Maravi

MMD petition to UN is embarrassing - Luonde

MMD petition to UN is embarrassing - Luonde
By Allan Mulenga
Fri 09 Mar. 2012, 11:59 CAT

FATHER Richard Luonde says the MMD's decision to petition the United Nations over the perceived "harassment" from the Patriotic Front government shows that the former leaders are afraid of their corrupt practices. And Fr Luonde says the MMD leadership has dented the image of the country on the international scene over corruption.

Commenting on the MMD's decision to petition the United Nations over what they have termed "selective prosecution" of its leaders and non-adherence to rule of law by the Patriotic Front government, Fr Luonde, a Kitwe-based Anglican priest, said if MMD leaders were sincere in their dealings, they would not have rushed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for protection.

"To me those are the last kicks of a corrupt dying horse. If they are honest in their dealings, if they know that they didn't do anything wrong they should await upon the results of the investigative wings.

Now, when you know that you are guilty you always want to cry so that you are protected," he said.

Fr Luonde said the MMD leaders should be ashamed of their corrupt activities.

"You see they should not do that, if they talk about MMD leaders being persecuted for nothing, there´s something, for example Dora Siliya over Zamtel saga, Maxwell Mwale with the campaign bicycles, then there is Austin Liato…The MMD leaders had powers in their own rights when they were in government, so many people followed them.

The government is just trying to follow the law and find out how they acquired these things," he said.

Fr Luonde said the former ruling party had embarrassed Zambians by its petition to the UN against the Patriotic Front government.

"They the MMD should behave like civilised people who know what they have caused to the Zambian people. They are just embarrassing themselves. If anything they should await the outcome of their cases in the courts of law. They will have the right to complain when they are acquitted, they can either sue the government or those who took them to court," he said.

On former MMD national secretary Dr Katele Kalumba's call for party leaders to apologise to Zambians over corruption, Fr Luonde said the MMD leadership should be apologetic like Dr Kalumba.

"He Dr Kalumba is simply trying to open the Pandora's Box to say what the current government is saying about corruption of the MMD government, it is true and those who are found wanting should come out in the open and apologise. We are human beings; we make mistakes, but we should not take advantage of the poor majority, where you take advantage of the suffering of Zambians just to enrich yourselves. That is deceit and you need to come out and repent," said Fr Luonde.

Labels: MMD, RICHARD LUONDE

posted by MrK @ 4:35 PM