Bishop Duffy right about W/Province’s calls for regime change - Milupi

Bishop Duffy right about W/Province’s calls for regime change - Milupi
By Kombe Chimpinde
Sun 19 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT

LUENA ADD member of parliament Charles Milupi has said Bishop Paul Duffy is telling the truth about the people in Western Province demand’s for regime change. And Milupi who is also Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD) president has said the people of Western Province are ready to defend Bishop Duffy should the MMD try to harm him.

Milupi told Post online in interview that the continued threats by the MMD cadres and those in government were unnecessary because Bishop's Duffy's statement has giving a true reflection of what was on the ground in Mongu.

Chief government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha was quoted as having said that government was going to deport Bishop Duffy because he had diverted from the mission for which he came for, that of theology.

“Those are very unnecessary we are in a democracy. Bishop Duffy has lived in Western Province for a long time he is in touch with the grassroots. Going back many years, the Roman Catholic Church has been involved with fighting poverty at the grassroots so what father Duffy is saying is merely reflecting what the people are saying,” Milupi said.

“I have just come from there and the people are determined to change the regime and there is no question about that. This is just like they showed them (MMD) in Luena, everybody went there including the President himself, the Vice-President they still voted against him.”

He said even as ADD, the message the party was getting is that the people of Western Province were determined to effect change.

“Don't forget that it has been in the last 19 years that the Province has moved from wherever it was to become the poorest in every aspect and don't forget that this is the same government after voting for them, giving them the highest votes, the President said I did not ask for your vote so how can anyone doubt that,” Milupi charged.

He expressed shock that Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha who claimed to be man of God could incite what he termed as violence.

“His sentiments are a reflection that he was not a true man of God as he is inciting violence. The people of Western Province will defend Bishop Duffy because he is speaking the truth,” he said.

And commenting on Presidents Banda’s speech when opening Parliament on Friday where he stated that government remained committed to the fight against corruption, Milupi dismissed the statement as there were no indications that signified government's seriousness against in fighting graft.

“Well I think actions speak louder than words, the fight against corruption is not something we can just casually mention. The actions that government takes must indicate to all that they are indeed resolved to fighting corruption. Not talking about fighting corruption on one hand and on the other you are cohabiting with people that have committed corrupt practices,” he said, in reference to Chiluba.

“But we can't see the words of the MMD government marching with action. If that is the case how come the Auditor General’s report every year is getting thicker and thicker, how come we have these funny cases of failing to appeal when the Zambians want a particular case to be appealed.”