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Rupiah is a liability to SADC - Mpombo

Rupiah is a liability to SADC - Mpombo
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 24 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is a liability to SADC, Kafulafuta MMD legislator George Mpo-mbo charged yesterday.

Commenting on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) revelation that the regional bloc’s meeting of the Troika on Politics, Defence and Security failed to take place in Botswana on Saturday because President Banda, who chairs the tri-nation committee was absent, Mpombo said President Banda had diluted Zambia’s standing in the region.

Mpombo noted that Zambia had played a key role in the sub-region since the time of the frontline states but the presidency of Banda had eroded its strong and viable position.

“He hasn’t handled the matters with the seriousness they deserve. How could he have failed to plan for such an important meeting; it’s easy, he could have put it on the calendar,” Mpombo said.

“You cannot have so many trips, what time do you have to look at the country. When we were ministers when late president Mwanawasa was there, we were being written letters on a daily basis by the president to explain certain things. But I don’t know what is happening now, Zambia is going banana under Rupiah Banda.”

He said President Banda was busy gallivanting at the expense of important assignments at home and in the SADC region.

“Due to his unnecessary travels, what are suffering are these regional meetings like the one that was supposed to take place in Botswana. Now, Zambia is not even in the position to influence the situation in Zimbabwe because President Rupiah Banda is already compromised,” said Mpombo, adding that the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security was a very important organ but President Banda was not taking it seriously.

After the Troika summit failed to take place, SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salamao said it was agreed that South African President Jacob Zuma, the mediator in the Zimbabwe political crisis, travels to Harare to hold talks with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and deputy prime minister Arthur Mutambara – the principals in the coalition government.

“After that he President Zuma would be expected to make a recommendation to the chairperson Rupiah Banda on the next date for another Troika summit," said Dr Salamao in Gaborone on Saturday.

President Banda had delegated foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande to represent him at the meeting.

Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, RUPIAH BANDA, SADC

posted by MrK @ 6:53 PM