Rupiah vows never to reconcile with Mpombo

Rupiah vows never to reconcile with Mpombo
By George Chellah
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has vowed never to reconcile with former defence minister George Mpombo. But Mpombo yesterday said he was not desperate for reconciliation because his position was purely based on principle. President Banda highlighted his views during a closed-door meeting with Copperbelt Province chiefs at Luanshya's Director's Lodge.

One of the chiefs that attended the meeting yesterday disclosed to The Post that the traditional leaders demanded that some people in President Banda's entourage be barred from attending the meeting.

“As a result, we only met him and the Vice-President and I think Mr Rabson Chilufya as well. Those were the only people on his side that were present in the meeting if I am not mistaken. As chiefs we had strategised that certain characters will not be allowed to attend the meeting especially works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti,” the source said.

The source said President Banda, as usual, pleaded with the chiefs telling them that he was their son just like the late president Levy Mwanawasa.

“In summary, he was telling us something like 'you people gave Mwanawasa the leadership of this country and now he is not there and when I stood you supported me so why have you rejected me because I am Levy? Who do you want apart from me, who else do you want if you reject me?'…In my opinion, it was more or less a plea to us,” the source said.

The source said President Banda also talked about his fall-out with Mpombo.

“He said 'I will never reconcile with Mpombo because when he was about to resign he didn't contact me and he didn't give reasons',” the source said. “That's when chief Mwinuna, if I am not mistaken, chipped in and told him President Banda that 'now if you don't want to reconcile what do you want because this is when you are supposed to reconcile so that you consolidate the party.'

“Surprisingly, on science, technology and vocational training minister Gabriel Namulambe he didn't say much. He just said that 'he is my young brother except that he went to the press'.”

The source said President Banda also assured the traditional leaders that he would keep in government the people from Lambaland that were appointed by the late Mwanawasa.

“He said even now he was keeping all the people Mwanawasa left and suggested to the chiefs that they float other names to him so that he can replace those who are gone,” the source said.
But intelligence sources revealed that President Banda was determined to fire Namulambe after his meeting with the chiefs.

“The boss had already made up his mind that Namulambe has to go. That's why even when he went to meet the Lamba chiefs, his aim was to justify the action he was about to take against Namulambe. He had planned to explain to the chiefs why he was going to fire Namulambe,” the source said.

“But I think after some briefs he must have realised that things were not well in Lambaland and therefore if he proceeds to dismiss Namulambe he will just worsen the situation hence the change of heart. Otherwise, he had resolved to fire Namulambe even before he met the chiefs.

“When we say there are problems in Lambaland, it's not an exaggeration because if we take Lufwanyama constituency for instance, there are issues there. It appears Mulongoti is eyeing that constituency, which is currently under commerce deputy minister Dr Lwipa Puma. But that will be a miscalculation for the ruling party because I don't think Mulongoti will have it easy in Lufwanyama.”

The source also said President Banda's initial position to the chiefs on Mpombo was shocking following the recent undercover events that had taken place.

“As a matter of fact, I can tell you that these guys from the MMD have been pleading for reconciliation with Mpombo. They have realised that the man is neither a pushover nor a coward. He has basically fought a one-man battle and gone for the President ever since he resigned. So that has been bothering these guys quite a lot,” the source said. “That's why last week on Monday or so, Bwalya Chiti MMD chairperson for legal, Michael Mabenga MMD national chairman, Lt. Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha chief government spokesperson and Lameck Mangani home affairs minister met Mpombo at Parliament Motel with the hope of reconciling with the guy.

“The whole idea of this meeting was to try and harmonise the working relationship in the ruling party. Now is this an indication that President Banda wasn't briefed by these guys after they met Mpombo for him to tell the Lamba chiefs that he was not willing to reconcile or what did they tell the President after their meeting with Mpombo?”

But Mpombo yesterday said he was not desperate for reconciliation because his position was purely based on principle.

“My differences are based on principles of democracy such as a free and fair party convention, good governance…these are the issues and those are not negotiable,” he said.

He said people should not paint a picture of desperation on his part.
“I am actually far from desperation. I am enjoying my current life. I have no regrets about my current life,” he said.

Mpombo said people must not be misled by the article that recently appeared in the Times of Zambia, which painted a picture that he was desperate for reconciliation because he was grossly misquoted.
He praised the traditional leadership on the Copperbelt Province saying they had a good working relationship together.

“With regards to the chiefs in the area, I have great respect for the traditional leaders. We have always looked up very well with our chiefs on development and they really appreciate the role we play as subjects in the economic development of our areas,” he said.

Among the chiefs that attended President Banda's meeting were chief Kalukumya, senior chief Ndubeni, senior chief Mushili, chieftainess Lesa, chieftainess Malembeka and chief Lumpuma.

Others are chieftainess Shimukunami, chief Fungulwe, chief Machiya, chief Shibuchinga, chief Mukutuma, chief Nkana and chief Nkambo.