Banda is using parastatals to promote MMD agendas – HH

Banda is using parastatals to promote MMD agendas – HH
By George Chellah
Tue 16 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has challenged Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General Chriticles Mwansa to justify his presence on President Rupiah Banda's political trip because it is not yet time for the umutomboko ceremony.

In an interview, Hichilema said it was incorrect to use public resources under the guise of a presidential visit and carry civil servants or public officers like Mwansa. He said in the past, many people had complained that the MMD government was abusing state institutions.

"That is unfortunate for the Commissioner General of ZRA to be part of a political trip where the President was parading PF rebel members of parliament to disparage their party," Hichilema said.

"And the Commissioner General is using ZRA resources or taxpayers money. It doesn't matter if the government expenditure was used on him or ZRA, it's all public money. What was he doing there, that was not Umutoboko time?"

Hichilema accused President Banda of using parastatal companies to promote MMD agendas. On President Banda's attacks on the UPND-PF Pact, Hichilema said it was unfortunate that the President was ridiculing the Pact.

"This Pact is a serious arrangement which everybody sensible in Zambia has taken note of. Even people in the MMD are aware that this Pact is a significant one. It is actually meant to unite the people of Zambia," Hichilema said.

"Therefore, for a person who is going round purporting that they are going to Luapula for developmental matters and then using taxpayers money including part of the money paid by Hakainde or our businesses, it is unacceptable.

"And we pay for him to go to Luapula only to start insulting us and calling us a Pact of snakes. I think that is unpresidential. I think that is unfair. It is also provocative and when our members react he will cry foul."

Hichilema said President Banda was abusing his colleagues in the opposition by saying that they are a Pact of snakes.

"What does a Pact of political snakes mean? Is a snake a good creature, who wants to have a snake in their bedroom and then sleep in that bedroom?" Hichilema asked.

"So literally he is insulting us and provoking us, having used our money to travel to Luapula to abuse political competitors like ourselves. And when our cadres respond we will not restrain them because he is inviting that as a head of state, he is lowering the quality of the presidency."

Hichilema also revealed that the ruling MMD is abusing the Ministry of Community Development.

"Community development minister Michael Kaingu is going round issuing cash to women's clubs from money that is allocated through his ministry to community projects. But they are dishing this money to MMD women's clubs courtesy of Rupiah Banda.

This is a return of a presidential slush fund in a different name. We are also aware that they are abusing funds, which are meant to be utilised through the Programme Against Malnutrition," Hichilema said. "I am alerting the people of Zambia that we have gone back to the days of this corruption in the MMD, abuse of public resources. I think the people of Zambia must open their eyes to what is going on. We should not stand by and watch our treasury being looted."