Maravi

Tribalism is most abominable - Rupiah

Tribalism is most abominable - Rupiah
By Sandra Lombe and Bivan Saluseki in Livingstone
Sat 06 Nov. 2010, 04:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Banda says tribalism is the most abominable thing that any Zambian can commit. And President Banda has said the Zimba-Livingstone Road was a miserable and terrible sore in the daily lives of Zambians.

Speaking upon arrival at Livingstone International Airport yesterday shortly before he commissioned the Zimba-Livingstone Road, President Banda eulogised Livingstone member of parliament Sakwiba Sikota. President Banda told the people that Sikota was a good member of parliament who did not like tribalism.

President Banda said right through his campaign in 2008, Sikota closed his office and was with him throughout.

“And I was very happy that he asked if he could join us today to open this very important road for the people of Livingstone,” he said.

President Banda said Livingstone was very special in the province.

“This is the only place where I defeated the UPND in 2008 and is the only place where our member of parliament is not from UPND. So I think that between the two of us is a winning formula,” said President Banda. “And you have a member of parliament who is above the most abominable thing that a Zambian can commit, that of tribalism. He is above that. And you are above that because you elected him in spite of your various tribes.”

He said the country had many problems and challenges.

“Today is a special day when that road, which made us miserable…that road was a terrible sore in our daily lives but we promised that we will fix it and we have fixed it.

We have problems, many challenges as a country. As people we are ready to overcome them. We have overcome the road,” President Banda said.

He thanked the traditional leaders whom he said had worked with the government.
President Banda said there was need for Zambians to work together in order to overcome the problems the nation was facing.

He said youths in schools and colleges were being told that the MMD does not want them.

He said the government wanted the youths to help them and work together.
President Banda said he selects his ministers very carefully according to the needs of the areas.

And MMD Southern Province chairman Solomon Muzyamba said the opening of the Zimba-Livingstone Road was a milestone development in the country.

Muzyamba congratulated President Banda for his achievements in the past two years.

He said President Banda’s performance had been remarkable.

Muzyamba said the projects were there for all to see, including the blind, because they were tangible.

He said the country had a bumper harvest and saw growth in the construction sector.

Muzyamba thanked President Banda for appointing Elijah Muchima as Southern Province minister.

“It is no secret that Elijah Muchima is a cadre. He is a cadre, friendly cadre,” he said.

Muzyamba said apart from that, Muchima was a tribal cousin and a ‘giant-killer’ who managed to remove UPND vice-president Richard Kapita from Mwinilunga.
Muzyamba said the province wanted to tap into Muchima’s experience.

And Muchima said he was fitting in very well.

He said he was not threatened by tribal politics.

“These tribal groupings have no room in Zambia,” he said.

Muchima said a tribe that could enhance peace was needed.

Sikota said tribal groupings were not good for the country.

“Those politicians who come to appeal to you on the basis of tribe, those should be given a red card. For us, we will receive your blue card,” said Sikota.

Labels: MMD, RUPIAH BANDA, SOLOMON MUZYAMBA, TRIBALISM

posted by MrK @ 1:13 AM