Maravi

'South Africans are backwards' taken out of context - Scott
By Moses Kuwema
Sat 06 July 2013, 14:01 CAT

VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott says he was quoted out of context by a British newspaper that published a statement attributed to him saying South Africans were backwards.

Vice-President Scott was responding to a question from Mazabuka UPND member of parliament Garry Nkombo who wanted to know if the PF had any policy of orienting its leaders in diplomatic etiquette in view of what he termed embarrassing statements from the leaders in government that include ministers, the Vice-President and President Michael Sata.

Vice-President Scott said what he said during the interview with the Guardian Newspaper of the UK was that historically, South Africans were backward as they only got their independence 2O years ago.

"There is no policy to orient the President on diplomatic etiquette. You want the President to be in class and be lectured to? And what I said during that interview was that historically, South Africans were backwards as they only got their independence 20 years ago, whereas Zambia got its independence 50 years ago. That's what I said and the guy who interviewed me decided to remove certain things and I can't stop the press from publishing what they feel," Vice-President Scott said in Parliament.

And Vice-President Scott said the government would not return to the old system of price control.

Responding to a question from Vubwi MMD member of parliament Dr Eustarckio Kazonga who wanted to know the government's policy on price control, Vice-President Scott said the government was aware of the past experiences and would not go back to the system of price control.

He said the government was only interested in having cheaper goods for the people and for more people to access loans and build houses.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Scott said the Electoral Commission of Zambia Act states that a candidate cannot withdraw from an election after the nomination.

This was in response to Lupososhi PF member of parliament Bwalya Chungu who wanted clarity on reports that MMD candidate in the Kafulafuta by-elections Evelyn Mwanawasa had withdrawn from the race.

Vice-President Scott, however, said a candidate could instead withdraw their zeal and enthusiasm in the by-election.

During the same session, Vice-President Scott said the situation in areas near Mozambique was well under control.

He was responding to Chipangali MMD member of parliament Vincent Mwale who wanted to know what measures the government was putting in place to avoid the recurrence of what happened in the 1980s when a civil war broke out in Mozambique between the Renamo and Frelimo, in which most Zambians who were living near the neighbouring country suffered.

Labels: GUY SCOTT, SOUTH AFRICA

posted by MrK @ 2:25 PM