Sata goes for North-Western Province tribalistic chiefs

Sata goes for North-Western Province tribalistic chiefs
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 09 Dec. 2011, 14:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has warned chiefs in North-Western Province against promoting tribalism in the area. Speaking after he swore in two more people on the constitution technical committee at State House yesterday, President Sata said tribalism could not bring development in the nation.

"Tribe is not a criterion, is not a qualification for employment. I've got people like Mr Mulasikwanda in Western-Province, and I've got the chiefs in North-Western Province. Those chiefs in North Western Province during the campaigns they were lying to people that Sata will bring war. Then again they came to lie; no, no, no Sata is going to take you to Angola. And now today they say they want to remove everybody who is in North-Western Province and employ their own relatives," Sata said.

"If the Solis stood up and said we don't want Mihova the commander of the army, we don't want Kanganja Secretary to the Cabinet, we don't want that permanent secretary in youth and sport; my own personal secretary is from North-Western Province, where is this country going to go? But I want to warn Mr Mulasikwanda of that fake Barotse government and these chiefs in North-Western Province, the law will protect the people of Zambia. And we are not going to be divided on tribal lines. The right brains will protect the people of Zambia. And we are not going to use tribe. You can use tribe in your own house but you don't use tribe when you come to national level."

Meanwhile, President Sata has accused former finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane of drawing two salaries when he was a civil servant.

He said Dr Musokotwane who is Liuwa MMD member of parliament was drawing a salary from the Bank of Zambia and from government when he served as finance minister.

On Monday, President Sata accused the MMD of having printed fake money, but Dr Musokotwane responded by accusing President Sata of not being serious in his handling of national issues.

And President Sata said he had information that Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director Reverend Pukuta Mwanza and International Fellowship of Christian Churches president Bishop Simon Chihana were supposed to hold a meeting and denounce him for not including them in the technical committee.

President Sata said Rev Mwanza and Bishop Chihana did not have qualifications to deserve a place on the technical committee.

"First they said the team is not balanced, then the latest part you are going to face; two fake pastors are supposed to hold a meeting to denounce me. Please warn them, the existing laws protect me. So Mr. Pukuta Mwanza and Mr. Chihana are supposed to hold a meeting and denounce me. But I'm very thick skinned," President Sata said.

"Mr. Chihana hasn't got the qualities that we want. Pukuta Mwanza hasn't got the qualities I need. During the campaign Pukuta Mwanza and Chihana campaigned against us, why don't they go to Mr. Banda to appoint them? They should go to Mr. Rupiah Banda to appoint them, let him have his own committee."

President Sata swore in Commerce, Trade and Industry permanent secretary Stephen Mwansa and constitution technical committee members Reuben Lifuka and Patricia Jere.

He told the duo that the law of the land would protect him.