Maravi

Govt orders Mangani to vacate house

Govt orders Mangani to vacate house
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 20 July 2011, 14:00 CAT

THE Rupiah Banda administration has ordered former deputy minister of works and supply Lameck Mangani to vacate a government house following his resignation, highly-placed sources have confirmed.

Mangani, who is currently in his Chipata Central Constituency in Eastern Province, could not give the details about the government’s order for him to vacate the house he occupied as deputy minister, the portfolio he quit about 10 days ago. Mangani resigned from his ministerial post and withdrew his membership from the MMD on July 8 and subsequently joined the Patriotic Front (PF) led by Michael Sata.

The sources said government officials went to Mangani’s residence in Lusaka to inform him about the decision that he vacates the house but only found his dependants.

The sources said Mangani was expected to travel from Chipata to Lusaka yesterday to start packing his household goods and vacate the government house.

“The decision to order honourable Lameck Mangani to vacate the house is meant to humiliate him after his resignation, which has sent shivers in State House and President Banda’s political inner circle particularly after the mammoth rallies that Mr Mangani and Mr Sata held in Chipata, the presumed stronghold of the MMD and homeland of President Banda,” the sources said.

The sources said the resignation of Mangani, a one-time chairperson for the MMD in Eastern Province and close ally of President Banda, ahead of the tripartite elections had made the head of State panic, fearing that the former minister would weaken his political fortunes.

Following Sata’s rallies in Chipata Central and Luangeni constituencies last weekend, President Banda is expected to travel to the region today for a four-day visit to counter the impact of the main opposition party’s campaign.

President Banda has remained tight-lipped on the date for this year’s presidential, parliamentary and local government elections despite intensifying public demand for him to set and announce the election day.

Labels: LAMECK MANGANI, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 10:33 PM