Maravi

Nalubamba vows not to embrace corrupt regime

Nalubamba vows not to embrace corrupt regime
By George Zulu in Monze
Wed 21 Apr. 2010, 03:40 CAT

SENIOR chief Bright Nalubamba of Namwala district has said no amount of threats and intimidation will ever stop him from talking openly and frankly on matters that concern the poor in times of great desperation.

In an interview in Monze, chief Nalubamba said he would continue to speak for the poor in an honest and responsible manner to those in authority.

“Otherwise what am I a leader for if I cannot speak for the poor in times of great need and desperation?” chief Nalubamba asked. “Can I ask a simple question to my beloved President, whom do you consider a friend or an enemy? Is it an appeaser or a critic?”

He said the main purpose of criticising the government’s performance was to help them respond positively to the people’s concerns.

“If refusing to baptise corruption and bad governance is a crime and not to aid good governance and development, then I am ready to be persecuted, prosecuted and imprisoned for saying the truth and refusing to be part of the corrupt regime. Why should those in authority intimidate me for criticising them for mismanagement of the rule of law and governance of this country. Things they are doing are not helping to serve the interest of the poor but those few corrupt individuals,” Nalubamba observed.

He said he would not buy cheap friendship through appeasement of those in power because it was shortsighted and a sure way of assisting people like President Rupiah Banda to dig their own graves.

“Why? I do not buy for cheap, deadly and costly friendship through appeasement to those in power because I know what they do not know. Appeasement is shortsighted and a sure way of assisting the so-called friends to dig their own graves. Is that what they call good friendship?

The appeasement you call loyalty to the authority is what I strongly condemn as disloyalty to authority, and I shall not appease any government for money in khaki envelops or even gold,” Nalubamba said.

He said he had chosen to be poor but free to speak on behalf of the people and critically look at the governance and development of the country he loves so much.

“Mr President, the criticism we make as honest citizens of this country is designed not to insult you and your government but to urge you and government to critically look and address the concern of the citizenry,” he said.

“For instance, if we say don’t embrace the corrupt criminals we do it out of love and not hate for you because we know what damage corrupt criminals have done to this country and how much the Zambian people have suffered and lost because of rampant corruption in the system.”

Nalubamba questioned President Banda’s decision to turn him into a campaign issue during his recent visit to Milanzi in Eastern Province.

He said it was cheap and old political fashion to drag him into politics.
“I am not scared. As I said, let him President Banda go ahead and degazette me. Does he want me to bury my head in the sand? No, I will speak at all times to ensure that my people and other poor voices are heard. How can the whole President make chief Nalubamba of Namwala district an election campaign issue in Milanzi in the Eastern Province?” asked Nalubamba.

Recently, President Banda said he had been receiving calls from some people to degazette chief Nalubamba following his critical stance on his government but he would not do that.

Labels: BRIGHT NALUBAMBA, POVERTY

posted by MrK @ 3:31 PM