Maravi

Cops attempt to block HH from visiting flood victims

Cops attempt to block HH from visiting flood victims
By Patson Chilemba and Agness Changala
Thu 25 Mar. 2010, 08:10 CAT

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema yesterday charged that President Rupiah Banda is an embarrassment to the nation, lacks common sense and natural logic. And police yesterday attempted to prevent Hichilema from visiting the displaced flood victims at Lusaka's Independence Stadium, saying they were not aware of his tour to the camp.

Reacting to President Banda's statement that those attacking him over his frequent trips abroad were doing so out of ignorance, Hichilema asked President Banda not to annoy Zambians even more than they are against him.

He bemoaned President Banda's substandard thinking. Hichilema said President Banda was an irresponsible leader who spent weeks in other countries when people who resided a few kilometres from his residence were dying on account of floods.

He said although events like the inauguration ceremony of the President in Namibia were important, President Banda's primary responsibility was to show passion for Zambians in Msisi compound, especially in their time of need.

“You don't need to be in China for 10 days. If you understand modern technology, you don't have to go to every province of China. You go to sample places; two days is enough. The rest you can watch electronically so why do you have to go to every province in China while people are dying of hunger because of the floods?” Hichilema asked.

“He must not even talk about that President Banda's argument because he is actually an embarrassment to all of us. A Malawian President where he went, Bingu Wa Mutharika, I am sure you are aware that he has cut his foreign trips in order to attend to problems of Malawi, to also save money. President Banda should understand that basic thing.”

Hichilema said President Banda should not even insist on the frequent travels because it was the tax-payers who had demanded for him to stop travelling aimlessly. He said it was not up to President Banda to dictate how money should be used. Hichilema said President Banda should have a passion for Zambians before having the passion for China and Namibia, saying charity begins at home.

“If he was using his money from his farm in Chipata, we would not complain,” he said.

On President Banda's arguments that he visited other nations to maintain good naighbourliness, Hichilema said what Zambians wanted were politics of food and removing poverty.

“We want politics of making sure that we can put drainages in Lusaka before you go to Malawi, to China, to United Arab Emirates, to Namibia. Jesus was a great teacher. He said to somebody 'please don't go and remove a speck in someone's eye before you remove the log in your own eye'. That is common sense,” Hichilema said.

“The President lacks any of those. He lacks natural logic. He lacks common sense. He is just excited about travelling. He is a man who likes to be happy all the time when his citizens are suffering in Kuku compound. What sort of a man are you? I think he must not provoke Zambians more. Zambians are already angry with him.”

On the arguments from those in government that the nation had benefited about US $1billion from China as a result of President Banda's trip to that country, Hichilema wondered whether it was necessary to spend 10 days to receive the money from China.

“Do you need 10 days to negotiate for a billion? I mean this is what we are talking about, substandard thinking. I think Rupiah Banda should not make Zambians more angry than what they are already,” said Hichilema.

“Let him come to Soweto and make that message that those attacking him were ignorant known to people, they will lynch him. Let him go into Soweto alone, without paramilitary people and say what he is just saying now, I challenge him. He will be lynched there. Azayamba kutaba mwamene muja. People are angry. But please tell this old man to stop provoking people. He moves in the air, he does not understand what is obtaining in Kuku compound.”

And police yesterday blocked Hichilema from entering the camp where flood victims were recently relocated at Independence Stadium.

And Zambia Red Cross Society of (ZRCS) secretary general Charles Mushitu apologised to Hichilema for the misunderstanding.

This happened when Hichilema, who was accompanied by his vice president, members of Parliament and women's National Choir for the party visited the camp to donate 100 bags of mealie-meal to the victims.

The police said whoever wanted to donate to the camp was supposed to get permission from relevant authorities.

After several arguments, Hichilema and the entourage entered the camp but it was not clear whether police allowed them or were over-powered by the people in his entourage.

But even then, no representative from the institutions represented at the stadium was seen directing them where to go other than the chairperson of the camp.

And Hichilema asked the police to stop militarising the country by making it difficult for people who wanted to visit and donate to the victims.

He asked police if community development minister Michael Kaingu and others would be treated in the same way if they visited the stadium.

“If Kaingu came here, would you treat him this way?” He asked. “People are displaced and when we want to help, you say we have to go back to get permission. What is your problem?”

Hichilema said UPND was compelled to donate food to the victims' because they were in dire need and there was no need to politicise the issue.

Mushitu said ZRCS and other stakeholders were grateful for the gesture as it showed that politicians were able to put aside their politics and be seen to care for people. He said the camp now has 913 victims, with 222 tents occupied.

And UPND vice president Francis Simenda accepted Mushitu's apology over the incident. He, however, said it was disappointing for the police to behave in the manner they did.

“We were very disappointed that we were going to be stopped from seeing people just because we are coming from the opposition. Every sympathiser must be free to visit,” he said.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said it was better for them to donate directly to victims, saying if they donated to the Vice-President's office, the food would be diverted to parliamentary by-elections.

One of the victims, Geoffrey Chanda, told the entourage that a lot of food was being donated to them but at night after lights were off, some trucks were seen transporting it out of the camp.

When asked who did it, Chanda said it was difficult to tell because it was done after the lights were turned off.

Labels: CHARLES KAKOMA, FLOODS, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL KAINGU

posted by MrK @ 2:15 PM