Maravi

Chiluba never instructed me to fire Mulongoti - Banda

Chiluba never instructed me to fire Mulongoti - Banda
By Patson Chilemba
Thu 24 Feb. 2011, 04:01 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda says Frederick Chiluba never instructed him to fire Mike Mulongoti as works and supply minister.

Responding to questions from journalists at Lusaka City Airport yesterday over Mulongoti’s recent statement that Chiluba should respond to assertions that he advised President Banda to fire him, President Banda said he never took instructions from anybody.

“Mr Mulongoti, I think he is joining the statement which Mr president Chiluba made there during the recent MMD card renewal exercise that ‘please give Mr Banda those people who will be loyal to him’.

But this is a generic statement,” President Banda said. “When you are talking about politics you always refer to loyalty towards one another. I can assure the country that I don’t take instructions from anybody.”

Asked to comment on Chiluba’s statement that he would revive all the international and local dribbling skills to ensure victory for President Banda, against assertions that the MMD had always rigged the general elections since 1996, President Banda said it was not true that the MMD rigged elections.

“Even himself I don’t think he rigged an election. So they are deliberately trying to attach importance to the word ‘dribbling’. Dribbling is just like football…in any case if he really is, he’s got those skills which they are attributing to him of rigging elections, he was supporting Mr Sata in the last elections 2006 elections when he lost,” President Banda said. “Mr Sata lost and Mr Chiluba was supporting him. So why does he become so significant when he says it? He is a politician. He knows that people like to hear him the way he spoke before.”

President Banda said they were all witnesses to the joy that Chiluba brought when he addressed MMD members.

Labels: FREDERICK CHILUBA, MIKE MULONGOTI, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:23 PM