Maravi

Magande denies ever endorsing Rupiah as MMD sole candidate

Magande denies ever endorsing Rupiah as MMD sole candidate
By Patson Chilemba
Thu 27 May 2010, 04:01 CAT

NG’ANDU Magande yesterday argued that he did not take part in the “undemocratic” endorsement of President Rupiah Banda as the MMD’s sole candidate.

Reacting to MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba’s statement that Magande was part of the national executive committee (NEC)’s decision to endorse President Banda as the party’s sole candidate for 2011, Magande said he was not part of that decision because he did not attend the meeting.

He said in fact there was no agenda for endorsing President Banda as the sole candidate during that same meeting.

“If someone had given me that this will be the agenda for the meeting, I would have given my opinion. There was no agenda for the meeting to have made my opinion. When I did after the decision had already been passed in my absence I said it was undemocratic,” Magande said. “I have not seen any minutes of President Banda’s endorsement as candidate. I am in my constituency right now and the cadres right now are asking. They don’t know when this decision to endorse President Banda was made.”

On Kalumba’s statement that people like Magande were merely fantasising to think that they would become president, Magande said he had achieved on many things, which Kalumba failed to do when he served as finance minister.

Magande said he and Kalumba once served as finance ministers but the latter was only remembered for going to court.

“I have been out of office for one and half years, not even a single officer has been to the court. But his whole management is in court with him. This also would be a problem for those who look for fantasising people to give them positions,” said Magande.

“They have to maintain their positions, and when it suits them they try to please their masters. I am sure he knows why he is trying to please his master…Mr Kalumba is being remembered because he is appearing in court.”

Labels: MAGANDE, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:29 PM