Maravi

My political differences with Sata were good for democracy - Maureen

My political differences with Sata were good for democracy - Maureen
By Roy Habaalu
Thu 15 Dec. 2011, 13:58 CAT

MAUREEN Mwanawasa says her political differences with President Michael Sata were good for democracy. In an interview, Maureen who openly ordered government officials to get President Sata out of the funeral procession of her late husband Levy Mwanawasa in Chipata said she had reconciled with the Head of State.

She said her differences with President Sata shouldn't take away the personal relationship they enjoyed.

"President Sata and myself have campaigned on the opposite and remained friends and as human beings you cannot expect that you may hurt each other at one time but he is still a President, I respect. And for me I am one person who believes that it's important to give respect to a person who has been given the responsibility to run the country," she said.

"It's not about an individual's feelings but the fact that people decided.

Therefore we should give him and the office that he occupies the respect that he deserves."

When reminded that she once said President Sata had only reconciled with her late husband, Maureen responded: "I have never said that (laughs). In life aba Bemba balanda ati ifimuti tafibula kukwesana, people differ but at the end of the day the Bible says people must reconcile before sunset."

On the MMD presidency, Maureen said the party needed to put itself in order.

She said MMD would go into oblivion if members themselves felt defeated.

"Democracy can only thrive if there is competition. If we are going to allow one party to take precedence we are encouraging one party state. In modern governance you cannot have it that way," said Maureen.

Labels: MAUREEN MWANAWASA, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 6:13 PM