Lubinda takes Rupiah to task over the arms deal

Lubinda takes Rupiah to task over the arms deal
By Patson Chilemba
Sun 01 May 2011, 04:01 CAT

RUPIAH Banda has failed to redeem his tainted image over the US$100 million arms deal scandal, says Given Lubinda.

Commenting on President Banda’s sarcastic reference to George Mpombo as a mad man, following the former defence minister’s revelation that he resigned from Cabinet because of pressure from the President to push through an arms deal from which his son James would get 10 per cent commission, Lubinda said President Banda should not hide his tracks behind vulgar language and character assassination.

He said after failing the test of honesty, integrity and truthfulness over the Dora Siliya RP Capital saga, Frederick Chiluba’s dubious acquittal and the Barotse killings, President Banda had now again failed to cleanse himself over the arms deal.

“George Mpombo’s allegations on the arms deal presented a golden opportunity for President Banda to redeem himself and repair his tainted reputation insofar as honesty, integrity and truthfulness are concerned,” Lubinda said.

He said President Banda should not squander the opportunity presented to him by Mpombo because he would only do so at his own peril.

“Rather than using anger and abusive language against Mpombo, Rupiah Banda should come out openly and explain what he knows about, and his involvement in the arms deal Mpombo is talking about,” Lubinda said. “Talking about Mpombo’s presumed hunger won’t help Rupiah Banda. Challenging Mpombo to produce his resignation letter will not assist Rupiah Banda to prove his innocence on Mpombo’s allegation. What will assist him is to state whether or not he sent Mpombo to South Africa in the company of army specialists and Brig Gen Chapewa.”

Lubinda said President Banda should tell the nation why he sent Mpombo to South Africa and explain on what mission he sent the former defence minister for.

“If it was not for the arms deal, what was he there for? President Banda must state whether or not the arms deal involving Miles Chambers and New Business Development was ever discussed between him and Mpombo, and between him and other people,” Lubinda said.

“He must tell us. He must come out categorically on this. Mr Rupiah Banda ought to realise that those who have information on his involvement in many national scandals shall not be prisoners of his vulgar language and his threats for long.”

Lubinda said it was sad that President Banda, who claimed to be ‘Mr Clean’, was actually the father architect of grand vulgar language.

“Everyone in Zambia is aware of the fact that Mr Rupiah Banda does not end a statement about his political opponents without calling them mad. We remember how he called PF MPs mwaviona vofunta, he said.

Lubinda said President Banda must know that those who held leadership positions should be exemplary in their conduct.

“He is naturally attracting insults to himself because if everybody who is opposed to him is mad, then naturally people will begin to ask his level of sanity,” said Lubinda.

Speaking to journalists at City Airport last Friday, President Banda sarcastically reacted to Mpombo’s revelations on the arms deal, calling him a mad man.

He said Mpombo had alleged his involvement in the arms deal because he was bitter and hungry.

But responding to President Banda’s assertion, Mpombo said the person who had gone “bonkers” was President Banda who he accused of lying through his teeth.

Mpombo insisted that President Banda sent him with other army specialists and Brig Gen Chapewa to South Africa to discuss the arms deal and challenged him to deny it.