Maravi

Sata accuses Nevers of lies

Sata accuses Nevers of lies
By Ernest Chanda
Mon 23 July 2012, 07:30 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata says Nevers Mumba has engaged in a deliberate and dishonest distortion of facts on the appointment of MMD members of parliament as deputy ministers.

In his letter to Mumba dated July 20, 2012 obtained by The Post, President Sata challenged the MMD president to state if he was the right person to oppose appointments of opposition members of parliament into government.

Mumba had on July 11, 2012 written to President Sata, complaining about what he termed the President's consistent attempts to dislocate the tenets of democracy by offering jobs to MMD members of parliament.
He accused the head of state of diminishing democracy and opposition in the country.

"We are alarmed at your consistent attempts to dislocate the tenets of democracy by offering deputy minister jobs to our members of parliament without any regard to the leadership of our party. Our view is that you have decided to diminish democracy and opposition in order to reduce opposition presence in Parliament through unnatural means," stated Mumba.

"The following have convinced us that your agenda is to obliterate the opposition in the country: - the wholesale petitioning of almost all MMD seats with the hope of initiating by-elections; your appointment of MMD parliamentarians as deputy ministers in order to influence them to vote for PF in the House, and further reduce the numbers of opposition members in the House… We find this to be retrogressive and appeal to you to allow democracy to flourish in the nation."

But President Sata accused Mumba of being deceitful and egocentric.
"It is frankly staggering to envision, let alone think, that this dishonesty, deliberate distortion of facts and acute appetite to cause confusion in the governance of this country is emanating from yourself, a well-known man of the collar.

While this is bad enough, what is even worse is that you have deliberately chosen to betray the Zambian people through premeditated acts of twists and fixes in order for you to gratify your self-esteem," he stated.

"This is indeed very sad especially that such dishonest conduct and lies are being disseminated by a spiritual leader-cum politician.

Pastor Mumba, what does your conscience tell you on this issue? Surely, are you confident that with your nomadic political history, you are the right person to get on an anti-hill to engage the public into a false discourse on this subject? It is a shame that you have come out guns blazing on a matter, which you embraced only few years ago simply because it prompted direct benefits to yourself. This is outright deceitfulness and egocentricity from a Pastor."

President Sata reminded Mumba of his dissolving of his political party for a vice-presidency position in the late Republican president Levy Mwanawasa's government.

He stated that not long ago, then acting chairperson of Mumba's party, the National Citizens Coalition, Eva Sanderson announced the dissolution of the party, barely a day after he resigned to take up an appointment as Republican vice-president.

"Mrs Sanderson said and I quote, '…no one in NCC was an opportunist.
Pastor Mumba has not abandoned the flock; he is a man of integrity. We have a role to play in moving this country forward. To oppose for the sake of just opposing will be immoral since our manifesto clearly states that we want to fight corruption and bring about integrity in politics of which President Mwanawasa's administration has proved to be doing well, the decision to dissolve NCC has been confirmed this day'," he stated.

"What on earth is happening to you my dear Pastor and what does this say about your disposition as a politician and a man of the pulpit? Let me underline that my government is determined to preside over the affairs of this country in a reconciliatory and inclusive manner. I am glad you have agreed that appointments are in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia.

And as Head of State, I shall never turn my back on Zambians who offer themselves for public service regardless of their political affiliation. Zambia is bigger than all of us and the earlier you in the opposition grasped that, the better for our motherland."

President Sata stated that he remained open to proposals and engagements; provided there was no hidden agenda as had been the case lately.

Labels: MICHAEL SATA, MMD, NEVERS MUMBA

posted by MrK @ 1:19 PM