Maravi

It’s unfortunate that Rupiah is hoping for a by-election - Shakas

It’s unfortunate that Rupiah is hoping for a by-election - Shakas
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 14 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT

KATUBA MMD member of parliament, Jonas Shakafuswa, yesterday observed that it is unfortunate that President Rupiah Banda could be hoping for by-elections instead of protecting the meager resources to develop the country.

Commenting on President Banda’s remarks in Kasama over the weekend that he was hoping that there would be a by-election in Kasama, Shakafuswa wondered what President Banda’s priorities were.

“It is very unfortunate because he is the one who should know what problems exist in raising money. People are not being paid on time. The contractors are not being paid on time. So he should be concerned about saving money on behalf of the Zambians. And it shouldn’t just be political rhetoric,” he said.

Sahakafuswa said he did not support the wastage of national resources on unnecessary by-elections.

“That is why you see I had to spend time with him Kasama Patriotic Front member of parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba convincing him that the people of Kasama did not want to be the ones who are causing unnecessary expenditure of the meager government resources,” Shakafuswa said.

“So to me what GBM has done has to be commended. He wanted to do away with his party but we went there, told him that ‘no, it isn’t the party which is in contention here, it is the nation spending money, and the people of Kasama after the by-election of Saviour Chishimba you want to give them another by-election’.”

Shakafuswa said President Banda called himself “father of the nation”; therefore he should not restrict himself to the MMD but the nation as well.

He said if he were father of the nation he would have embraced people like George Mpombo and Ng’andu Magande.

“Late Mpulungu MMD member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo, the member who he never even reconciled with, and I asked them to say when they reconciled with Chibombamilimo. They never reconciled,” said Shakafuswa. “Rupiah Banda forgets that when he wants power he forgets that he is the father of the nation. When he wants power for himself he forgets that he is the father of the nation.”

Speaking at Kasama airport when he arrived for Ukusefya pa ngwena traditional ceremony last Saturday, President Banda said he thought GBM would resign so that MMD and PF could meet in the by-election.

“I was hoping that we have another by-election but it looks like my colleague and cousin has looked and said ‘aah if I give up this, my party might lose altogether’. So he has a re-thought and decided that he is coming to ask you whether he should resign or not. It’s up to you to do whatever you want to do. But we were ready for that by-election,” said President Banda.

Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, JONAS SHAKAFUSWA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:21 AM