(NYASA TIMES) Bingu in Zambia, confer with ‘brother’ Rupiah

Bingu in Zambia, confer with ‘brother’ Rupiah
By Nyasa Times
Published: June 20, 2011

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika visited Zambia on Monday and held talks with President Rupiah Banda. The closed door talks were held at protea hotel in Chipata after the Malawian leader arrived at Chipata Airport at 10:45 hours.

The talks comes at a time when Zambia government dispatched journalists from the public media to Malawi to discredit former diplomat Milton Phiri, who wrote to Chief Justice Ernest Sakala over the alleged false declaration of President Banda when he presented his nomination papers as a presidential candidate in 2008.

Bingu and Rupiah Banda: Confer . Photo by Post of Zambia

Journalists from Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia had been assigned to pursue stories in Malawi which would discredit Phiri’s claims about President Rupiah Banda’s parentage.

The journalists have been interviewing Chief Fukamapiri of Nkhatabay, who has been denying Rupiah’s roots in the district as alleged.

The parentage story is said to have “caused panic” to Rupiah ahead of presidential elections later this year.

Zambia is currently in a week mourning period for the second republican president Dr Fredrick Chiluba who died few minutes after midnight on Saturday.

On arrival at the airport, Mutharika was treated to a Gule Wamukulu dance which is performed in times of mourning, according to ZNBC.

Chiluba will be buried on June 27 in Lusaka.

The 68-year-old leader, who ruled the southern African country from 1991 to 2001, died at his home Saturday after suffering a seizure.

He had been battling acute heart and kidney problems.

Meanwhile, US envoy to Zambia Mark Storella says Chiluba played an integral role in the development of democracy in Zambia.

In a message of sympathy to the people of Zambia on the passing on of Chiluba, Storella said Chiluba will be remembered as a tireless champion of Zambia’s workers and as a pioneer in the liberalization of Zambia’s economy.

“His Excellency Dr. Chiluba played an integral role in the development of Zambian democracy as the first democratically elected President of the country, “he said, according to Zambia Watchdog.

Chiluba is survived by his widow Regina, ex-wife Vera Tembo and nine children.—(Reporting by Charles Kufa, Nyasa Times)