Maravi

Liato's K2.1bn shows rottenness of Rupiah's government - Milupi

Liato's K2.1bn shows rottenness of Rupiah's government - Milupi
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 29 Nov. 2011, 13:30 CAT

THE discovery of the K2.1 billion hidden in a trench at Austin Liato's Mwembeshi farm is symptomatic of the rottenness of the Rupiah Banda-led regime, says Charles Milupi. And MMD Chisamba member of parliament Moses Muteteka says Liato should not only be suspended but expelled from the party.

Commenting on the unearthing of K2.1 billion at former labour minister Liato's farm in Mwembeshi by state security agencies last Thursday, Milupi, the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) leader, said the discovery made so far was just a tip of the iceberg and that Zambians must brace themselves for more appalling revelations.

"It shows the amount of corruption that was taking place during the Rupiah Banda-led government. It shows that there was a complete abandonment of the fight against corruption under former president Banda's regime," Milupi said.

"When I look at what happened during elections, the amount of material that was disposed of, some of those people being questioned now were not even campaigning they were just going into meetings, and when they arrived there, it was a question of people just lining up, then they would give them money."

Milupi said some officials in the MMD had amassed so much wealth that distributing monies had become their mode of campaigning.

"Now when I actually see that even after the elections they had amassed so much resources that so much has remained unused, like the case of Liato ," he said.

"I believe that there is still thousands of bicycles, motorcycles, billions of kwacha out there, so much that what we saw the other day was a tip of the ice berg."

Milupi said there is so much that happened under Banda's leadership that the security agencies must unearth.

"What is being revealed now is symptomatic of the rottenness of the Rupiah Banda administration brought onto this country. Already we are dealing with over 70 election petitions in the High Court, that tells you a lot," he said.

Milupi said it was unacceptable for some former ministers who served under the MMD to insinuate that the decision by the government to investigate their dealings whilst they were in government was an act of political persecution.

"People are now running to politics to hid and runaway from the wrongs done against society. You see that money that was used was Zambian money. We want the President to ensure he uses his executive powers that Zambians have given him and vast resources to ensure we get to the bottom of this," he said.

And Milupi said the revelations that were being made on various ministers regarding corruption was enough condition for Banda's immunity to be lifted by Parliament.

And Muteteka, who is also MMD youth chairman, said Liato's conduct was very annoying, careless and embarrassing to the party that was currently battling with the perception of corruption held by most Zambians.

"I feel that the party should not just end at suspending him, he should be expelled. Liato's attitude is very annoying and very careless. The youths are very upset that while they were looking for money to start up various businesses, he was burying money in the soil," said Muteteka.

"The suspension is not even worth it, he should be expelled. He needs more punishment than a suspension."

A combined team of state security agencies on Thursday raided fMMD chairman for labour Liato's home and unearthed a sum of K2.1 billion in fifty kwacha notes hidden in a mechanised trench.

Police are currently looking for Liato who is supposed to appear before the investigating team to disclose the source of the funds.

Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, CHARLES MILUPI, CORRUPTION, MOSES MUTETEKA

posted by MrK @ 7:05 PM