Maravi

Rupiah asks for campaign funds from Zambian diplomats

Rupiah asks for campaign funds from Zambian diplomats
By Chibaula Silwamba in Chisamba
Fri 15 Apr. 2011, 04:02 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday openly asked Zambia’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to various countries to donate money to his and the MMD's campaigns in this year’s elections and commended them for funding the just-ended MMD convention.

And President Rupiah Banda disclosed that his first-born son, Andrew, was recalled from diplomatic service in the 1990s because he did not heed his advice not to get involved in gossip, warning envoys to be wary of engaging in false talks.

Addressing Zambia's Ambassadors and High Commissioners at the on-going conference at Protea Hotel, President Banda said the MMD convention was wonderful because of the financial support from Zambia's envoys and urged them to contribute more money towards his campaigns.

“I just want to take this opportunity to thank many of you who have sent whatever little assistance you have to the party. The Ambassador to the EU Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika was telling me that the convention was wonderful; it was wonderful because of those little monies that you sent to us,” President Banda said. “We spent all this money in order to ensure that our party has an open convention. I am saying little only as a description but we are so appreciative as the party that you sent us this support.”

President Banda said the MMD was able to hold the convention with the support of envoys and local party supporters.

“We still need your support as we go forward because of the elections which are there this year and we are going to need money for fuel to move, we are going to need money to feed our cadres, we are going to need money for materials for the campaign; we are going to need a lot of help, so whatever organisation you can make in order to support us we will really appreciate. Thank you very much for the support you have given us so far,” said President Banda.

President Banda also disclosed that he had continued to receive reports about squabbles in embassies.
“These squabbles are mainly emanating from a lack of team spirit and petty jealousies among embassy staff,” President Banda said.

And President Banda also said as a former diplomat, he had advised his son Andrew about how to behave while in foreign service, but he did not follow his advice, hence his recalling barely six months abroad.

“I remember my son, Andrew, he is now in Rome. I remember the first time he went to the diplomatic service to Canada, I was here and at that time I was not even in government. I sat him down to try and share with him my experience,” President Banda said.

“I am talking to you through him, I told him that 'where you are going, there is going to be a lot of gossip within the embassy. There is going to be groups, people say, we belong to this group either for tribal reasons or whatever reasons. Please my son don't take part in that because where you are going you are part of the whole family. You must be careful. You will be receiving phone calls or you will be making phone calls'.” President Banda said Andrew did not heed his advice.

“My son said, 'I have heard daddy'. But I know him well, he hears and then he forgets very quickly. It was immediately after the change of government from UNIP to MMD; it was very exciting time for anybody who had participated in the revolution and he was one of those people who helped to remove the UNIP government to which his father belonged, to which many of you belonged, maybe you left a little earlier than me because you were there also,” President Banda said.

“So he started listening to stories from these people and he started getting involved and of course the news started coming back. Before I could even digest the stories I was hearing, he was recalled. He was there hardly six months.”

And speaking on behalf of other envoys, Zambia's Ambassador to the EU and Belgium, Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, in a vote of thanks, said Ambassadors and High Commissioners facilitate and bring back into Zambia enormous benefits in cash and kind.

Labels: AMBASSADOR, CAMPAIGN FINANCE, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:26 PM