Rupiah is too desperate to retain power – Sata

Rupiah is too desperate to retain power – Sata
By George Chellah
Sun 21 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has warned that Zambians must beware of state orchestrated disappearances because President Rupiah Banda's administration is too desperate to retain power.

In an interview yesterday, Sata advised critics of the ruling party to be extremely cautious.

“We all know the purpose of Dr Kenneth Kaunda nationalising state newspapers. They knew that censorship was not workable. Even them MMD they are intimidating private radio stations, newspapers and certain corporate entities. The aim is to intimidate and instill fear in people,” Sata said.

“They are trying to intimidate people and I want to advise Zambians and yourselves journalists to be very careful because when this intimidation doesn't work, people will start disappearing. That's what happens when people are too desperate.

“What Rupiah Banda and Zambians should remember is that in the Communist world, there were so many people who went in exile because of oppression from these regimes. Rupiah knows all these methods, he knows all these things.”

Sata said the MMD was under extreme pressure.

“They are so desperate, that's why they are now telling lies that we are planning to print t-shirts with portraits of former president Frederick Chiluba. Why should we waste time and money in printing t-shirts with portraits of a discredited person like Chiluba?” Sata asked.

He said the MMD was using all sorts of methods to raise funds for the 2011 presidential and general election campaigns.

“In this country where there is plunder there is no reasoning. Whilst Rupiah Banda wants to audit PF councils, Rupiah Banda is rushing to China to beg money,” Sata said.

“We will know everything he is going to do in China because now we have cultivated very rich friendship with China.”

He bemoaned the high levels of corruption in the current administration.
He said there was corruption even in the manner the state was handling assets and properties that were seized by the now defunct Task Force on Corruption.

“There was drama some two years ago. We have seen without shame they have started handing back the property and assets which were seized selectively,” Sata said.

“Those who have money are getting their property back. Probably Chiluba and his wife Regina are also collecting because they have money.”

And Sata urged the government to justify the extension of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) sittings.

“We were told at the end of the NCC they are going to prepare a document. But today Friday they are going to rise until Parliament goes on recess in April this year. They have used the NCC as a conduit for plunder,” said Sata.

“They have adjourned and now want to come back and continue eating the money when Parliament adjourns. This is illegal because I don't think Cabinet has extended their mandate. So where are they going to get the money to use?

“They are spending money on the NCC when students at the University of Zambia (UNZA) are being packed in dilapidated and unhealthy rooms. Those rooms were designed to keep two students but currently they are keeping six, which is not healthy.
The toilets are blocked and there is no sanitation to talk about, but they are willing to spend huge sums of money on the NCC. What sort of people are these?”