Financial woes in MMD need urgent attention - Mabenga
By Allan Mulenga
Mon 22 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
MICHAEL Mabenga says the financial woes that have crippled MMD need urgent attention. Commenting on MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu's statement that the party's finances were dwindling because sources of funds had dried up, Mabenga, who is former MMD national chairman, said he was shocked that the party was facing serious financial constraints.
"This is the question of money and money demands that you should be able to sit down and discuss as a family. It is them to discuss and solve their problems," he said. "The best thing to do is for those people to sit down and see how best they can sort out their problems. It is difficult for outsiders talking about their problems."
Mabenga urged the MMD leadership to strategies on how best they could sort out its problems.
"Yes, it is the party I treasured; the party that I spent time on, but I knew other people will take over from there. It is difficult to see what is happening there. It is very difficult, unless the insiders. I have very little to say, but it is a difficult situation I guess," he said.
"They must sit down and find a lasting situation. Anyway, we wish them the best, they have to sit down and have strategies. They must speak as a family and see how best they can address those problems."
Nyangu last week said MMD's sources of funds had dried up.
Labels: MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD
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Chitika's death sentence a Christmas gift - Mabenga
By Mwala Kalaluka
Tue 25 Dec. 2012, 12:00 CAT
MICHAEL Mabenga says he hopes the Chitika family has learnt a lesson for failing to be remorseful over the murder of his daughter, whose widower, David Chitika, was yesterday sentenced to death for the offence.
This is in a matter where the late Gladys Maketo Mabenga's widower, David and his 23-year-old nephew, Lawrence Kaunda were charged with the murder of Maketo on unknown dates but between September 10 and 11, 2010 in Lusaka's Chilenje township.
Delivering her judgment in a packed courtroom yesterday, Lusaka High Court judge Flavia Chishimba held that Chitika, 39, and Kaunda, a student, were guilty of Maketo's murder and that this was with malice aforethought.
Judge Chishimba said Chitika's conduct or behaviour on the material day was odd for someone whose wife had died and that the maid, on whose testimony the prosecution anchored its case, was a credible witness despite her inconsistent statements in the court and at the police station.
She said the inconsistency in the maid's statement did not subtract from the import and purpose of her evidence as she adduced her evidence in a clear and coincise manner.
"She is a credible witness and I hold accordingly," judge Chishimba said. "It is not disputed nor is it in issue that two statements were given by PW1 prosecution witness 1."
She said the prosecution witnesses, who were the deceased's relatives, had no interest to serve when they testified that they noticed blood in her mouth and nose because any lay person could mistake such stains as such when they were in fact not.
Judge Chishimba said the two postmortem reports that were conducted in the wake of Maketo's death were conflicting as to the cause of deathbut that in fact they agreed on many findings.
"The second report, P11, was professionally done," she said in response to the defence's submissions that it was biased in favour of the Mabenga family.
Judge Chishimba said she found the first postmortem report to be inconclusive but that the second postmortem report supported the maid's testimony that Maketo was strangled whilst she was alive and that it was the squeezing of the neck that led to deprivation of oxygen.
"I find as a fact that the deceased died due to strangulation," she said. "I am satisfied that malice aforethought has been established by the prosecution. I find as a fact that A1 David Chitika caused the death of the deceased with the help of A2 Kaunda with malice aforethought."
Judge Chishimba said despite denying the charges, Chitika's evidence was full of untruths and that he exhibited an odd behaviour on the material morning.
"The evidence by A1 that the deceased had suicidal tendencies, this, in my view, is concoction," she said. "I, therefore, find accused persons guilty as charged and convict them accordingly."
Judge Chishimba said since there were no extenuating circumstances in the case, she was bound by the law to pronounce a death sentence for both Chitika and his nephew.
"I thereby sentence you to death by hanging," said judge Chishimba as some women in the gallery started crying.
Outside the courtroom, the Mabengas hugged each other as some were shedding tears while the Chitika family remained inside the courtroom for a while before they came out.
However, David's sister, Elizabeth Chitika-Molobeka, the chairperson for culture in the MMD, used a different exit.
Mabenga, a former MMD member of parliament, said Chitika's death sentence was a Christmas gift to his family and that the truth had finally come out.
"It is a very good day. It is good in the sense that someone is going to lose life; the killer is going to lose life," he said. "I find justice Flavia Chishimba to be a competent judge."
Mabenga said it was a pity a young man who was supposed to be his son-in-law had dragged himself into a mess and that this should teach the Chitikas how to deal with issues of that nature.
"They were supposed to have shown remorse, they didn't," he said. "They are barbaric in their approach to life and so I hope that the Chitika family would be able to learn from this. They did this because they thought they were clever. There is no tribalism here."
Mabenga also said no politics was involved.
"We mourned in 2010 and we are still mourning but today they too are mourning. It is a pity that someone has died but for us, it is a Christmas gift," said Mabenga.
Efforts to get a comment from the Chitikas proved futile.
Labels: DAVID CHITIKA, DEATH PENALTY, MICHAEL MABENGA
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Situation in MMD is complicated - Machila
By Kombe Chimpinde, Tilyenji Mwanza, Roy Habaalu and Allan Mule
Thu 06 Dec. 2012, 11:10 CAT
MMD legal chairperson Bradford Machila has described the impasse in the party as complicated. And Registrar of Societies Clement Andeleki says Nevers Mumba told him that his dual membership in MMD and Reform Party was not a big issue.
Meanwhile, former MMD chairman Michael Mabenga has suggested that MMD chairman Kabinga Pande should immediately assume the position of acting president of the MMD and solve the rift between Mumba and Major Richard Kachingwe.
And Pande yesterday announced that Maj Kachingwe had been expelled from MMD. Machila said he would interpret the law as he understood it once a chance was given.
Machila said there was need for members of NEC to discuss the constitution and map the way forward.
"The idea will be to resolve issues and bring reconciliation. I mean it (the issue) is quiet a damaging situation that we should address so that MMD can continue its important role of ensuring checks and balances," he said.
"I don't want to state who is right or wrong at the moment because it might end up complicating things than they already are."
And in an interview, Andeleki who challenged Mumba to deny the matter which he said was on record, said the issue had been a longstanding problem between Mumba and his office.
"I personally talked to him and also wrote to him through the national secretary because the societies Act requires that when a society changes office bearers, they have to notify the Registrar of Societies within 14 days from the date of such a decision. And when a registered office changes its (physical) address, they need to notify us within 14 days," he explained.
"MMD has changed their office but they have not informed us. You also agree with me that on 25th May this year, they had a convention which saw in new leaders but to date the record is still showing that Rupiah Banda is the President of MMD."
Andeleki said in addition to the matters in question, he had written a letter to the party secretariat regarding the status of Mumba, with the Reform Party.
"His (Mumba) response was that there was an agreement between the Reform Party and MMD which made it more like one entity. So I advised him to amend the MMD constitution to include the Reform Party. Correspondence is there," he said.
"I even gave Mumba an option to dissolve the Reform Party or merge the two parties."
He also warned that the MMD was still owing the Registrar of Societies over K90 million, which he urged the party to settle before he cracks a whip on Friday.
"If I whip them, they will say Andeleki is not good," said Andeleki.
But Numulambe said on Monday that Andeleki should give the party some more time.
"Let me also appeal to the chief Registrar of Societies. I have received information indicating that by Friday, MMD will be deregistered for failure to pay the balance of K90 million. Now following what is happening in MMD, I appeal to him to give us time so that we sort out the internal problems the party is engulfed in. Let him act as a human being in line with our democratic principles as a country so that we resolve these problems," he said.
Namulambe also called on the legal chairperson of the party to interpret the law regarding the status of Mumba, who was removed from the party by Maj Kachingwe.
"We have to talk about these issues at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. I urge all the two parties to be quiet and wait for the meeting at which we will look at what the constitution says and that is what is going to guide all of us," he said.
"I will also give a version of what will happen."
And Mabenga said in an interview that if the impasse in the MMD was not handled carefully, MMD's hopes of continuing as a party might be shattered.
"I am the most disappointed person to see the happenings in the MMD. I am very disappointed because I left that party intact. I had a feeling that the party would remain so," Mabenga said.
"It appears there is a big wage between the president of the party and the national secretary and when such things happen, the solution is for the national chairman (Pande) to step in. My hope is that Pande will be magnanimous enough to come and cushion this negative impasse that is shadowing the MMD because going to court does not solve a thing. That is a club."
Mabenga said the responsibility of bringing the two factions (Mumba and Maj Kachingwe) together was dependent upon Pande.
"I have every hope and prayer that honourable Pande will be magnanimous to go in and close up this wage. The wage can bring problems that can never end," he said.
Mabenga also said the committee targeted to scrutinise presidential election candidates must be held responsible for approving the candidature of Mumba who, some of them claimed, was not eligible to stand.
"There was a report we got from the committee, which was that all those parties that applied were qualified to stand in that election. So I am surprised that Nevers Mumba did not qualify. That committee must be held responsible for what is happening," Mabenga said.
"I can tell you that some people had raised this issue about Nevers but they were told that he was eligible to stand."
Meanwhile former MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti said Mumba had lost his leadership authority over the party.
Mulongoti added that the issue of Mumba's illegibility to contest the MMD presidential elections was not new and that it had been simmering for a long time.
Mulongoti blamed both Mumba and NEC members of lacking leadership by failing to deal with the matter before elections.
He said the constitution gave power to the party national secretary to originate disciplinary measures against the president, although NEC was entitled to make a final decision.
"What was wrong was Nevers' reaction. I think it was extreme. Even if the other man was wrong, he would have just requested or called for a meeting to exculpate himself. That way, he would have maintained his authority," said Mulongoti.
And police in Lusaka have launched a manhunt for MMD Die Hard national coordinator Bowman Lusambo and three others for allegedly assaulting Maj Kachingwe.
Maj Kachingwe on Saturday reported to the police Mumba, Lusambo, Watson M'tonga, Scorpion Kadobi and Chiwele Maimisa.
But Lusaka police commissioner Joyce Kasosa said the four, except Mumba, had fled and their whereabouts were unknown.
"We have searched their homes and possible places and they have run away. However, we will catch up with them. Yesterday Monday we had a tip that they were at Dr Mumba's house but you the media alerted them and by the time we got there, the place was empty," Kasosa said.
"We are not relaxing and officers are on the lookout everywhere to get hold of them. There are media reports that they have fled outside the country to which I cannot confirm but we are on the lookout."
Later in the day, ZNBC reported that Mtonga had been arrested.
On Monday, police surrounded Mumba's house in Lusaka's Kabulonga area to search for cadres that beat up Maj Kachingwe.
But Mumba told police that the people they were looking for were not present.
However Christopher Mumbuna, who led the search, said he had earlier seen Kadobi and Lusambo inside the yard.
After searching the vehicles outside Mumba's residence, police found a metal bucket and a plank believed to have been used by the duo to escape.
Meanwhile the MMD has with immediate effect expelled Maj Kachingwe for indiscipline.
This was after the NEC, which met on Monday at Mumba's residence in Kabulonga, resolved that Maj Kachingwe's letter invalidating Mumba's presidency was invalid and illegal.
Pande said Senga Hill member of parliament Kapembwa Simbao had replaced Kachingwe.
"Three weeks ago, members of parliament brought a petition to the president demanding the immediate removal of national secretary Richard Kachingwe. The MPs charged that major Kachingwe was highly compromised by the PF government based on his own confirmation and conduct," said Pande.
Pande said listening to concerns from members of parliament, Mumba tasked his two vice-presidents and himself to interview Kachingwe on allegations raised against him.
He said the members of parliament petitioned Mumba that they would withdraw their monthly contributions until major Kachingwe was removed from office.
"In his discussion with Major Kachingwe, the president told him to take leave for three months on suspension while NEC looked into his case.
The two agreed. Unfortunately, this administrative procedure angered Mr Kachingwe. Single-handedly, without authority from NEC, he purported to invalidate a democratically elected president of our party. This singular act of indiscipline is unprecedented in Zambia's political history.
Arising from this gross misconduct, the NEC was left with no option but to expel major Kachingwe with immediate effect, according article 19N of the party," he said.
Pande said contrary to media reports, Maj Kachingwe's matter was purely of discipline and not a difference in opinion on what was important to the party.
And Maj Kachingwe said his expulsion from MMD is null and void.
Briefing the press at his residence in Lusaka's Marshlands area, following his expulsion, Maj Kachingwe said NEC did not follow the laid down procedures stipulated by the party constitution.
"The expulsion is illegal, frivolous and mischievous, as well as null and void. According to the party constitution, Nevers Mumba was supposed to follow the procedure. I was supposed to be given 10 days in which to exculpate myself. After hearing my side of the story, that is when they were supposed to expel me," he said.
Maj Kachingwe vowed to fight his expulsion in the courts of law.
"Mumba does not form the part of the disciplinary committee. He has limited powers. He is not among the NEC, provincial, districts, constituency and branch officials. Yesterday, in a hurry he used proxies to expel me without following due process," he said.
"My fight is not against MMD, but it is against Dr Mumba and I will make sure that Dr Mumba gets outside MMD. I have nothing personal against Dr Mumba, but I only have issues with his style of leadership."
Maj Kachingwe said Mumba had been held captive by a few MMD corrupt barons who sponsored him during the elections.
"Dr Mumba is using corrupt money. He does not have his own money; he is not even the one who sponsored those thugs, not even to pay. But a corrupt baron sponsored that and she has been sponsoring him all along," he said.
And Maj Kachingwe accused Mumba of hijacking the party.
Labels: BRADFORD MACHILA, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD
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Liato's conviction tragic - Mabenga
By Kombe Chimpinde
Fri 25 May 2012, 13:30 CAT
MMD acting president Michael Mabenga says Austin Liato's conviction over the K2.1 billion that he buried at a farm in Mwembeshi had dented the party. And Transparency International Zambia says society needs leaders that plant seeds of integrity, accountability and transparency.
Mabenga described Liato's conviction as dumbfounding. Liato is suspended MMD chairperson for labour. Mabenga said the conviction had caused a dent on the party that was already faced with the challenge of dealing with the tag of corruption.
He disclosed that the disciplinary committee of the party would have to sit to look at Liato's case.
"As the matter has come up, they will meet to discuss. It is a very tragic development. I am summing it up as being a very sad development."
Liato was suspended by the party after he was arrested pending the outcome of his court case.
And welcoming Liato's conviction, TIZ executive director Goodwell Lungu said public officers should learn to respect taxpayers' money.
Liato was on Tuesday slapped a two-year jail sentence by the magistrates' court for concealing K2.1 billion, property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
"If leaders fall short of the values relating to integrity, accountability and transparency, then they deserve to go to prison and reform," he said.
Lungu said TIZ was hopeful that the jail sentence of Liato would also serve as a lesson to PF leaders and public officers that were in government on the need to respect public resources.
"As TIZ we believe that it does not pay to engage in criminal activities but rather the results are always unpleasant. Zambians expect their leader of Mr Liato's standing to abide by the Zambian laws," he said.
Apart from being jailed, Liato also had his Mwembeshi Farm where the money in question was concealed last year forfeited together with the K2.1 billion.
Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, CORRUPTION, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD
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Opposition leaders meet EU officials
By Mwala Kalaluka
Wed 09 May 2012, 14:00 CAT
SOME representatives from opposition parties yesterday held a meeting with officials of the European Delegation in Zambia over the issue of three judges suspended by President Michael Sata recently.
The opposition party leaders who included MMD acting president Michael Mabenga, Heritage Party leader Brig Gen Godfrey Miyanda, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, ADD leader Charles Milupi, ULP officials and Zambia Direct Democracy Movement leader Edwin Sakala arrived at the EU offices around 10:30 hours yesterday.
The opposition leaders, who were accompanied by MMD treasurer Mwansa Mbulakulima and losing Lusaka Central MMD parliamentary contender Muhabi Lungu, first went to the ZCTU offices in Lusaka's Woodlands area before going to the EU offices.
The meeting with EU officials only ended around midday, after which the opposition politicians pledged to issue a statement over the meeting, which was closed to the media.
Mabenga refused to divulge what was discussed during the meeting but only said a joint statement would be issued by 14:00 hours at the UPND Secretariat on Lagos Road in Lusaka yesterday.
Hichilema, Mabenga and Milupi seemed to be in charge of the proceedings.
A check at the UPND secretariat established that the press briefing had not taken place and some journalists were found outside the office waiting after being told by uncooperative party cadres that there was no press briefing.
However, Hichilema and Milupi were said to be inside the offices having a discussion.
Labels: MICHAEL MABENGA, OPPOSITION
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Mabenga irrelevant to MMD, says Katele
By Allan Mulenga
Tue 10 Apr. 2012, 13:29 CAT
MICHAEL Mabenga has become completely irrelevant to MMD, says Dr Katele Kalumba. In an interview, Dr Kalumba, who is former MMD national secretary, said Mabenga should not shy away from the challenges faced by the party.
"Chairman Mabenga, please be man enough and lead the party. You can't even provide guidance to my brother Major Richard Kachingwe, you can't! You are failing, you are becoming completely irrelevant, have principles. We founded MMD on principle," he said.
Dr Kalumba accused Mabenga, the acting MMD president, of subverting democracy within the party.
"Maybe he doesn't know what his job is. I know that the former president did not leave him with the party accounts at all. That I know for a fact, he has confessed somewhere and perhaps he is suffering from some kind of emasculation. The way to cry is not subverting democracy within the MMD. Let him come out and complain publicly what his injury is. I am an ordinary member, I do not go in front of cameras to renew my membership. I have a branch where I renew my membership, so let him stop that level of debate. He is shying away from dealing with the challenges of the party," he said.
Dr Kalumba urged Mabenga to face realities when dealing with issues that affect the party.
"Chairman Mabenga has always been intriguing… when the real issues to tackle he has buried his head in a Sharpenerian hole, the equivalent of an ostrich burying its head in the sand. He has never as a chairman stood up for anybody or for anything other than beating the drums of power which he does not actually wield," he said.
Asked on Mabenga's challenge that he should explain his status in MMD, Dr Kalumba said he was not only founding member of the party, but also a dedicated member.
"We have the obligation to protect the party that I, with many others, risked our lives even to the possibility of being arrested by the Kaunda regime at Garden hotel. I am the founding member of this party. I have risked my body, soul and spirit to seeing it to the level where it won elections not lose. I sacrificed even my party allowance when I was the national secretary, the K5 million that was supposed to come to me. I ploughed it back into administering the party. The allowances that were attached from Parliament as a member of parliament I ploughed it back into the party. I put my name on the front line. I have suffered ridicule in the name of the party," he said.
Dr Kalumba urged Mabenga to be ready to stand for all party members being treated unjustly.
"Mr Mabenga doesn't know the value of that walk to Garden hotel. If he does, let him stand up for something. Let him speak up for something. Let him denounce that which is wrong whether it comes from his village or it comes from Shalusinga or Chienge," he said.
"If it is wrong, it wrong. Let him stand up for somebody who is being treated unjustly, that is the measure of a man not how much power you can exercise to destroy but how much power you can exercise to protect the weak, to value that which is enshrined in your constitution particularly the right of a member to speak. As a chairman he is the one who is supposed to do that - to defend the membership. The secretariat has the obligation to exercise the powers of discipline, the chairman is supposed to be an advocate of the members."
Dr Kalumba vowed to continue speaking on issues affecting the party.
"I am exercising the right of a member under the MMD constitution to speak, to question, to advocate for those issues that affect us as members. I am not a member of the national executive committee of any branch, any ward , any constituency, district, province or the national executive committee, I am just a member of the party with the right to speak as a member," said Dr Kalumba.
Mabenga urged Dr Katele Kalumba to explain his status in MMD. He doubted whether Dr Kalumba was still a member of the MMD following his criticism of the former ruling party.
Labels: KATELE KALUMBA, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD, POLITICS
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Rupiah refuses to fund MMD convention
By Roy Habaalu
Thu 15 Mar. 2012, 13:00 CAT
RUPIAH Banda has refused to fund the MMD's extra-ordinary convention, saying he has retired from politics. And Dora Siliya, who is the party spokesperson, yesterday announced that former Republican president Banda had stepped down as party president. Banda has handed over the party presidency to Michael Mabenga who will act until a new president was elected.
Well-placed sources disclosed that during a closed-door-meeting held on Tuesday evening, former president Banda complained that the only money he had was that held in the family account.
Sources said Banda said he had decided to lead a quiet and respectful life.
"So the provincial elections in Muchinga, Eastern, Central, Western provinces to elect new leaders have been postponed. We gave him the bill of K221 million to hold the extra-ordinary convention but he told us ‘I don't have money to give you. The only money I have is that in the family account'," the source said.
"He complained that ‘even people and friends that I know, those I used to talk to anytime have stopped funding us, they don't pick up their phones. I know why they are not picking up. I am not blaming them and they don't hate our party. No, they are scared of being victimised by the PF government because they are looking around who is financing MMD. We can't go ahead with provincial elections unless someone gives us money,'" sources quoted Banda as having told them.
The source said after reaching a deadlock on the source of funding for the convention, they learned that one presidential aspirant had volunteered to bankroll the event but was scared of being investigated.
"People like (former finance minister Situmbeko) Musokotwane are ready to put in close to K2 billion but he's scared that the government will follow him. He's ready to sponsor the convention but he doesn't know how to do it. So it was resolved that tomorrow (Wednesday) during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting they would know how much had been fundraised," said another source.
Sources said talking points for the former president's farewell speech had been prepared to NEC members.
Sources said Banda had been invited in America to give lectures on African democracy and politics for two months.
"When he comes back he will find the convention is over and will just hand over the instruments of power to the elected president," sources said.
On his retirement, sources said Banda wondered why the party failed to defend him whenever the government accused him of active involvement in politics when he retired after losing.
"He's saying that he wrote a letter to resign from MMD and active politics long time ago when he lost the elections. He says letters are there at the secretariat. So he's no longer in active politics. He said this is nonsense. He can't continue. He needs the money he worked for. Rupiah said he didn't want to be seen frustrating President Sata's programmes and that he should work freely. He said ‘we want to show him that we are more civilised than he was because he was always insulting us'," sources said.
Siliya also announced that Banda had stepped down as party president.
"I will to report that as you recall on the 23rd September, our president Rupiah Banda addressed the nation saying that after the loss of MMD in the last election, he was retiring from politics. I wish to announce that today, he actually also stepped down as the president of the party of the MMD. For more details on this matter president Banda will be holding a press conference tomorrow at his residence at 08:30 hours and you are all invited to attend this press conference so that you can hear his words and also have an opportunity to be able to ask him questions," she said.
Siliya said according to the party constitution, the chairperson of the Party, Michael Mabenga would act as president.
Labels: DORA SILIYA, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE
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Mabenga is not being truthful about corruption in the MMD
By The Post
Sun 04 Mar. 2012, 12:00 CAT
ACCORDING to Nelson Mandela, when leaders have the honesty to criticise their own mistakes, errors, transgressions, violations or even crimes, and their own organisations, then they can criticise others. But it seems our leaders are not in the habit of listening to the truth or wise counsel. What Katele Kalumba is engaging in is positive criticism and self-criticism that should be welcomed by all people of goodwill within and outside the MMD.
Katele is not accusing other MMD leaders, at the exclusion of himself, of corruption. He can't do this, even if he wanted to, because he is a man who has been convicted of corruption. It has taken a long time for Katele to come to this position, a position of embracing the spirit of criticism and self-criticism.
But who doesn't know that taught by mistakes and setbacks, we become wiser and handle our affairs better? Leaders - we mean honest leaders - should fear neither criticism nor self-criticism.
Katele was wrong to involve or engage himself in corrupt activities. But he is certainly not wrong to admit that corruption exists in his party and should be done away with if the MMD has to witness a reversal of political fortunes. Admitting a mistake, a weakness, a transgression or even a crime is the first step in correcting it.
It's also much easier to mitigate and obtain forgiveness for a wrong one has admitted. One cannot mitigate against a transgression they have denied. And who in this country doesn't know that the MMD is a corrupt political party with corrupt leaders, cadres and followers? It is a political party that has tried to keep itself in power through corruption.
Even Michael Mabenga who is today trying to accuse Katele of having been the only corrupt person in the MMD was found to have engaged in corrupt activities by the High Court of this country in a parliamentary election petition brought against his election as Mulobezi member of parliament by Sikota Wina. And accordingly, Mabenga's election was nullified.
So how can Mabenga today claim that he has never known any corruption in the MMD apart from that of Katele? As usual, Mabenga is not being honest and probably it is this dishonesty that made the people of Mulobezi kick him out - and probably forever.
For sure, Katele has not been the only corrupt person in the MMD. If Katele had been the only corrupt MMD leader, no one would be talking about corruption today because it would have ended with his prosecution and conviction.
And how can Mabenga deny the existence of corruption in the MMD when just five months ago, this party led the most extravagant, the most expensive and the most corrupt election campaign? Where did the money for all that extravagance and high expenditure come from? Who gave them that money? What was the consideration?
It is time the MMD leadership came to terms with its situation. They are known by everyone to be a corrupt party. And there is enough evidence for people to show that the MMD leadership is corrupt. Their conduct in the last elections demonstrated to everyone how corrupt they were. Even their own supporters know that they are corrupt.
And how can a political party whose key leaders have been found to be corrupt claim not to be corrupt? Frederick Chiluba, a former leader of this party, was found wanting by the London High Court on the issue of corruption. Katele, the national secretary of this party, has been convicted of corruption.
Mabenga himself, the chairman of this party for many years, has also been found wanting on issues of corruption by our High Court. And we have no doubt Rupiah Banda, the current leader of this party, will also be found wanting on issues of corruption.
Again, we ask: how can a political party whose key leadership is corrupt claim to be clean? It's not possible for the MMD as a political party to be free from the corruption of its key leaders because it is these same people who raised money for its operations and political activities.
This is not a political party that survived on the monthly contributions of members. It is a party that survived on dirty, blood money stolen in all sorts of ways from the Zambian people.
The best thing for MMD leaders is to admit the problems of their party vis-a-vis corruption and chart a new path. Denials won't do. What will do is an admission of their wrongs because with that they can seek forgiveness. And those who confess their crimes and seek forgiveness deserve to be forgiven.
But being forgiven should not be interpreted as a new licence for them to again seek the same public offices they had disgraced through corruption. There are many ways, other than occupying public office, that they can continue to serve their people if selfless public service is all they are interested in or is all they are seeking.
There is need for honesty in all these issues. We say this because if one is honest, truly honest, one won't be corrupted. If one is unassuming and has a clear understanding of the worth of people and of oneself, one won't be corrupted. There is need to maintain eternal vigilance about this and be very self-critical.
We think the line Katele has taken deserves support. For whatever wrongs he has committed, Katele is today defending certain principles that have tremendous value at a time of confusion and opportunism in our country, a time when many politicians are feathering their own nests.
We should therefore be unassuming and limit ourselves to doing duty to the best of our extremely limited possibilities. We should never draw away from the honest goal we seek and let ourselves be influenced by a desire to be rich, to acquire wealth and other things that are beyond our earned income. Political leadership should not be about self-enrichment.
What we need are politicians who profoundly love their own people and wish to serve rather than to be served. Such leaders cannot steal from the people they so love and so wish to serve. For this reason, competent and honest citizens should be encouraged to participate in party politics and take over the political leadership so that they do good in society.
A person chosen for political responsibility as a leader must remember that he is simply a servant or steward entrusted to offer humble service to others as opposed to enriching himself. The common good is the reason for the existence of all our political institutions.
It enables people to express commitment and concern for each other as well as attain the fullness of love. Common good calls upon all persons to contribute and commit themselves responsibly to building an honest, fair, just and humane society for all.
And political office and power must have as its aim the achievement of the common good. The best way to fulfil one's obligations of justice and love is to contribute to the common good.
Labels: CORRUPTION, FREDERICK CHILUBA, KATELE KALUMBA, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD
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Katele was part of MMD corruption, says Mabenga
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 04 Mar. 2012, 11:59 CAT
MICHAEL Mabenga says former MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba apologised to the nation because he was part of the corruption that existed then. Commenting on Dr Kalumba's advice to the party leadership to apologise for the corruption and many other vices MMD perpetuated during its 20-year rule, Mabenga said he and the current leadership were not part of that corruption.
"Now, Dr Kalumba was national secretary of this party. What I'm saying is, Katele Kalumba said he was part of government and he apologised. And because he apologised for the wrongs he did when he was in government, he was part of it corruption. And his apology I think goes further than personal level. So, if he feels that he himself, of course he's in the problem; of course he appealed against his conviction, against this matter and all that," Mabenga said.
"He was minister of finance, he was minister of foreign affairs and he apologised for the wrongs that he did. Now, some of us were not involved in those things, so how do you apologise? You can't. He apologised because he saw that he was involved in these things. He was in government at the time, so he was inside. And so when he apologised himself he was apologising for the things that he knew he was part of that were committed unfortunately by some of our members of the MMD."
Asked if there was no corruption in the MMD government after Dr Kalumba left, Mabenga expressed ignorance.
"Well, you will have to tell me if there was anything like that, because all I see is people being called by the police, by the investigative agencies. And they are pursuing them, and they're investigating and interrogating them; that's what I see," said Mabenga.
Last week, Dr Kalumba asked the MMD leadership to publicly apologise for the unbridled corruption.
He also asked Zambians to forgive him for supporting former president Frederick Chiluba's bid for a third term in office.
Dr Kalumba said Zambians were still upset about corruption and other wrongdoings of the MMD.
"We have no excuse but to say sorry; we betrayed the people of Zambia. We could have made them understand that people were upset about corruption. People were upset about rigging. People were upset about wrangling in the party. It appears the current MMD leadership don't want to change anything. We have failed the membership. In fact, we did not collectively read the mood of the Zambian people, to listen first to the Zambian people. Second, to all membership of the party," said Dr Kalumba who was last year convicted for corruption but has appealed against the conviction.
Labels: KATELE KALUMBA, MICHAEL MABENGA
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MMD taught lesson in Msanzala - Muteteka
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 19 Feb. 2012, 12:01 CAT
MOSES Muteteka says MMD has been taught a lesson in the Msanzala by-election for fielding a reject as its candidate. But MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga attributed the loss to what he termed intimidation from members of the ruling Patriotic Front party.
Reflecting on the party's loss in the Msanzala by-election, Muteteka who is the party's national youth chairman and Chisamba member of parliament, said the party candidate Peter Daka was imposed on the people.
He said the party leadership did not consult widely before adopting Daka.
"The loss in Msanzala is not a reflection of the weakness in the MMD; it's a reflection of the candidate who MMD fielded. Less than four months ago Peter Daka lost, and then some people nominated him and adopted him without consensus. Personally I was not part of that adoption, so I didn't even know who adopted Daka, but they went," Muteteka said.
"But they've taught MMD a lesson because of MMD trying to field a person who is a reject. So people of Msanzala have told the nation that they don't want Peter Daka, but they want MMD. Just like we lost at the national level, people didn't want RB Rupiah Banda. So it's the person; in Chisamba the people wanted me and they voted for me."
Asked who made the mistake of adopting Daka against the will of the constituents, Muteteka attributed it to some national executive committee members.
He said the NEC members knew that Daka was a weak candidate but they went ahead and adopted him.
"They went ahead and took him back there, as if Petauke has no credible people who can contest. So, that is the thing which has made us lose, not the party. The people of Msanzala constituency just don't want Peter Daka. He himself Peter Daka is the one who is not wanted, it's not MMD," he said.
"So whoever has won, people want him. Whoever has lost, people don't want him. So, the issue is that whoever adopted Peter Daka should bear the cost, should pay the price. I don't know who adopted him. I just heard that Peter Daka is the candidate, I don't know where they had the meeting and who contributed. They never consulted me. I'm a NEC member, I don't know where they sat and discussed that Peter Daka is a stable candidate. If I was present, I would have argued."
Asked what lessons the party leadership had learnt from the loss, Muteteka responded: "We need to reach consensus in whatever we are trying to do. The lesson we have learnt is that when you don't extensively consult then you crash. So, the lesson is that let's dialogue, let's promote consultation among members of the party."
And Mabenga said there was a bit of uncertainty in some of the MMD members.
"And secondly there was a lot of intimidation, so you can see that not even 50 per cent of the voters went to vote, they were intimidated. Now, this kind of politics is not good. So, this does not diminish the chances of the party going forward; we are still there," he said.
Asked if it was true that the party had picked on a rejected candidate, Mabenga said NEC picked on candidates given to it by lower organs of the party.
"And so, if the candidate was a wrong candidate then that's very unfortunate. Anyway it's a lesson to learn. We are going to have a clinical way of looking at our candidates. We're going to have a clinical assessment so that we don't have the kind of results we have gotten from Msanzala. The response we were getting while we were campaigning was very positive. But, anyway, what can we do? The results have come and we have to accept it," said Mabenga.
In Thursday's Msanzala parliamentary by-election, PF candidate Colonel Joseph Lungu scooped the seat after beating MMD's Peter Daka.
Col Lungu polled 7,172; Daka got 4,065; UNIP's Shadreck Banda got 201, while Usman Maumba, an independent candidate polled 355.
The seat fell vacant after Col Lungu, then independent member of parliament, resigned and joined the PF.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD, MOSES MUTETEKA
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There is no leadership crisis in MMD - Mabenga
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 05 Oct. 2011, 08:50 CAT
THERE is no leadership crisis in the MMD, says the party's national chairman Michael Mabenga. An former MMD Mbala parliamentarian Guston Sichilima says this is not the time to mourn for the MMD. In an interview, Mabenga who was defeated in the contest for the Mulobezi seat, said former president Rupiah Banda had not retired from active politics.
"There is no leadership crisis in the MMD, the former president Rupiah Banda has not retired from active politics, so when the time comes that will be taken care of," said Mabenga.
But when reminded that Banda in his farewell speech to the nation said he was retiring from active politics, Mabenga insisted that Banda did not bid farewell to the MMD but to the nation.
Mabenga said the MMD would be re-branding and would send people across the country to find out what caused the party's loss in the general elections.
And Sichilima echoed Mabenga's sentiments, saying the MMD was not short of leadership.
"There is no leadership crisis in MMD because even you if you are a member of the party, you can take leadership. Let me say we are there; we are not short of leadership, there is NEC National Executive Committee right now that is going to spearhead the coming together and definitely we are not short of leaders. Leaders can even come from outside if they so wish, so the Zambians are there that are going to
spearhead and move the MMD forward," Sichilima said.
Sichilima said the future for the MMD was "very bright" and urged the young generation to take up leadership in the party.
"Where we are leaving they should come and takeover. MMD will always remain there, leaders may change but MMD will still be there. We have to soldier on, this is democracy.
The youths must not just end at voting, they must go further to developing Zambia. It's not the time to mourn for the MMD, it's a time to recollect and work together as a party. I will remain loyal to my party like I stated when I was not nominated and I will work within the party and I will remain there,"
Sichilima said.
Labels: GUSTON SICHILIMA, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD, NEOLIBERALISM
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‘MMD struggling to hold ground in S/Province'
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Sun 18 Sep. 2011, 13:53 CAT
THE MMD is struggling to hold ground in some parts of Southern Province with some district party officials in Namwala complaining of being sidelined in the campaigns. And Mulobezi independent parliamentary candidate Mwiya Wanyambe says the people of the area are fed up with the MMD's candidate Michael Mabenga.
According to an MMD source who preferred anonymity, Namwala MMD candidate Major Robbie Chizhyuka had sidelined some officials of the district committee in his campaigns.
"The district committee is not fully aware of who is in the campaign team of Chizhyuka and all we hear is that he is being hit hard in most of the areas he goes to. We are definitely losing this seat again to the UPND as their candidate seems to be on top of things. In the heat of panic VJ (Vernon Mwaanga) has been sent to Kalomo," the source said.
Efforts to get a comment from Maj Chizhyuka failed as his mobile phone was switched off by press time.
And Mbabala Constituency chairman Chilufya Mwamba said he would expose a lot of the underhand methods being applied by the MMD through a UPND official who has been co-opted in the MMD campaign team to help former Choma district commissioner Liven Apuleni.
"They are busy sending text messages on tribal lines saying that I'm Bemba. I'm not going to change my name and there is no MMD clause which states that for one to be a chairman in Southern Province, he or she must be Tonga. I give them 24 hours to stop what they are doing or I will expose this named official from the UPND who has been hired to help in the campaigns," Mwamba said.
And Wanyambe said in some areas, the people were just interested in chitenge material being distributed by the MMD while in some areas Mabenga was being chased by villagers.
"I'm in Machile right now on a campaign trail just like all the other political players but here in Mulobezi Constituency, the MMD is losing the parliamentary seat; Mabenga is not needed by the people," said Wanyambe.
Labels: MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD, SOUTHERN PROVINCE, TRIBALISM, UPND
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Mabenga gets Mulobezi seat party adoption
By George Chellah
Tue 21 June 2011, 04:01 CAT
THE MMD has picked national chairman Michael Mabenga, who was rejected during the primaries, as its candidate for the Mulobezi parliamentary seat.
Well-placed sources within the Western Province MMD provincial executive committee yesterday disclosed that the provincial officials grudgingly picked Mabenga during the selection process.
“We started the process in the minister’s conference hall and went up to 18:00 hours. But there was no power there so we went to the Country Lodge and conducted the interviews with all the aspiring candidates over the weekend,” the source said.
The source revealed that the provincial executive selected Mabenga out of sympathy.
“Despite him losing the primaries, we thought of doing him a favour by selecting him. We thought it won’t look nice if the national chairman is rejected by his own province,” the source said. “Otherwise, the entire provincial executive knows that he Mabenga is very unpopular in Mulobezi and he stands no chance of winning unless a miracle happens or the opposition mishandle their adoptions. But deep down our hearts we all know that the big man can’t win in Mulobezi.”
The source disclosed that finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane has been selected to contest the Liuwa seat.
“Others we have picked include; Honourable Richard Mwapela (Kalabo), Honourable Christopher Kalila (Lukulu East), a Mr Mulonda (Lukulu West) and Honourable Ndalamei (Sikongo),” the source disclosed.
“We also picked Honourable Joseph Mulyata Mongu Central…you may wish to know that Honourable Mulyata’s opponent Mwilola Imakando got zero at all stages of the adoption process and we also picked Honourable Austin Liato to re-contest the Kaoma seat.”
The source said communications minister Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa was selected to re-contest the Nalikwanda seat.
“For Luena, we picked Mwangala Maopu, a Mr Mututwa (Senanga), a Mrs Akayombokwa (Nalolo) and Honourable Mubika Mubika (Sinjembela),” the source said. “For Mwandi Constituency, we picked Honourable Michael Kaingu to re-contest his seat, a Mr Kufwakwandi (Sesheke), Honourable Mwendoi Akakandelwa (Mangango) and a lady called Liato for Luampa.”
The source revealed that aspiring candidates for Lukulu East, Sikongo, Kaoma, Nalikwanda and Sinjembela were unopposed.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD
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Don’t underrate opposition financial sources, RB urges MMD
Thursday, December 16, 2010, 9:19
By Lusakatimes
President Rupiah Banda has advised MMD members not to underestimate the financial muscle of the opposition warning that doing so would kick the ruling party out of governance in next year’s general elections.
Speaking at the MMD fundraising dinner dance in Lusaka yesterday, President Banda told party members that
the MMD was not the only party with financial resources. President Banda urged officials to
emulate the opposition’s financial mobilization skills by
bringing businessmen and women closer to the party.
He said MMD needed to broaden and decentralizing its fundraising efforts to include grass-root members and the general public contributions to fundraising activities.
“Don’t underestimate our opponents, don’t think you are the only ones with resources because you don’t know where the opposition get their resources from. We have to work hard at being in good terms with the business community. Listen to them, understand their problems and do something about it.
He observed the need for strengthening his party and expressed worry that if his party exhibited complacency, a united opposition would take over the country.
“I want to state that it is incumbent upon us members of the party to realize that the more we achieve, the more people will oppose us because they want to takeover and claim these achievement. So we have to work very hard and remain united. We should not be confused because we are going towards elections and everybody wants to contest positions. Let’s do it in a sensible manner so that we don’t split our party,” He said.
And party chairman Michael Mabenga said he would ensure that President Banda stands as the party candidate at the 2011 elections. He said the party is convinced that President Banda would bounce back as republican president with a fresh five-year mandate.
Meanwhile president Banda who has welcomed the court’s decision to nullify the Mufumbwe parliamentary election results in which opposition UPND’s Elliott Kamondo was elected MP, said he would not defend any party members that would be found wanting for promoting electoral violence.
Labels: CORRUPTION, ELLIOTT KAMONDO, FINANCE BANK, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA
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Chibombamilimo’s influence can’t be dismissed – Sichilima
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tue 07 Sep. 2010, 11:10 CAT
File Picture: Mbala MMD member of parliament Gaston Sichilima has said.
THE late Lameck Chibombamilimo’s influence cannot be dismissed, Mbala MMD member of parliament Gaston Sichilima has said.
In an interview, Sichilima said Chibombamilimo’s influence in Mpulungu could not be dismissed owing to the number of developmental projects he initiated in the area. Recently, MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga dismissed late Chibombamilimo as not being a factor in the forthcoming by-election.
Sichilima said although Mabenga had earlier issued a statement dismissing Chibombamilimo as a factor in the forthcoming by-election, the fallen legislator was still a factor and had a following.
“He Chibombamilimo was MMD member of parliament and what we are doing is working for the MMD,” he said.
Sichilima denied growing assertions that MMD was losing ground in Mpulungu and Mbala.
“There is no way MMD can lose ground in Mpulungu,” he said. “We are working, we have been working and we will continue working. The people are with us and we have delivered. Mpulungu is just a district that has been born out of Mbala district. So, the level of development in Mpulungu is equal to the mother district. In short, MMD is far away from anybody that would want to come there Mpulungu.”
Sichilima said Mpulungu suffered from severe underdevelopment when it was under the control of the opposition.
And Sichilima said the selection of MMD parliamentary candidate was still open and that the ruling party would not impose a candidate on the people of Mpulungu.
“We are a democratic party and the candidature the people are going to give us is the person we are going to put in there,” said Sichilima. “We are not like these other political parties who go to impose candidates.”
Labels: GASTON SICHILEMA, LAMECK CHIBOMBAMILIMO, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD
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COMMENT - The editor could have added the case of Fred M'membe, where the judge 'disappeared', forcing him to spend a weekend in jail instead of being bailed.
Winning court cases with govt’s help
By The Post
Mon 06 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THERE’S an increasing number of statements from senior government and ruling MMD officials suggesting that they exert undue influence on the judiciary.
This is a very worrying development that should not be taken lightly.
MMD national chairman and lands deputy minister Michael Mabenga has joined the list of those who are bragging about things they should be ashamed of.
A self-respecting government in a democracy would not say anything that undermines the integrity of the judiciary whatever the perceived benefits might be. But this is exactly what Mabenga did the other day when he declared that “people like Ng’andu Magande could not have won elections in Chilanga without the help from government. Magande had won through a court ruling”.
The words spoken by Mabenga require no interpretation. What he said is very clear. But the import is very worrying. Mabenga is not scared to take a public platform and tell the nation that Magande could not have won his election petition in our courts of law without the help of government.
That statement raises the obvious question: what help did government give Magande without which he would not have won the election petition?
Our people have not forgotten that the decision in the Magande election petition took long and seemed to have had some twists and turns.
In that regard, could Mabenga be telling us something that he really ought not to? We ask this because it seems Mabenga is saying that government played an unspecified role in ensuring that Magande won the election petition.
In the context of the many concerns that our people have about the way that our governments seem to get favourable decisions in highly contested matters, Mabenga’s statement is reckless and dangerous. But probably we shouldn’t condemn Mabenga’s statement because the man may be telling the nation some uncomfortable truth.
Mabenga is confirming the fears that many of our people have regarding the way our judiciary operates in relation to those in power. At least from what Mabenga says, it is clear that our government interferes with the judiciary. And Mabenga seems to be sure that Magande would not have won the election petition regarding the Chilanga parliamentary seat without government influence.
It still leaves the question: how did government ensure that Magande won the petition? Was it by creating false evidence or indeed was it by ensuring that the decision of the judge was favourable to those in power? We are asking all these questions because Mabenga says Magande didn’t win that election; he only won it through a court ruling with the help of government.
In a word, what Mabenga is telling us is that there’s an election fraud here that has been sustained through our court system. The fact that this was possible then would suggest that it’s even more possible now. This is what must concern every citizen. Courts exist to make decisions according to the law regardless of the identity of the people involved.
But Mabenga is not the only one who has told the nation that somehow the government has undue influence on the outcome of certain cases. Our people have not forgotten that while the decision in the case involving Frederick Chiluba was still being read in our courts, Rupiah was busy asking the nation, in a way that suggested he knew the outcome, to accept the decision. How did Rupiah know that Chiluba was going to be acquitted?
It was very clear from comments that followed from people like Mike Mulongoti that the government had ensured that the Chiluba decision went in a particular way. This position was also strengthened by their decision to withdraw an appeal that had been legitimately filed against Chiluba’s acquittal.
And Rupiah himself went on to make it clear that he had decided not to appeal Chiluba’s acquittal. This was against the background that such a decision could only be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions. What this demonstrates is that having ensured that Chiluba was acquitted, Rupiah made sure that the matter was removed from the courts.
This also, in some way, ties up with the recent decision by the High Court not to register the London High Court judgment so that it could be enforced against Chiluba and recover for the Zambian people more than US$ 46 million that he and his tandem of thieves had stolen from government.
Again, although the decision of the High Court was clearly wrong, Rupiah ensured that it was not appealed, in total disregard of all the serious ramifications that the decision was going to have.
These comments by people like Mabenga, Rupiah and even Mulongoti do nothing to enhance democracy and the rule of law. If anything, they are a danger to the peace and stability of our country. We say this because conflict is a natural part of any society.
By this we mean to say that every nation at one time or another has to deal with competing interests and the conflict that arises from that.
The organs of the state exist to ensure that those competing interests or conflicts that arise are settled in a manner that is consistent with civilised co-existence in accordance with the rule of law. The courts are a very important organ of the state.
They are supposed to ensure that all conflicts that cannot be resolved by consent through dialogue or some other methods are settled in a civilised manner.
By this we mean that the courts come in and examine the issue and decide according to the established principles and norms enshrined in our laws. What is even more important than the decision that the court makes is the assumption that the parties to the dispute are going to accept the determination that the court makes.
But the acceptance of the court’s determination is based on the belief that the court makes its decision solely on the basis of the facts before it and the law applicable.
This assumption crumbles when people get the impression that one of the parties to a matter that is before a court has an unfair advantage by being in a position to exert undue influence on the court.
When this happens, people lose confidence in the decisions of the courts, and society is then in danger of disintegrating because everybody decides to be their own judges – they take the law into their own hands. And when this happens, both the law and the rule of law, that is democracy itself, are threatened.
The comment by Mabenga feeds directly into a notion that is widely held by many of our people. We may choose to remain quiet about it and pretend all is well, the courts' decisions have been accepted without question, but that will not help anyone.
This is why our courts have to do more to demonstrate to our people that the decisions they make, particularly in politically sensitive cases, are based on nothing else but the law.
When the courts begin to make decisions that are contradictory even on the surface, then we have a problem. Let us look at what has happened with judge Evans Hamaundu’s decision in the Chiluba case and superimpose that with Mabenga’s comments. Judge Hamaundu made a decision that ignored his own earlier decision.
Mabenga comes in and basically brags that the government is able to make people who should lose their cases win them. When we look at these two instances, and to that add the highly questionable acquittal of Chiluba by magistrate Jones Chinyama, we see a worrying trend that should not be ignored. The fact that it is unpalatable should not be used to sweep this problem under the carpet.
If the judiciary is perceived as a subservient extension of the executive, it will not be long before anarchy breaks out in our country. Everything possible needs to be done to ensure that our people retain confidence in our courts' ability to deliberate and determine matters freely and fairly without the government’s direct or indirect undue influence.
Anything short of this will render our judiciary moribund and of no use to our society. What Mabenga has said should cause the judiciary to pause and reflect on its relationship with those in power, those occupying State House.
Labels: CORRUPTION, JUDICIARY, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD
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Citizens Forum thanks Mabenga for confirming
By Patson Chilemba
Mon 06 Sep. 2010, 04:10 CAT
CITIZENS Forum executive director Simon Kabanda has thanked MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga for confirming that the government exerts pressure on the judiciary to pass judgments in their favour.Commenting on Mabenga’s statement that
Chilanga MMD member of parliament Ng’andu Magande could not have won elections without help from the government and that
he won through a court ruling, Kabanda said Mabenga had confirmed that
the MMD had been rigging elections and used the courts to secure judgments in their favour.
“That has been our worry. The experience has shown that they rig elections in various ways and this is the more reason why many results are not acceptable,” Kabanda said.
“Now when people don’t petition those results it does not mean that they have accepted. It is just that they are not happy with the outcome of the court processes.”
Kabanda said Mabenga’s statement showed that only those on the side of MMD could win court cases.
“We are happy for the revelation by Mabenga because he has revealed what they have been doing to influence the processes of the court. There are many times that elections have been petitioned,” he said.
“We have an example of the MMD petitioning the Mufumbwe election. That case has been taken in an express way, very quickly. Other petitions that come from other political parties don’t take the speed that the petition against the Mufumbwe by-election has taken.”
Kabanda said Mabenga had confirmed people’s fears and that was the more reason why there were calls for a proper separation of powers.
He said it was a pity that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) disappointed the nation on the issue of separation of powers.
“The ruling party exerts pressure on the judiciary, and this is the more reason why we need to call for proper separation of powers,” said Kabanda.
Mabenga last week cited Magande as an example of those who were claiming to have massive support from their areas.
“People like Magande could not have won elections in Chilanga without the help from government. Magande had won through a court ruling,” said Mabenga.
Labels: CITIZENS FORUM, CORRUPTION, COURTS, JUDICIARY, MICHAEL MABENGA, SIMON KABANDA
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Hichilema is a son of a dog, says Rupiah
By Speedwell Mupuchi in Mwinilunga and Jane Mwakasungami in Muf
Tue 27 Apr. 2010, 04:10 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda on Sunday said UPND president Hakainde Hichilema is a son of a dog for allegedly likening him to a dog. And MMD chairperson Michael Mabenga has declared that the MMD will field President Banda in the 2011 elections.
Addressing a public rally at Freedom Park in Mwinilunga, President Banda accused Hichilema of having likened him to a dog last week. “I said I am not worried. I am like a father to him, so if I am a dog, then he is a puppy. He is a son of a dog,” President Banda said.
President Banda said in the Zambian Christian society, one could not call someone older than them derogatory names.
“Can you imagine if Hichilema became president, we will all be called dogs. If he wants to become president, there are better ways of doing that than insulting others,” President Banda said. “If I am a dog, he is a dog’s son.”
The interpreter then said in Lunda: “Hikana ka kawa” and President Banda responded: “Kana ka kawa. Your language here is similar to my language; nga neo ndine imbwa, yeve ni mwana wa imbwa!”
Last week in Mongu, Hichilema said if the MMD continued to go along the line of hooliganism, President Banda would be chased like a dog in 2011.
This was after MMD cadres roughed up UPND members who had gone to Mongu airport to welcome Hichilema who had travelled there to witness the Kuomboka ceremony.
The MMD cadres even beat up former UPND Sikongo member of parliament Col Best Makumba’s wife, in full view of the police. They accused the UPND cadres of wearing political attire during the Kuomboka ceremony, contrary to the guidance by the Barotse Royal Establishment. Hichilema condemned the MMD behaviour, describing it as appalling and uncivilised.
“If they go along on this line, Rupiah Banda will be chased like a dog in 2011,” said Hichilema, warning that should UPND and PF direct their youths to fight back the MMD hooliganism, President Banda would not manage to land at places like Mongu airport unless he opted to shoot everyone.
And President Banda at the Mwinilunga rally on Sunday advised young politicians never to underrate the people they talked to.
He said Hichilema had taken politics to mean they should be insulting and calling each other names.
Later in the day, President Banda repeatedly called Hichilema “a son of a dog” in Mufumbwe where he is campaigning for the MMD candidate Mulondwe Muzungu.
President Banda also said Patriotic Front president Michael Sata and Hichilema had been rejected a combined total of five times because they did not have what it took to be president of the country.
He bragged about having come out either number one or two in different areas during the 2008 presidential by-election where he emerged winner.
“In Southern Province, UPND was number one followed by me, then (Heritage Party president Brig General Godfrey) Miyanda and number four who was miserably at the bottom was Sata. A question that one can ask him (Hichilema) is, people of Southern Province thought Sata was not suitable for president and thought Hichilema was suitable.
Does it make sense for HH to go and ask a failure to become pact member only to dethrone the MMD government?” President Banda asked. “My retort to the two politicians that have ganged up to remove the MMD is, I will go out into the country and make a pact with Zambians as we have always done. That’s why they are violent. They are desperate. The two of them are tired of losing five times, they are so bitter and desperate to win.”
President Banda said he was equally determined to bring Sata and Hichilema down because the MMD was determined to serve Zambians and continue with development.
And speaking on arrival in Mufumbwe, President Banda continued to call Hichilema a puppy.
“I want to repeat this so that everybody understands. A lot of people came to me to say how can you allow this? The Laws of Zambia allow you to deal with it, this is not to insult an elected President. Why are you not doing this? Why don’t you do that? No, no, no. Give me chance.
I am also answering,” President Banda said, amid shouting and ululating by MMD members. “The father of HH is just like me. We are the same age, unless he doesn’t know his father. If he thinks that I am a dog, he must be a puppy. Ngati neo indine imbwa, yeve ni mwana wa imbwa (if I am a dog, he is a puppy).”
President Banda advised Hichilema to choose his words.
“We don’t want politics of insults, Zambians don’t want. I know that Zambians don’t want, you know why? He has tried to be president twice and you have rejected him, mwana wa imbwa (a puppy). You have rejected him twice! Now he has gone to make a pact with another one like him. And this other one I know you don’t like him either,” President Banda said.
He told the people not to allow Zambia to be turned into a battlefield, not even by the excitement of frustrated people. He reminded people of his revelation of administration of councils controlled by the Patriotic Front on the Copperbelt.
He said all the money that the government gave the councils and that which they raised from rates, mines and other business houses for service delivery was used on themselves and not the people.
“I know that with your twin newspaper, you are going to answer me. Please spare me the insults, just tell the Zambian people if I am telling lies,” he said.
President Banda advised Hichilema never to fool himself that he would win Mufumbwe just because he won in Solwezi. He said this time around, MMD had mobilised youths, mothers and fathers to vote for Muzungu. He expressed confidence that Muzungu would carry the day.
He hoped Muzungu would emulate his hard work in North-Western Province. He promised people of Mufumbwe of continued development as long as funds were available.
“These people are campaigning negatively by pointing out on negatives only. I have come here to support a great son of Zambia and Mufumbwe who I have known for a long time and I can testify about his good attributes of leadership. He can stand at any forum internationally,” said President Banda.
And MMD campaign manager Daniel Kalenga assured President Banda of victory in the Mufumbwe by-election.
Provincial chairman Kinakin Patel said MMD had learnt a lesson from the Solwezi by-election and would improve in Mufumbwe.
And Muzungu thanked President Banda for his support and condemned the violence going on in the campaigns. He advised the MMD to refrain from violence and alleged that the opposition were perpetrating violence.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL MABENGA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Zambia: Musokotwane happy with North-Western projects
FINANCE and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has said he is impressed with the development projects Government is undertaking in North-Western Province.
And MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga has expressed satisfaction at the overwhelming support the ruling party is receiving in Milanzi ahead of the April 29 by-election.
Dr Musokotwane said while the opposition parties were criticising the Government, the Zambian people were happy with the projects being undertaken.
He said yesterday that the Ministry of Finance had intensified the monitoring of Government projects to ensure funds were used prudently.
The minister, who is currently touring projects in North-Western Province said he was interested in seeing how the projects were developing.
The minister was inspecting development projects in Zambezi, Kabompo, Kasempa, and Mufumbwe in North-Western Province.
And Mr Mabenga, who addressed a rally in Dole Ward in Milanzi Constituency on Sunday, together with MMD campaign manager, Eustarckio Kazonga said the party was receiving massive support in the area.
He expressed confidence that the ruling party would retain the seat with a landslide victory.
Times of Zambia
Labels: INFRASTRUCTURE, MICHAEL MABENGA, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE
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Mabenga condemns Findlay’s hatred for Lambas
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 30 Mar. 2010, 04:01 CAT
MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga yesterday condemned Copperbelt former party chairperson Terence Findlay’s hatred for the Lamba people and late president Levy Mwanawasa.
Commenting on Findlay’s recent revelation that he hated Lambas, Mabenga said he was disappointed with Findlay’s statement.
“Yes, chief Machiya, I am terribly disappointed. I am saying this from the depth of my heart, and I am saying this on behalf of the party because first and foremost, Findlay must be speaking as an individual, not as a party. He doesn’t hold any position of authority anywhere. Terence Findlay was removed as provincial chairman because of indiscipline. That removal still holds, and no one has lifted that kind of punishment,” Mabenga said.
“So whatever he has said, we condemn, and let it be understood that that does not come from any hierarchy of our party in any way. It doesn’t.”
But when reminded that Findlay was recently with former president Frederick Chiluba on the Copperbelt to campaign for President Rupiah Banda, Mabenga responded:
“Well, let me tell you this, anyone even when not invited can do whatever they want to do because they are free to do what they can do, yes. But I can tell you, no one sanctioned his movements there, from the party hierarchy, no.”
On assertions that President Banda wanted to reinstate Findlay as provincial chairperson, Mabenga responded: “No, we haven’t heard that. If you are hearing that then that’s you hearing that. But I haven’t heard it.”
Findlay recently revealed to Lusaka lawyer Wynter Kabimba that he hated Lambas and president Mwanawasa because they wanted to send him to jail for 15 years.
On assertions by North Western Province MMD youth chairperson Newton Malwa that the party would lose if they adopted another candidate other than Elliot Kamondo, Mabenga advised Malwa to wait and listen to what his superiors in the province and the MMD national executive committee (NEC) would do.
“The observations he made are misplaced, and we suspect that he must be working for other people, and not really this party,” said Mabenga.
On the argument by Malwa that the MMD lost Solwezi-Central because they did not listen to him over the adoption of the candidate, Mabenga said whatever happened there was recommendation by the grassroots.
Labels: MICHAEL MABENGA, TERRENCE FINDLAY, TRIBALISM
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