Rupiah has no sense of shame - Kabimba

Rupiah has no sense of shame - Kabimba
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 02 Jan. 2011, 04:02 CAT

WYNTER Kabimba says President Rupiah Banda has no sense of shame by accepting Xavier Chungu, who is facing corruption charges to be his elections ‘campaign manager’ this year.

Zambia Security Intelligence Services (ZSIS) former director-general Xavier Chungu yesterday announced that he was campaigning for President Banda’s re-election and would ensure the head of state gets the highest victory in Luapula Province.

Reacting to Chungu’s announcement, Kabimba said the former spy chief was trying to buy his freedom just like his former boss Frederick Chiluba and others accused of corruption had done.

He said all individuals that committed offences against Zambians by way of plundering public resources, impoverishing and making the people continue living in abject poverty had been very happy with, and befriended, President Banda’s government.

Kabimba, who is PF secretary general, warned President Banda that Chungu, just like MMD Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda, was duping him that he would deliver victory in Luapula Province when in fact he had no capacity to do so.

Kabimba said Chungu would be a liability to President Banda because he would have to explain to Zambians what had happened to his criminal charges which he was facing.

“I don’t see how a man, who is still facing charges can be a campaign manager for a President and a clean President accepts such a man. Where is the sense of public shame for our leaders in this country? Has Mr Rupiah Banda run short of people to campaign for him or does he think that Mr Chungu is the best man to deliver him back into State House?” Kabimba said.

He said Chungu was no different from corruption-convict Anuj Rathi, who, during a recent MMD fundraising party, offered K260 million to dine with President Banda.

“My challenge to President Banda is that if he indeed stands for the rule of law; if he has the conscience that those that have stolen from Zambians must be punished, we want to see Xavier Chungu campaigning for him as well as facing his criminal charges in court,” said Kabimba. “If that does not happen, then he will have sent a very clear signal to Zambians and the international community that his government is there to shield criminals in this country.”

In a press release yesterday, Chungu, who was jailed on corruption charges and is still facing other graft cases though the Taskforce on Corruption which was supposed to prosecute him was fused into the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), stated that he had been traveling to various provinces, particularly his homeland of Luapula Province.

“Let it be known that I am busy and in my own style campaigning for the President of the Republic of Zambia, His Exellency Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda to score the highest presidential victory ever in Luapula Province,” Chungu stated. “I am personally proud to announce that I have been out to some provinces, particularly my province, Luapula where I have had wonderful discussions with a cross section of the residents who are so happy with what the President and his government are doing and achieving. Never before in the history of Zambia have we had a working cabinet like the one with President Banda.”

He stated that he was determined to enlighten people of Luapula Province that Zambia was far better with the leadership of President Banda than ever before and the future of the province and the entire country looked far much brighter, stronger and much more peaceful under the current leadership.
Chungu, whose young brother Emmanuel is Luapula Province MMD chairperson, stated that he joined the rest of Zambians in putting on record his highest respects and appreciation for President Banda’s successes.

He stated that President Banda had been outstanding and beyond record since Zambia’s independence in 1964, adding that the incumbent was a friend of his people and a father who had allowed for a level playing field for all to enjoy their freedoms.

He stated that President Banda had brought back the peace to Zambia which could otherwise slipped had it been in other developing countries.

“I know that most people would like to know how I feel about what I have gone through in the last 10 years. Most people have been waiting to know where I have been and how I have survived,” stated Chungu. “My best word to you all is that everything now is like water under the bridge. It is long gone and never to be repeated like all bad history.”

At the peak of his corruption trial, Chungu in 2004 fled the country and went into a self-imposed exile but returned after the death of president Levy Mwanawasa. Upon arrival on December 3, 2008, Chungu was arrested at Lusaka International Airport after he surrendered himself to the police and was subsequently charged with contempt of court for jumping bail in 2004.

At the time he jumped bail, Chungu was facing charges of theft by public servant and theft of motor vehicles.