Maravi

President Banda appologises to HH

President Banda appologises to HH
By Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 06 July 2010, 17:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda on Tuesday apologized to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and the Indian community over mwenye statement.

In a statement issued this afternoon by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere, President Banda regretted the statement he made in Ndola in which he made reference to Hichilema’s wife, Mutinta, and consequently brought her name into politics.

“The President said it was not his intention to bring the name of Mrs Hichilema into politics by the comments he made at Ndola International Airport when he addressed his supporters. Further, President Banda said the context in which he inadvertently used the term mwenye did not deliver the intended message,” Jere stated.

“What the President meant was that for cultural or religious reasons, some Asians do not expose their wives in public and that is understood. However, the President has realized that he should not have made that statement, which has been misconstrued.

“Nonetheless, President is sorry and has regretted his statement and has unreservedly apologized to Mr Hichilema and his family.”

Jere stated that in the same vein, President Banda had also apologized to the Asian community for his statement.

“President Banda believes in equality of all races and therefore regrets that his statement has given the impression that he was a racist or against the Indian Community in Zambia. The President has, once again, unreservedly apologized to Mr Hichilema and the Asian community for the statement,” stated Jere.

On arrival at Ndola International Airport on Friday, President Banda said Hichilema needed to reveal a lot about himself before he could ask Zambians to vote for him as President.

“Who has even seen a picture of Hakainde’s wife in the newspaper or even a picture of him playing with his children? Why is he hiding his wife? Nimwenye? Is she an Indian?” asked President Banda.

Bu Hichilema expressed disappointment at President Banda’s racial statement.

“I respect all of them races but here is a President who does not respect certain races. Beyond his promotion of a tribal agenda, he is now extending this abuse into racism. An Indian is a human being,” said Hichilema.

He said his wife was never involved in politics and wondered why President Banda wanted to drag her into petty political talk.

“The President chooses to abuse my wife,” said Hichilema. “My wife and I discussed this matter this Sunday morning and we agreed that she will not respond to the President’s invitation to go and swim in the sewer pond.”

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, INSULTS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:27 PM