Katele denies alleging that a Dutch institute is funding PF

Katele denies alleging that a Dutch institute is funding PF
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sat 08 May 2010, 04:10 CAT

MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba yesterday denied ever alleging that the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) has special funding for campaigns for the opposition Patriotic Front (PF).

And PF president Michael Sata has warned that PF lawyers would challenge any individual that made allegations that NIMD was bankrolling the party.

Meanwhile, Sata has written to The Netherlands Ambassador to Zambia Harry Molenaar, over President Rupiah Banda’s allegations that NIMD was funding the PF to bring about regime change in Zambia.

When contacted to comment on NIMD’s denial of secretly bankrolling the PF, following his and President Banda’s claims that they had information that the institute was funding the PF, Kalumba said he never alleged that NIMD was funding the PF.

“My statement? I made a statement? I had said that? In which media?” asked Kalumba but this reporter told him Reuters published a story headlined: ‘Zambia accuses Netherlands of funding opposition’.

However, Kalumba maintained his denial.

“No sir, I think we should take things very carefully. I had said, ‘the allegations against the NIMD, which were made by a civil society organisation is a matter of concern to us but as MMD we will like The Netherlands to stick to their position’.”

Kalumba said he had even defined the two programmes the NIMD was carrying out under the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID).

“In fact, I have just had a response from the NIMD on your report and they have said, ‘we have not said anything to the effect that this issue is between NIMD and the MMD. Sorry, this is about ZCID and the NIMD. Don’t make it big, let us be factual. I was responding to the story by Mr Gregory Chifire leader of Committee of Citizens who brought that to my attention and it was publicised and I said ‘if that is true then it will be of concern’.”

Asked about his position now that NIMD had denied funding the PF, Kalumba said: “As far as the NIMD is concerned, we have agreed that this matter should be dealt with outside the media and that is our position.”

A Reuters story headlined: “Zambia accuses Netherlands of funding opposition” published on Wednesday stated, “Zambia's ruling party has accused the Netherlands of financing the main opposition party, a charge that threatens to raise tensions with donors who froze funding for AIDS and other health programmes last year amid concerns about corruption.

“Katele Kalumba, national secretary of the ruling MMD party, said the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) was bankrolling the Patriotic Front (PF), whose leader, Michael Sata, poses a major threat to President Rupiah Banda in an election due next year.”

Kalumba was quoted by Reuters as saying: “There is information that they have special funding dedicated to the agenda of our colleagues, the PF.”

And Sata told Voice of America (VOA) Day Break Africa programme that it was most unfortunate, uncalled for and unwarranted for President Banda to accuse another sovereign state of a lie. He said it was not right, in case there was upheaval in Zambia, for the head of state to accuse The Netherlands that it was funding the people.

“Our lawyers are studying; you see the President like any President of a sovereign state is immuned. We can’t take him to court because the statement came from the President when he was going to Tanzania…we are studying any statement which has come from an individual to go and challenge it in court.” Sata said. “There is no iota of truth for Rupiah Banda to come out in the open and say he has been informed. How can a President survive on rumours? When they are pointing a finger at another sovereign state, they must have evidence.”

Meanwhile, Sata informed Ambassador Molenaar that the PF was surprised to hear about the allegations.

“As Patriotic Front, we were indeed surprised to hear such allegations which are not only untrue but also intended to damage the good working relationship which the PF has enjoyed and maintained with the NIMD through the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue over the years,” stated Sata in his letter to Ambassador Molenaar dated May 6, 2010.

Sata stated that PF greatly appreciated the efforts which The Netherlands was making through the NIMD to promote democracy in Zambia.

“On our part, we would like to assure you that we shall continue to co-operate with your government through NIMD and ZCID to ensure that the institutions of democracy are strengthened in the interest of our people,” stated Sata.