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(TIMES ZM) UNIP hails Zamtel repossession

UNIP hails Zamtel repossession

UNIP has supported the impending repossession of Zamtel from Libya’s Lap Green Networks. The opposition party’s president, Tilyenji Kaunda said the Government should go ahead and repossess the company whose 75 per cent shares were allegedly controversially sold to the Libyan company.

Mr Kaunda also said some issues the MMD leadership was complaining about were a product of their own making. Speaking at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kaunda commended the PF Government for the impending reversal of the Zamtel sale.

He said the PF Government was in tandem with the former ruling party’s position of only privatising firms for the benefit of citizens without compromising the sovereignty of the country.

At the same function, UNIP received several party members who re-joined the party from MMD and the PF.

Prominent among them were former women’s deputy national secretary, Cynthia Nyondo and former acting secretary general, Alfred Banda.

"We want to take this opportunity to commend Government for its stance on retaking Zamtel. This is in line with our thinking. The position Government has taken in this matter is the correct one because it is important that the privatisation process should not disadvantage Zambia nor compromise the sovereign will.

"All matters related to this transaction should be resolved in the best interest of the nation. Diplomacy and dialogue should be there in the best interest of the nation," he said.

Mr Kaunda said dialogue and diplomacy should be employed in dealing with the Libyan Government which was the owner of Lap Green Networks.

And Mr Kaunda said the MMD leadership should not complain about the fight against corruption because ‘the past was haunting them.’

Reacting to former vice-president, George Kunda’s complaints that former government leaders were being harassed, Mr Kaunda said MMD was ‘reaping rewards of the seeds it planted.’

He said it was the MMD that amended the Constitution in 1996 on parentage for presidential candidates in order to bar his father, Dr Kenneth Kaunda from contesting the polls.

He said despite advice, the MMD went ahead to amend the parentage clause and came up with an "Apartheid Constitution."

UNIP vice-president, Njekwa Anamela, said MMD was to blame for the "mischievous clause."

On calls to lift former Republican president, Rupiah Banda’s immunity, he said there was need to follow the due process of the law, adding that people should desist from handling the matter emotionally.

Meanwhile, Mr Kaunda said UNIP has with effect from January 1, 2012, embarked on a countrywide membership recruitment drive.

By Times Reporter

Labels: CORRUPTION, MMD, NJEKWE ANAMELA, TILYENJI KAUNDA, UNIP, ZAMTEL

posted by MrK @ 8:20 PM