Maravi

Sata promises defence, security personnel a housing ownership scheme

Sata promises defence, security personnel a housing ownership scheme
By George Chellah in Solwezi
Thu 18 Aug. 2011, 13:59 CAT

MICHAEL Sata has promised a housing ownership scheme for all defence and security personnel. And Sata said the people of North-Western Province needed to benefit from the region’s vast mineral wealth.

Addressing a mammoth public rally on Tuesday, Sata said the defence and security personnel have always been left out in home ownership programmes by all successive governments and promised that PF in office would introduce a housing ownership scheme for the defence and security personnel.

“When Frederick Chiluba gave houses, he did not give the police, the army, Zambia Air Force (ZAF), Zambia National Service (ZNS), prisons and the intelligence,” Sata said. “The police defence and security personnel are just as human as we are, when they retire they need a home. PF in government we want to look after poor people because the police are poor people.”

Sata, who is accompanied by his campaign manager Willie Nsanda, presidential election agent Samuel Mukupa among other party officials, said there were high levels of unemployment in the North-Western Province.

“A thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus Christ said ‘don’t cry for me, cry for yourselves and your children’,” said Sata as the jubilant crowd ululated. “Today is Tuesday, if there was development which Mr Rupiah Banda was talking about and Mr Enoch Kavindele, these people would not be here.

“It is up to you, that’s what Jesus said. This town doesn’t look like a mining town. They promised you a hospital; I haven’t seen a hospital here. They promised you roads, I haven’t seen a road.”

He urged people to be annoyed with President Banda’s government for the underdevelopment and vote the MMD out of office.

“North-Western Province is very rich. It has all the minerals,” Sata said. “It has iron, steel and it has diamonds but unfortunately we the people seem to be working for our pockets.”

He said President Banda has appointed a salaries commission where permanent secretaries would be given 50 per cent salary increment.

“Mr Rupiah Banda cannot even afford to look after the police officers.

Even if he gives the police 50 per cent salary increment they will only be getting K800,000,” he said.
Sata also took time to introduce all the three candidates for Solwezi Central, Solwezi East and Solwezi West.

The PF candidates are Newton Malwa Solwezi Central, Peter Ilunga Solwezi East and Rodiness Shatewa Ndumba Solwezi West.

“There are three aspiring candidates in Solwezi. Where I come from, we say ukuteka imbwa mano. You people if you are elected, you are going to receive lots of money but don’t forget where you come from,” Sata said.

“I left K600 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF), that money is not for you and your relatives. Go in the police camps, form women’s clubs because those police women are suffering more than anything else. Those people want a voice.

“Even the police want a voice. So madam and two gentlemen when these people make you ‘honourable’ (MPs) you should know that these the people are the ‘honourables’.”

He said Zambians were not benefiting from the country’s mineral resources.

“Zambia has a population of 13 million. We have so much wealth in this country. I came here because people were saying ‘Sata is very sick, he can’t stand’,” Sata said. “They came to tell you that Sata will take away ARVs but they don’t tell you who brought ARVs. We need a constitution, which will protect the police, which will protect everybody.”

Meanwhile, Solwezi came to a stand still as Sata’s convoy passed through the mining town from the airport.

Sata touched down at Solwezi Airport at approximately 15: 40 hours and immediately proceeded to the show grounds where he addressed a mammoth rally.

Motorists honked and a number of locals lined up the streets to catch a glimpse of the PF leader as he made his way to the rally.

Labels: ARMED FORCES, MICHAEL SATA, MINING, NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 3:23 PM