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Rupiah will be out of power in 2011 – Mpombo

Rupiah will be out of power in 2011 – Mpombo
By Patson Chilemba
Fri 09 Apr. 2010, 04:02 CAT

GEORGE Mpombo yesterday charged that President Rupiah Banda's claim that he is president of the MMD shows how determined and stubborn he is to defy the party constitution.

And Mpombo said no matter what intentions President Banda has in retiring defence chiefs and appointing new ones, the bottom line is that he and MMD will be out of government in 2011.

Reacting to President Banda's claim that he was party president and not acting president, Mpombo - who is Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament - said President Banda's claim was unconstitutional.

“It is only the national congress national convention that can confer presidential status on you. That shows how determined and stubborn he is to defy the party constitution. He is just acting. Whoever gave him that advice is wrong. The constitution is very clear; very, very clear. I don't know why he is being stubborn over straightforward issues,” Mpombo said.

“You see it's difficult to tell because these chaps are keeping all the information to their chest. No one has come out to clearly state that this is the situation, 'we are going to the convention', and things like that. So I find it also difficult, I don't know anything because it doesn't look a normal situation. How does he call himself president when he is acting?”

Mpombo said going by President Banda's utterances, it was clear that the MMD would not have a free and fair convention because President Banda had already declared himself as the party's presidential candidate for 2011.

“He has got lined-up people in various constituencies and also he has an inbuilt majority in NEC national executive committee through appointment of people. So I don't think it's going to be something that one would call free and fair elections,” Mpombo said.

“Even when he was in Mazabuka he declared himself candidate. How does he declare himself a candidate when other people still want to contest? So these are the issues. If you read between the two lines, the man is not prepared to follow the constitution.”

Addressing a press briefing at State House on Wednesday, President Banda said he was MMD president and not acting president.

On President Banda's retirement and replaced Zambia Army commander General Isaac Chisuzi, Zambia Air Force (ZAF) commander Lieutenant General Samuel Mapala and Zambia National Service (ZNS) commandant Major General Raphael Chisheta, Mpombo said no matter what the intentions were, such schemes in this democratic dispensation would not work.

“Because people are determined, and I think whatever happens, Mr Rupiah Banda is out and MMD. So you know the power of the people is more powerful than any individual's machinations and schemes,” Mpombo said.

“He is a very good schemer Mr Banda; very sly schemer, and he must understand politics have entirely changed and the power of the people is supreme.”

Mpombo said it defied logic for President Banda to claim that he would continue to appoint more people to positions after 2011.

He said he did not understand the basis where President Banda thought he would win the elections.

Mpombo said Eastern Province was the only remaining stronghold for President Banda, and that people were not happy about his tribal appointment. He dispelled President Banda's claims that each province in the country had representation in government.

Mpombo said Zambians were not stupid and President Banda should not underestimate their intelligence.

“Let him tell the nation what the establishment of permanent secretaries in this country is, and then tell the nation how many PSs are from Eastern Province. And also let him tell the nation these other government organisations, I mean parastatal organisations in the nation and how many people are from his area,” said Mpombo.

“Clearly he has shown tribal inclination in those appointments. The people are already seeing. People are furious and there is no way he can keep on saying those things, which are not true.”

President Banda replaced Gen Chisuzi with Brigadier General Wisdom Lopa, while Lieutenant Gen Mapala was replaced by Brigadier General Andrew Sakala who was recently retired by ZAF.

At ZNS, President Banda retired Commandant Major General Chisheta and replaced him with Brig Gen Yeta, who has been elevated to the rank of Major General.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, GEORGE MPOMBO, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:13 PM