Sata brings business in Mansa to a standstill

Sata brings business in Mansa to a standstill
By George Chellah in Mansa
Sun 11 Sep. 2011, 14:00 CAT

PF leader Michael Sata on Friday brought business in Mansa to a standstill. Sata, who was in the district to attend the burial of David Chibombwe - the first MMD and PF Luapula Province chairman and founder member - touched down at Mansa airport around 11: 45 hours.

Upon arrival, Sata was driven in a convoy to the house of mourning in Senama Compound where a huge crowd of party supporters, sympathizers and mourners waited for him.
Scores of chanting residents lined up the streets as the PF leader made his way to the house of mourning.

"Pa Bwato! don't kubeba! Abesu! Uno mwaka tuleyabuka This year we are crossing!" some people shouted as they waved PF flags.

Sata immediately joined mourners in the body viewing procession when he arrived at the house of mourning.

During the body viewing procession, some mourners were heard saying: "Omo achili Sata, uyo very fit nomba ninshi Rupiah Banda alebepela ubufi? Uno mwaka ni do or die iyi tufikilepo nomba Sata is still very fit so why is Rupiah Banda lying (about his health)? this year it's do or die affair," some mourners remarked as Sata walked past the coffin.

After the body viewing process, Sata went into the house of mourning where he briefly met the women that had gathered.

Sata was then asked to address the mourners before accompanying them to the burial site, which is situated about 28 kilometres away from Mansa town.

"Mwalosheni po bose mukwai. Kuno nshikokele ama politics njishile mukulosha bululu wandi. Abantu abengi tabaishibe ukuti ba Chibombwe niba bululu wandi. Namitotela sana bonse mwebeshile pano. Natotela sana mukwai tapali efyo ningalanda ifingi," said Sata as the crowd cheered.

After burial, Sata drove into the central business district causing a jam as scores of residents jostled to catch a glimpse of the PF leader.

Sata visited Mansa Shoprite where he was mobbed by scores of shoppers.

"Abesu baisa! Bakateka ni don't kubeba!" shouted some people.

Sata, who wanted to buy fish at the main market, abandoned his plans and was later whisked away as the crowd around him became larger and difficult to control by his security and local party officials.

Later in an interview, PF provincial chairperson and Mansa-Central parliamentary candidate Kennedy Sakeni said his party would produce a resounding victory in the province.

"We are alright. I wish elections where tomorrow. So far our party is receiving overwhelming support from the people. They are just waiting for the voting day so that they can usher in a new government and Michael Sata as head of state," Sakeni said.

"Everywhere we go in the province, the response is overwhelming. No wonder our colleagues in the MMD are now extending their campaigns across the borders, in the DRC because no one is willing to listen to them."

And Sakeni, who is a former senior intelligence officer and former deputy home affairs minister, warned that the current misinformation and propaganda being peddled by the MMD through the public media might backfire.

"We wish to warn the reckless managers and editors at ZNBC that if they are not careful they will have themselves to blame when their irresponsible reporting backfires. To be honest with you, ZNBC's reporting is now a threat to national security and I hope those responsible are aware of this and are ready to take full responsibility of what may follow thereafter," Sakeni said.

"They are inciting PF supporters, sympathizers and members countrywide and they have to be careful. It's undeniable that Michael Sata is now a national asset and any irresponsible, alarming or misinformation passed about him directly affects or concerns a larger population of this country and thereby becoming a security issue in itself.

"Let those with ears listen to our timely advice because they are risking a lot through their irresponsible actions. It's a fact that if my president Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata or indeed myself made similar remarks about Rupiah Banda, we would have been arrested for criminal defamation and we would be languishing in prison."