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Mangani’s directive has not intimidated me – HH

Mangani’s directive has not intimidated me – HH
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 08 Apr. 2010, 04:01 CAT

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has said he is not intimidated by home affairs minister Lameck Mangani’s directive to the police to investigate him over his statement that President Rupiah Banda wanted to eliminate his opponents.

During the MISA Zambia sponsored programme Face The Media on Radio Phoenix yesterday, Hichilema said fear does not run in his blood.

“I am not afraid of Mangani’s threats. Fear is not what runs in my blood otherwise I would not have been in politics. So I am never worried of an investigation because those investigations will yield nothing,” he said.

Hichilema vowed to continue hitting back at President Banda as long as he continued attacking him at public gatherings.

“You don’t expect Hakainde to be quiet when Rupiah stands in Katete and says ‘when Hakainde comes here you should chase him’. Even a child if you keep whipping her with a stick, she will hit you back,” he said.

Hichilema said he was merely responding to constant abuse of power by President Banda.

“So to criminalise me not to have an opportunity to serve Zambians… I will not tolerate that. Those in government must not use the police and other institutions to discriminate other citizens,” Hichilema said.

He said people that occupied public offices needed to be responsible as opposed to a situation where the President set a stage that could attract harsh reactions.

“Leadership is not all about having a press conference where you demonise people because you have state machinery at your disposal, the paramilitary surrounding you,” he said.

And Hichilema said the statement by MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba that he was using his financial power to buy off Patriotic Front (PF) voters was mere politicking.

He said Kalumba made the remarks because he had to be seen to be doing something by the MMD because they would accuse him of siding with the pact.

“I have known Katele for a long time now and I know when he is politicking and when he is serious so that statement is mere politics. The only thing that the pact is trying to do is to woo people who are not members of the pact to join the pact,” Hichilema said.

He called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to operate as an independent institution.

He said in order to stop the violence that characterised some by-elections, there was need for the MMD to stop using public resources.

“First of all ECZ must start operating as an independent institution because if you have a corrupt case involving MMD you can report it 20 times and your cry will not be heard,” said Hichilema.

Labels: ECZ, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, LAMECK MANGANI

posted by MrK @ 2:55 PM