Rupiah, Chiluba’s alliance is a selfish desire to cling to power - Gen Maskeke

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Rupiah, Chiluba’s alliance is a selfish desire to cling to power - Gen Maskeke

Rupiah, Chiluba’s alliance is a selfish desire to cling to power - Gen Masheke
By Patson Chilemba
Thu 11 Feb. 2010, 04:01 CAT

President Rupiah Banda and Frederick Chiluba's alliance is a selfish desire to cling to power in order to perpetuate the abuse of national resources including institutions such as the judiciary, General Malimba Masheke observed yesterday. And the UNIP National Revival Forum (UNIP-NRF) has decided to work with the UPND.

During a press briefing at the UPND secretariat yesterday, Gen Masheke urged Zambians to seriously watch President Banda and former president Frederick Chiluba’s alliance.

“May we also caution the Zambians at large to seriously watch out on the ill-conceived alliance of Rupiah Bwezani Banda and Mr Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba. This alliance is a selfish desire to cling to power in order to perpetuate the abuse of national resources including institutions such as the judiciary,” Gen Masheke, who also served as prime minister during Dr Kenneth Kaunda's regime, said. “The good news is that they will be stopped. Zambia today is in a revolution mood and will therefore stop at nothing to deliver change. We, therefore, want to appeal to our members to remain resolute, steadfast and united as has been the case so far.”

Gen Masheke said the UNIP-NRF had been engaged in consultations with PF and UPND to explore ways through which the forum would contribute to the efforts of providing a serious alternative to the inept and corrupt MMD's governance. He said after the consultations, UNIP-NRF decided to work with UPND

“Our working with the UPND is inspired by the vision espoused by its leadership. Suffice to say that we believe in the hopes and aspirations of the party. The party's pro-poor manifesto is a robust plan identical to UNIP-NRF to rebuild our shattered economy in order to provide basic needs such as food, jobs, shelter and health care to our suffering masses,” Gen Masheke said.

He expressed gratitude to the UPND leadership for making the event possible.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema welcomed the association between UPND and the forum, saying the PF-UPND Pact was the way to go.

He said opponents would try to throw spanners at the Pact, but that he was focused on the bigger picture of removing MMD from power. Hichilema said the Pact was “here to stay”.

He also said that people said he was young, but what mattered most was the rate at which one matured. Hichilema said Zambia was poor because it was poorly managed, saying if President Banda could cancel one of his many foreign trips, money could be served to help address some of the pressing problems people faced.

“The army of unemployed citizens annoys everybody, unless you are not normal,” said Hichilema.

Former secretary to the Cabinet Sketchley Sacika said previously the nation used to experience 18 per cent growth per annum, but people were now happy with the five per cent growth.

Those who attended the briefing included UPND and UNIP-NRF officials and cadres from both parties.

Labels: CHILUBA, MALIMBA MASHEKE, RUPIAH BANDA