Maravi

Mature, UPND MP urges HH
By Kombe Mataka
Thu 06 Feb. 2014, 14:01 CAT

UPND Sinazongwe member of parliament Richwell Siamunene has advised Hakainde Hichilema to show maturity in his politics. Siamunene said it was unfortunate that Hichilema had continued speculating on President Michael Sata's whereabouts when State House had made it clear where he was and that he was on a working holiday.

Siamunene said Hichilema should apologise to President Sata for insinuating that he had gone to seek medical attention in India as opposed to going on a working holiday.

"As leaders, we must mature in our handling of political matters. We are in a mature democracy and this democracy demands that we concentrate on issues that are pertinent to the economy of this country as opposed to issues that are trivial in nature," Siamunene said.

"My strong advice is for Hichilema to humble himself and apologise. Let him come out publicly and tell the nation that he erred in his judgement. Let him concentrate on matters that can help the nation, not matters that are pedantic in nature."

Siamunene said there was nothing sinister about the President taking rest.

"There is no need to speculate on the whereabouts of the President. The President has indicated, he was in Ethiopia and from there he travelled to London," he said.

"The President has worked so tirelessly the past one year and he needed rest. He is a human being like any other who needs rest at one point or another."

Siamunene added that President Sata had an army of ministers and their deputies who were in charge of ensuring that the government was functioning when he is in or out of the country.

"The President has indicated that he is okay and we should take it that he is okay. He is a public figure of course but now people should not take advantage of his absence and start speculating on his health," Simunene said.

"The President is not running this government alone; he has Cabinet ministers, he has also permanent secretaries to continue implementing what has been done, so obviously he is supposed to take a rest and he just did that."

On Monday, Hichilema challenged State House to come clean on President Sata's health so that Zambians, including himself, could pray for him.

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA, MMD, RICHWELL SIAMUNENE, UPND

posted by MrK @ 7:50 PM