Rupiah has launched red card campaign in Mazabuka – Nkombo

Rupiah has launched red card campaign in Mazabuka – Nkombo
By Mwala Kalaluka
Mon 29 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda unknowingly launched the ‘red card campaign’ on behalf of Fr Frank Bwalya to the people of Mazabuka’s Mugoto area last Friday, area UPND parliamentarian Gary Nkombo has stated.

Nkombo stated in a press release yesterday that President Banda forgot his main purpose of re-commissioning the Albidon Nickel Project and launched the Red Card Campaign to people of Mugoto who had never heard of it.

“Bickering has become the order of the day,” Nkombo stated. “The President in his quest to remain in power forgot the purpose for which he went there and opened his speech by seeking re-election in 2011, and then unknowingly launched the ‘red card campaign’.”

Nkombo stated that Mugoto people were asking him what the President’s business was talking about Father Bwalya; a man they had never heard of.

“I say well done Sir for now they know what the campaign is all about as I was duty bound to explain a little further to them, being their faithful servant,” Nkombo stated. “Bravo Your Excellency, Father Bwalya’s job was done so articulately.”

Nkombo pointed out that the people’s expectations during the re-commissioning ceremony were very clear.

“We thought the President would insist to Jinchuan, the new majority shareholders of the investment, to immediately commence the fulfillment of the social obligations that went with the displacements of the traditional owners of the land at Mugoto,” Nkombo stated further. “Alas, our head of State was seen on National TV at Munali relishing admonishing Mr. Sata and calling Mr. Hichilema and the UPND that he leads as a tribal party.”

Nkombo charged that this was an example of poor leadership on President Banda’s part.

Nkombo stated that US President Barack Obama was an inspiration to the UPND-PF Pact as he had just realised his political dream barely a year into office.

“President Obama’s latest historic triumph in pushing the health bill through the senate must inspire leaders around the world, especially Zambia to concentrate on issue-based politics rather than rhetoric,” he stated. “Under the landmark health bill, up to US$950 billion will be spent immediately on capturing an estimated 32 million previously uninsured Americans over a period of 10 years.”

Nkombo indicated that these are the politics the Pact wants to play ahead of the 2011 elections, not trivial and personal issues.

“We shall beseech people to give President Vasco Da Banda Red Card constitutionally in the next polls and bring sense to politics,” Nkombo stated.

Nkombo condemned the vehement manner the government shot down a private member’s motion to streamline health delivery in the nation recently.

“These are the issues we ought to be discussing ahead of the 2011 elections, not whether our Pact partner Mr Michael Sata was arrested 50 years ago or not; it’s a waste of time and a campaign in futility,” Nkombo stated.