Maravi

Kabimba pleads for Sata to be given more time

Kabimba pleads for Sata to be given more time
By Kabanda Chulu
Mon 07 Nov. 2011, 14:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Sata should be given time to settle down because like many Zambians he is in a state of shock that PF has emerged victorious, says Wynter Kabimba. And Copperbelt district PF officials have expressed displeasure that President Michael Sata and his government has failed to give them jobs and is now embracing people who did not sacrifice and campaigned for MMD.

During a meeting on Saturday in Kitwe attended by a paltry crowd of PF officials who showed disappointment and failed to chant slogans with the vigour that used to characterize previous meetings prior to the September general elections, Kabimba, who is PF general secretary, asked for calm and patience.

"There is no party functionary that President Sata doesn't know and we know that some of you weren't adopted but you still went ahead and financed those who were adopted, so don't run away, this is your party unless you want to run away from honey… all of us 'tuli pa bench', time will come, like they do in football even with five minutes to go changes can be made and you go in and can score and win for the team," Kabimba said.

"So let us give President Sata time to settle. We have just been in power for six weeks, most of us including President Sata didn't believe PF will win. So like everyone else, we are all in a state of shock just like MMD never expected to lose. This victory is a revolution and it came like a coup d'état but only that it was through the ballot. So we are all in a state of shock and this is the mindset we are changing and we have to bear with one another."

He said President Sata was a human being who was bound to make mistakes.

"There are many mistakes he has made and reversed through appointments and with Xavier Chungu, he listened and reversed the appointment. With Mwamba, (Emmanuel) he was still a civil servant despite being attached to late President Chiluba's office. So in a way we should defend President Sata's mistakes but now you people are in the forefront of gossiping about those mistakes," Kabimba said.

"In a polite way, we shall express our displeasure to President Sata over certain things but not everyone can be absorbed in government jobs. And if anything let us push government to work hard and create opportunities for everybody to excel rather than wait for government jobs. So don't think of being a PS or DC because you will wait at State House until 2016, since the queue is very long."

He explained that some appointments were meant to foster national unity.

"People like David Matongo and others were appointed to foster unity and victory for PF should not divide us but strengthen us, so don't feel frustrated and if the President is difficult to be seen, officials can see me and this is why I stayed out of cabinet because I want to be the link between government and the party," Kabimba said.

He warned members of parliament, including ministers, that have developed a tendency of not working with party structures of severe penalties.

"I will issue a circular compelling all MPs to work with elected officials; there is nothing like I don't like this person; in PF we are here not to like each other but to work towards a common goal of developing the country," Kabimba said.

He said there should be no running of politics in markets and bus stations and those found wanting of extorting money would face the law.

"It is now PF policy and ZANAMA should now close operations since no association will exist inside markets. In fact, Elvis Nkandu should go like RB has left, let Elvis go back to DR Congo where he comes from and bring Simba beer; we shall buy because that era is gone and we shall not allow it again," Kabimba said.

He said the party should be the driving force of government.

"Your role as officials is extremely important and we need support of all people, including those defectors. And we should not be scared of them because there are no vacancies to fill. And if someone like Joe Malanji joins today, I will not be scared since I will remain GS until 2016. So these people defecting will just be ordinary members," said Kabimba.

"The mistake we have made is to receive them in Lusaka. But if defectors come from Copperbelt let them be received here. So forgive us, it will not happen again. And personally I have no interest in those defecting."

Earlier, Kitwe District chairman Allan Mwewa requested that guidelines should be given on how to welcome defectors because most of them do not mean well.

"We are concerned about the lack of information flow between secretariat and the districts. After elections we have gone into total darkness and members are also worried that they are not benefiting from government jobs and appointments," said Mwewa.

Labels: MICHAEL SATA, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA, XAVIER CHUNGU, ZANAMA

posted by MrK @ 4:38 PM