Maravi

Rupiah can kill for power - Sata

Rupiah can kill for power - Sata
By George Chellah in Mangango
Sat 10 Sep. 2011, 14:00 CAT

MICHAEL Sata says President Rupiah Banda is so desperate for power that he can even kill. And Sata said President Banda has never been to Barotseland to apologise for the Mongu killings.

Addressing a rally in Mangango on Thursday, Sata, who mocked the MMD and the public media over recent claims that he had collapsed in Nalolo, expressed sadness with the high levels of desperation being exhibited by President Banda in an effort to remain in power.

"Rupiah Banda is very desperate; he can even kill," said Sata as the crowd broke into a loud laughter. "I don't know how many lives I have because today they will say ‘I am dead but I will be here addressing a meeting'."

Sata said since Barotseland enabled him to become head of state, President Banda has never shown appreciation to the people of Barotseland.

"Rupiah Banda has never come here to say ‘thank you'. what Rupiah Banda sent here are guns to kill your children; brothers and sisters. Even when Simasiku Namakando said he has not seen development in the province, Rupiah Banda said ‘I did not beg for your vote'," Sata said.

"When so many people were killed in Barotseland; others injured, others we have never found them and others are in prison, Rupiah Banda did not come to Barotseland to weep with you. When our children perished, I came to Mongu and mourned with you.

"Today Thursday, Rupiah Banda is in Lukulu. He has gone to support his brother in marriage who is standing in Lukulu East. The problem and the fault is ours, not Rupiah Banda's because when president Mwanawasa died we did not sit down and bring a proper president to replace Mwanawasa."

Sata said President Banda was the first Zambian head of state to kill people over the Barotseland Agreement.

"When our children were killed, a sensible person should have come here; kneel down and say ‘I'm very sorry' because Sir Roy Welensky did not kill anybody over Barotseland," Sata said. "Kenneth Kaunda did not kill anybody in Barotseland, they talked about Barotseland. Frederick Chiluba did not kill anybody and Levy Mwanawasa did not kill anybody on Barotseland Agreement.

"When they killed your people, I did not see a single member of parliament from MMD complain about the blood of those innocent people. I have never heard anyone of your members of parliament who has been to Mumbwa to see those people. If they can do that to those people what about you?"

Sata said the people of Barotseland have been complaining because of underdevelopment.

"The choice is yours, the poverty is in Mangango and unemployment is in Mangango. I have seen your schools in Mangango and Luampa. Since the missionaries left we are orphans," he said.

Sata said the PF government would decentralise authority.

"If you allow yourselves to give us the authority, government will start at the Induna village level because a person in Kaoma doesn't know how you suffer in the village. If the person in Kaoma who is nearer to Mangango does not know your problems, what about Banda who is in Lusaka?" Sata asked.

"Kaoma can grow cotton, tea, coffee and cashew nuts. And we will utilise what God has given us. We shall increase the fertiliser allocation. This is September, president Banda has not bought maize. But we are going to buy maize from 1st June. We will encourage men and women to start fish farming. We will help you to conserve fish, we will help you with marketing of fish."

Sata said the PF government would also look into the plight of civil servants.

"You cannot attract good teachers and good policemen unless they get hardship allowance for working in the village where they don't have everything," he said.

And addressing a rally earlier in Luampa, Sata urged the people to unite and fight for the development of their area. He told people to ignore the propaganda against him from the MMD.

"We are living the way we are living because there is no leadership; because there is no government," he said.

Sata advised the people to liberate themselves this year by voting for PF.

"I was in Kaoma, I also came here when there was Stephen Manjata and Golden Mandandi and I have come today and I am going but the problems are yours," Sata said. "This place, when there were Europeans there was a big hospital at Luampa and when there were Europeans there was a big school here."

Labels: BAROTSE FREEDOM MOVEMENT, MICHAEL SATA, RUPIAH BANDA, WESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 2:29 PM