election we had even within NEC members, Mr. Shikapwasha got one vote. So I can only say that he doesn't know how to judge popularity even of himself because that was why he stood. He thought he was popular and he goes to get his own vote.

So somebody who has such a poor judgment of even himself cannot obviously be a good barometer for comparing other people's popularity,” Magande said. “…because if he is a very good judge, he wouldn't have stood to just get one vote. So those who have no proper judgment of what is happening in the country should not spend their time talking around.”

Magande said he had a proven track record in the public service.

During the national executive committee NEC elections to choose a presidential candidate for the ruling MMD, Magande got over 11 votes while Shikapwasha acquired one vote, from himself.

And Magande said he was a law abiding citizen who was still awaiting the outcome of the investigations on Zambian Airways. He said the onus was upon the investigative wings to prove the allegations that had been leveled against him that he abused office by instructing National Airports Corporation not to recover debts from Zambian Airways.

However, Magande said he was not worried about the investigations.

“So I am not worried at all that people are still searching and hunting. They will find anything, I have no skeleton in my wardrobe,” said Magande. “Every time people came up with ridiculous accusations, I allowed the law enforcement people to inspect my records and my life and to talk to friends. So even on these Zambian Airways, they are just wasting their time. It is time they just said, 'we have found nothing' and then I move on. But inspite of that, I'm still moving on. Right now I am in Kabwe. I came with a delegation of MPs.

Why? Because I am chairman on the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, selected by the people.”

Labels: MAGANDE, MMD, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA

posted by MrK @ 7:21 AM