Maravi

Rupiah’s son advises his father to rubbish William’s statement

Rupiah’s son advises his father to rubbish William’s statement
By Sheikh Chifuwe
Wed 17 Mar. 2010, 04:40 CAT

MMD founder member Andrew Banda has asked his father President Rupiah Banda to condemn Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda.

Andrew, who is President Banda's second son, said in an interview from Rome, Italy yesterday that the statement by William in which he blackmailed ministers and deputy ministers through intimidation should be challenged by those in the leadership of the party.

“I, Andrew Banda, got so confused when I read the statement by William Banda because it gives me an impression that we don't know where we are headed to right now.

That is a very archaic and unproductive statement; politics of 20 years ago can never be politics of today,” Andrew said. “I expect the President to rubbish such a statement, I expect Katele Kalumba as national secretary of the party to come up in the defence of our party.

The party should dissociate itself from such a statement because it does not help anyone. The whole world has read this statement.”

He said Cabinet ministers and their deputies deserved respect especially from party cadres instead of being intimidated and rebuked in public.

Andrew said the MMD and the nation were faced with a lot of challenges, which needed attention from party functionaries.

“The MMD has so many problems and challenges which need to be reconciled with the aspirations of the people. One would expect William Banda to report to the party president how he was organising wards and the party at the grassroots,” he said.

“His behaviour should be confined to his family where some family members are also expected to revolt instead of a party in government.”

Asked why he could not address the issue with his father, Andrew said he was even more annoyed that he would never be given an opportunity to discuss some of the national issues with him as it might be considered a taboo.

“I wish I had a chance but he is not allowed to listen to me. If I had a way I would talk to my father and raise these issues,” he complained. “There are problems everywhere that need to be addressed instead of character assassination.”

Andrew warned that character assassination and 'cadreism' for favours would never develop the country unless the leadership re-focused their attention towards addressing the suffering of the people.

He reminded William that the 1991 militia approach to politics would never enable the MMD to win elections in 2011 but the party's ability to espouse its manifesto and delivering on such promises.

Andrew said he was aware that his statement might invite reprisals, but believed that 'ugly' politics being introduced by William should be challenged.

“If I choose to be quiet especially over a party my father is leading, then I am being irresponsible. If it will get to that, then let it be, unless I am not supposed to speak on issues affecting my country,” he said. “At some point there must be people who shall stand and say 'this is nonsense'.”

Andrew expressed concern that William's statement was not helping President Banda but rather “dragging him in deep mud.”

Andrew said William and other leaders should concern themselves with the forthcoming parliamentary by-elections in Milanzi and Mufumbwe.

“If we assume for once that it by-elections is lost, what message is it going to send to the people? It will send a vote of no confidence in the leadership both at national and party levels.

This might not be nice to listen to but it is a fact,” Andrew said. “Perhaps because he was using the Queen's language he didn't understand what he meant, then an apology would be appropriate. Perhaps we can excuse the man, the event was too big for him. I hope there were no people clapping.”

He said what William said should have been discussed in a private briefing with the President.

“These are the same characters who were agitating foregoing the convention, which is not healthy in a democratic dispensation,” Andrew said.

He prodded “the big man” to disassociate himself if he did not agree with William. Andrew also prayed that MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya would state the position of the party on the matter.

He said he would not bother to advise President Banda if he were not his father or if he were not a founder member of the ruling party.

Andrew said those who would oppose or challenge his advice to President Banda were just wasting their time.

“If the 82 kgs weight I carry today was not part of his blood I would not waste my time advising him, I am a natural advisor to Mr Rupiah Banda,” he said. “I want him to leave a legacy that will benefit me, a legacy that will benefit my children.”

He urged Zambians especially those in the MMD to fight for the correct things to be done.
Andrew said he was ready to face the consequences over his position on this matter.

“I take full responsibility of what I have said and also understand the consequences. If I was not a Zambian, I was going to say it is none of my business,” he said.

Andrew also urged people like William to develop their public relations as politics were about persuasion rather than militarilism and intimidation.

William, during the party renewal exercise at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Saturday, told President Banda that some Cabinet ministers and national executive committee (NEC) members that sit next to him, eat and drink with him are slapping him in the face by clandestinely undermining him and his administration.

William assured President Banda that the party leadership in Lusaka Province had studied all the Cabinet ministers and NEC members and that there was no longer any nonsense of de-campaigning the MMD.

Labels: ANDREW BANDA, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA, WILLIAM BANDA

posted by MrK @ 5:16 AM