GBM resigns after suspension

GBM resigns after suspension
By George Chellah
Fri 10 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT

Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM yesterday resigned as Kasama Central PF member of parliament a few hours after receiving a letter of suspension from his party leader Michael Sata for assaulting his wife.

In a letter to PF leader Michael Sata dated September 9, 2010, which was also copied to Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa, GBM stated that he had decided to resign in order to concentrate on his business.

“Dear Sir, I have decided to tender in my resignation as Patriotic Front member of parliament for Kasama Central with immediate effect to enable me concentrate on my business, which has been affected due to my involvement in active politics,” GBM stated.

“It is a pity that I have made this decision without consulting my people of Kasama Central but I am sure they will understand my situation. And I will be traveling there Kasama to go and explain the circumstances and at the same time I wish to thank them for showing confidence in me for electing me as their area member of parliament last October 15, 2009, under Patriotic Front ticket. Indeed, on my own behalf I wish to thank you for serving in your party as member of parliament and chairperson of elections MCC.”

Earlier in the day, Sata temporarily relieved GBM of his duties as party chairman for elections following his domestic problems.

In a letter to GBM dated September 9, 2010, Sata stated that he had taken the decision in the interest of the party and the public at large.

“I would like to inform you that following your domestic problems which have attracted wide spread media publicity since Tuesday September 7, 2010, I have with immediate effect decided to temporarily relieve you of your chairmanship of the elections committee of the Central Committee until further notice. I have decided to take this decision in the interest of the party and the public at large,” read Sata’s letter.

GBM on Sunday beat up his wife Chama following a marital dispute. Chama sustained a cut on her forehead and complained of general body pains.

And during a live programme on QFM radio yesterday, Sata said he did not condone violence.

“I condemned Dr Solomon Musonda, MMD member of parliament for Chitambo. I have not said anything yet on GBM not because I don’t want to say anything. It’s because I don’t want to interfere with the process of law, which the police is doing at the moment,” Sata said.

“I don’t like violence whether violence is at Lameck Chibombamilimo’s funeral, whether violence is with Dr Musonda or violence with Honourable GBM…because the blood you are spilling is very precious. There is no factory where they make blood.

“People of Zambia must learn to be tolerant. The people of Zambia will forgive me…you have seen I have kept quiet on GBM’s case. I don’t want to interfere in this matter because the police are already handling the matter but I don’t like violence.”

On the mining sector, Sata said the government could not abandon the development agreements.

“All the townships on the Copperbelt were built through the mining industry. The roads you are seeing today and part of the hospitals were built through the mining industry,” Sata said.

“And those things we took them into consideration by putting them in the development agreements. This government cannot abandon development agreements and when Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has no money, he wakes up in the morning and says he wants to raise the money.”

Sata challenged mines minister Maxwell Mwale to advertise the development agreement between the Chinese and the Zambian government in Chambishi. He criticised the Chinese investment zones.

“In South Africa you had Bantustans, the Bantustans failed. Today you have Chinese economic zones. You have so many investors who are coming here and why are you piling so much favours on one nation, the Chinese?” Sata asked. “These are the pitfalls which you young people are going to be in big big trouble to pull out because when you have a zone for the Chinamen, they will treat you like dogs.

“You can’t go there zones freely, it’s their own, you have annexed the land to them. This is the only country which is going back to Bantustans. You don’t give an area to foreigners and you say ‘it’s an economic zone’. So those are the difficulties, which we have.”

Sata praised the wisdom of King Lewanika of Barotseland who safeguarded the interests of his people.

“People of Barotseland signed the Barotse agreement. The reason why they brought that Barotse agreement is to protect the people of Barotseland. King Lewanika was the unifier,” Sata said.

“He Lewanika gave concessions outside Barotseland, not within Barotseland and he allowed Barotseland to be for the Lozis. Now that’s a policy Zambians must adopt. We can learn something from that.”

Sata said Zambians were fed up with President Rupiah Banda’s administration.

“In 1991, there was no opposition in Zambia. Everything was one-party. It was the Party and its Government (PIG). But the people of Zambia made up their mind even those who were suppose to rig on behalf of Kenneth Kaunda rigged against him. And that’s what’s going to happen next year,” said Sata.