Gwanda backs MCP, UDF alliance
Nyasa Times
16 April, 2009 11:47:00
New Republican Party (NRP) president Gwanda Chakuamba has thrown his political heavyweight to the electoral alliance of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF).
Chakuamba said he was the first person to call for MCP leader John Tembo to work together with UDF and former president Bakili Muluzi to form the next government. The veteran politician said he was happy that MCP and UDF have reached an agreement to work together and he said the agenda is not only to remove incumbent from power.
“I am supporting the alliance and will go flat out to campaign for it. I will camp in Lower Shire to sell this ticket and go all over to campaign for the alliance with all my energies,” said Chakuamba.
He said the agenda of the alliance is to “uphold the constitution, restore democracy and enhance good governance.”
“The law has been applied selectively during the rule of the current administration,” said Chakuamba citing suffocation of anti-defection law, Section 65.
He also said failure to call parliament in time and appointing people in public positions without the authority of parliament thereby violating the constitution.
Chakuamba said the Grand Alliance will ensure to develop Malawi and share the development cake equally to all parts of the country.
NRP leader said there were many ills in the country that need to be reversed by change of leadership.
Labels: GWANDA CHAKUAMBA, JOHN TEMBO, MCP, NRP, POLITICS
Read more...
Impeach Banda, Lukuku urges MPs
Written by Mutale Kapekele
Saturday, February 21, 2009 6:51:33 AM
MEMBERS of parliament should impeach President Rupiah Banda for condoning corruption, former New Revolution Party (NRP) secretary general James Lukuku has said.
In an interview yesterday, Lukuku said it was clear from the events that happened during last year's presidential campaigns and the recent developments in the Ministry of Communications and Transport that President Banda condoned corruption.
"I was the first person to come out in the open to expose corrupt activities that President Banda and his campaign team were involved in during the run up to the presidential elections last year and I did warn the nation that this government was not going to be transparent and corruption-free," Lukuku said.
"From the way President Banda is supporting Dora Siliya, it is clear that he does not take corruption seriously and it is high time that Zambians passed a vote of no confidence in him and his government. My appeal is to the members of parliament to impeach President Banda and come up with a transitional government to run the country until 2011."
He said when President Banda supported Siliya in the Zamtel and RP Capital Partners deal, without considering the advice from the Attorney General, he supported corruption and should therefore be impeached.
"President Banda has demonstrated gross misconduct by supporting the Minister of Communication and Transport [Siliya], even when it is clear that there was corruption and abuse of authority involved," Lukuku said. "That is solid ground for the President to be impeached."
He said Zambians in the civil service would not allow corrupt leaders to take them for granted and he appealed to those with information about corrupt activities and abuse of authority to come out and tell the nation.
"From what has happened at FRA [Food Reserve Agency where GMO maize was imported in the country], at Zamtel and National Airports, it is clear that not all Zambians in the civil service condone corruption and they are becoming responsible by exposing corrupt vices," Lukuku said.
"We don't know what is happening in other ministries and I am urging civil servants to come out with information because it is clear that we are in a mess and we need to restore leadership of integrity to the nation."
He recalled that President Banda said it would be difficult for him to rule this country in his inaugural speech because he knew that Zambians would not just sit and watch the government do wrong things.
"President Banda acknowledged that it would be difficult for him to rule this country because he knows that Zambians no longer condone wrong things," Lukuku said.
"Everything is going wrong in the country now. We don't know the future of the kwacha, jobs are being lost every day and we are not hearing a strong voice from the government as to what they are doing about all this. To make matters worse, our President is always going out of the country as if issues wherever he goes are more important than what is happening here."
And Lukuku disclosed that he was approached by suspected government agents to fabricate stories against The Post.
"The government is always looking for a way of sorting out The Post and I can confirm that they have formed what they are calling the Lukuku factor," he said.
"I was approached by a man, who I suspect is from the system, and he told me that I could make a lot of money if I agreed to work against The Post. He told me to go to the media and claim that The Post paid me money to speak against President Banda and Mike Mulongoti during last year's presidential campaigns. We talked for a long time but in the end I refused to take up the offer because I was looking at the future and not just financial gains."
Lukuku said the government wanted to use the fabricated stories to discredit The Post and compel them to join the Media Ethics Council of Zambia (MECOZ).
Last year prior to the presidential elections, Lukuku revealed that President Banda had given the NRP K15 million for them to endorse his candidature for the elections. However, President Banda denied the allegation but on the same day, his campaign manager then and now works and supply minister Mulongoti said the money given to NRP was just a donation from the big brother party. After the elections, Lukuku was arrested more than once on charges he claimed were politically motivated.
Labels: IMPEACHMENT, JAMES LUKUKU, NRP, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Lukuku fears for his life
By Chibaula Silwamba
Friday October 03, 2008 [04:00]
NATIONAL Revolution Party (NRP) former secretary general James Lukuku yesterday revealed that he is fearing for his life following his recent revelation that Vice-President Rupiah Banda paid the NRP to endorse his candidature ahead of the October 30 presidential elections.
Narrating the threats he has been receiving following his revelations last week, Lukuku said New Generation Party (NGP) president Humphrey Siulapwa - who has endorsed Vice-President Banda’s candidature - had informed him that his life was under threat hence he Siulapwa was ready to organise a press conference at which he could denounce The Post and apologise to Vice-President Banda.
“I would like to tell all the Zambians that this testimony that I am giving, if anything happened to me today or tomorrow, according to the information that I have gotten, Siulapwa has claimed he has very strong connections with the government, he has told me that the Office of the President personnel are after me.
He is actually saying the government is so displeased with the statements I have been making to the media as of late,” said Lukuku in an interview at Post head office in Lusaka. “Should anything happen to me, Zambians will have their own judgment as to where and how I have died, if it means dying. Whatever thing should happen to me that is unfortunate, touching on my soul, on my body, on my life.
“I am hereby saying that Zambians will have to judge and will know where my death would come from because even when I have just arrived at The Post offices there is a number that has just called me, the number is 0966340948. This call is from an anonymous caller who has just told me that he has just given me brotherly advice who said that if I love my life I should desist from the statements that I have been making of late.
This call can be retrieved and traced from MTN because he was using MTN number and it can be confirmed that I was telling the truth, just like the SMS I received from Siulapwa. These are my concerns,” Lukuku said. “But I have to mention that this is not the first time. I have been receiving anonymous calls asking about my whereabouts and everything. I want to state here categorically that whatever the case is, I can never be scared because I believe that it is only God that knows my destiny. If this is the cause for which I was meant to be killed, if this is a cause for which I was meant to die, there is no way I can be scared because no one runs away from death. If these people can’t take me down, other diseases or other vices could always take my life.”
Lukuku declared that he would never be intimidated.
“I will never be scared of anything and I am always going to speak what I know and I am never going to reverse my statement for the sake of anybody else or anything else. This is the truth,” Lukuku said.
Lukuku narrated that on Tuesday, Siulapwa asked him for a meeting at which they would find the way forward concerning his revelations.
“I have been approached by Humphrey Siulapwa. The first day that I met him, it was at Lusaka Hotel on Tuesday. I received a call after I had a programme on Yatsani Radio, which apparently Siulapwa was listening to. He called me immediately after I finished the interview with Mwenya Mukuku of Yatsani Radio. He said that he really wanted to meet me. So I was not in the position of refusing saying, ‘you, you can’t meet me.’ That was on phone and we made an appointment that we meet at Lusaka Hotel. So when I got into town about an hour or so, around 10:00 hours, Siulapwa called me and said he was already at Lusaka Hotel if I was ready to meet him,” Lukuku narrated. “So, I went to Lusaka Hotel where we had a meeting and he said that he was very worried and very concerned about the issues that I was saying in the newspaper about the publications that have been coming from The Post.
He categorically told me that the very important thing he was concerned about was the fact that he had concrete information, using his connections with the government, that the biggest thing that was at stake was my life. He mentioned that the OP persons Office of the President/Zambia Security Intelligence Service were underground looking at my issue, looking at all the activities that I am doing and he specifically put it that for now I don’t have to consider myself as somebody who is free and that I have created too many enemies. He mentioned that I have stepped on very dangerous toes and that my life was really in danger.”
Lukuku said Siulapwa told him that the only way he Lukuku could gain back his freedom, move freely again and ensure his future safety, was by apologising to Vice-President Banda.
“Siulapwa said that he was in the position of organising a press conference on which I could do so and he said as a young person, I don’t have anything to lose.
The other thing that could help me get back friendship with the government and the state machinery was in fact that I should denounce The Post and say that they had bribed me into giving the story which has dominated the media in the recent past for a week or so and that he was going to organise a press conference where I could do so,” Lukuku narrated. “Siulapwa was actually going to facilitate my meeting with Cozmo Mumba president of NRP so that we apparently do reconciliation in line with the same so that we could actually shame the enemy, the enemies being the media particularly and specifically The Post being the media institution that actually originated the story.”
Lukuku said, in response, he told Siulapwa he was ready to meet Cozmo.
“I said that quite alright I have always been of the concerns that the government is not pleased with the statement that I made, if you are saying that there is that interest for me to meet with Cozmo and to meet with you so that we can discuss whatever has happened in the recent few days.
I said it is okay we can have a meeting which he proposed that it was supposed to be held at his residence in Chelstone,” Lukuku narrated. “Siulapwa was going to play the mediatory role then me I was actually going to have a discussion with Cozmo then we can plan and forge ahead on how best I could shift the tables around and denounce The Post newspaper.”
However, he said he consulted his relatives and friends who advised him not to attend any such meetings.
“...because I have got relatives, friends and advisors, I went and I told my uncle, I told a certain colleague of mine from NRP and few other people. I told them about the development and everybody advised me not even to respond to their telephone calls, not even to have any meetings with either Cozmo or Siulapwa concerning anything to do with the bribery allegations, bribery case I have put against the (Acting) Republican President Mr Rupiah Banda. It was around 18:00 hours or 19:00 hours on Tuesday, Siulapwa called me. He said ‘where am I going to find you’? So by then I was heading home, so I told him that you are going to meet me at Friday’s Corner, somewhere near Kabulonga,” Lukuku explained. “When I got home he Siulapwa called me, I never picked up the phone. He called me again but I didn’t pick up the phone. He called me about 19 or 20 times but I didn’t pick up the phone.”He said after that, Siulapwa sent him a text message.
“What followed was a text message which read as follows: ‘My young brother, be strong, this is your opportunity to get your freedom back. If you can’t come at least talk to me.’ This message came at 19:07 hours. He text me using mobile phone number 0977637824,” Lukuku explained.
Lukuku further explained that after receiving that text message, Siulapwa called him again twice but he did not pick up his phone.
“But when he called the third time after I received the message, I spoke to him and what I said was, ‘I have decided to cancel the meeting.’ I told him that I am not in a position of meeting Cozmo Mumba and you might as well excuse me,” Lukuku explained. “Then he said, ‘James I am your friend, I know you might not be in a position of meeting Cozmo Mumba but can we meet again tomorrow’ meaning Wednesday, meaning yesterday, ‘so that I tell you the direction we are supposed to take’.”
He said at this point, he agreed to meet Siulapwa the following day at Lusaka Hotel.
“That was how yesterday I went to meet him at Lusaka Hotel. When we met at Lusaka Hotel on Wednesday around 14:00 hours it was about the same story but this time it had even intensified because he had now said he was going to organise a package.
Part of it was going to be used for press conference at Holiday Inn or at Lusaka Hotel, part of it was going to come to me and the basis of the press conference was for me to discredit The Post and whereby I was going to shake hands with Cozmo and say ‘we have been used by the media’ and say ‘The Post have blown this case to unacceptable proportion otherwise that was just a donation which was refused’,” Lukuku explained. “And what the meeting was to resolve was that Siulapwa was going to draft a statement for me which I was just supposed to read at the press conference, whereby I was not supposed to say anything that was coming from my own conscience but I was supposed to say something that was supposed to come from Siulapwa having drafted it and I was going to follow in that direction.”
However, Lukuku said he had planned to use the same press conference to denounce the orginisers.
“What was of interest to me was that the bravery I was going to show was attending the press conference, then I was going to shame them even more by denouncing them even more, using their own press conference to speak with my conscienceness because everything I am doing is not coming out of malice, everything that I am doing is not coming out of being a good boy for anybody but it’s out of principle,” he said.
Lukuku further said he had observed how Americans conducted their politics in a clean manner.
“In American politics, you don’t need to pay anybody anything for you to be nominated as a candidate for the Democrats or Republicans. You have to show your intelligence and capabilities that you have and people are going to judge you on that premise,” Lukuku observed. “That has been my interest and the quest I am going to champion and that is the future that I would like to create for this country so that anything that we are going to do should be done on clean basis.”
Lukuku explained that Siulapwa told him to be on the side of the government if he wanted to be safe.
“Siulapwa was actually telling me that ‘when you look at your security, you are not going to compare yourself with the people that are trying to use you. That is The Post newspaper. Look at Fred M’membe’; according to him he said M’membe is the owner of The Post. He said Fred M’membe stays in a well-secured house, Fred M’membe drives a bullet-proof Mercedes Benz and wherever he goes, he drives himself and wherever he goes he is secured and it’s very difficult for the government to touch him,” Lukuku explained. “Siulapwa said ‘you cannot compare yourself to Fred M’membe because you are walking around and you are everywhere, you don’t even have money and you don’t have resources to protect yourself like Fred M’membe, the person who is trying to use you’.”
Lukuku also dismissed allegations that he had been paid by The Post for the story.
“When I came here, I gave the story to the reporter, Agness, and I left. I didn’t stand here to say, ‘Oh! Mr. Malupenga are you going to give me some money for transport? Are you going to give some money that I am going to use because I have given you this story? No, because that is against the virtues and values that I believe in,” Lukuku said. “I am not going to do anything for the sake that I should be paid, for the sake that I should destroy some people. I am always going to make statements that are in accordance with the truth and in accordance with my beliefs.”
Lukuku also said The Post, through its editorial comments, columns, letters to the editor page and other contents had helped many Zambians to know a lot of things that were going on within and outside Zambia.
But when contacted for comment, Siulapwa said he did not want to be dragged into the NRP saga.
“First all of all, Mr Chibaula Silwamba, you The Post as far as you are concerned me, Siulapwa, is not a newsmaker. I have nothing sensible that I can give to you. So why do you want my views?” Siulapwa asked.
When reminded that The Post was giving him an opportunity to give his side of the story to balance it in the spirit of fairness before it was published, Siulapwa said: “Which fairness are you talking about? Just because the story is in your favour, you are talking about fairness. Anyway, my point is that I am not prepared to talk to you because you are not prepared to cover me.”
Siulapwa said he was not a member of NRP hence he did not want to discuss what was going on in that party.
“Let me say that I am not a member of NRP and I have nothing to do with the NRP saga and I am not prepared to drag myself into the things which I don’t know,” Siulapwa said.
Asked if he had phoned, sent him any message or met Lukuku to advise him about the dangers on his life; and to persuade him to apologise to Vice-President Banda and denounce The Post, Siulapwa responded: “I have no story for you.”
Labels: DEATH THREATS, JAMES LUKUKU, NRP
Read more...
TIZ challenges Rupiah to come clean on NRP
By Nicholas Mwale, Macheu Chiwawa and Chibaula Silwamba
Sunday September 28, 2008 [04:00]
TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka has challenged Vice-President Rupiah Banda and the MMD to come out clean on the funding of the National Revolution Party (NRP). And UPND presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema said Zambians will be justified to reject the outcome of the October 30 presidential elections if the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) does not take action against the governing MMD for engaging in bribery.
Addressing trainee journalists at The Post headquarters on Friday, Lifuka wondered what the MMD expected in return from the ‘small parties’ they claimed to have funded.
“If Mulongoti’s theory is correct that MMD donation to ‘small political parties’ was just to assist them, then he should also tell us what those parties will do for MMD,” Lifuka said.
He wondered why the transaction between NRP president Cozmo Mumba and Vice-President Rupiah Banda took place at Government House.
“If the transaction between Cozmo and RB was political party to political party, it should have taken place at the party secretariat,” Lifuka noted. “Why at Government House?”
Lifuka said what happened was political corruption because it was meant to win the support of NRP.
“They should also tell us how many other political parties have received the support of MMD,” he said. “We challenge them to publish the names of the political parties that have received such funding. This will create credibility in the fight against corruption.”
He expressed shock at the contradictory statements from the MMD campaign team over the financing of NRP.
“If you have followed the news stories surrounding the K15 million donation, the whole thing is not making sense. You have RB denying the allegations, and you have Mulongoti confirming that they funded the party so that it can be self sustained,” Lifuka said. “Even the issue of having seen Cozmo and his team at Government House, William Banda denied it while others confirmed the issue.”
He said it was unfortunate that according to the Constitution, the Acting President could not dissolve Cabinet, hence it was difficult to know if a minister was speaking as a minister or campaigning.
“For example, Mulongoti’s speech from his ministerial office was purely on a campaign issue,” Lifuka observed.
He said TIZ might ask the Chief Justice to set a tribunal to query if Mulongoti’s conduct was in line with the Electoral Code of Conduct.
Lifuka further said the Acting President should have asked those ministers who were closely connected with campaigns to go on official leave because it was difficult to know if they were speaking as ministers or campaign managers.
And commenting on the contradiction between Vice-President Banda that he did not give the NRP K15 million while Mulongoti later acknowledged giving the money to the opposition party, Hichilema said the MMD’s bribery was disgusting.
“If the bribes are clearly evident... you have seen it, yesterday Thursday Rupiah Banda saying no, and Mulongoti saying yes and openly saying it is normal for MMD to bribe political parties. To say the least it’s disgusting,” said Hichilema on Friday. “I think that the Electoral Commission and the Anti Corruption Commission must take up this matter. Obviously if this continues and the Electoral Commission does nothing, it justifies the people of Zambia rejecting results.”
He warned the ECZ against tolerating malpractices during the campaigns.
“We also want to send a clear message to the ECZ that any unfair conduct will not be acceptable in the running of these elections,” Hichilema said.
“We are already aware; the MMD has openly confirmed that they are bribing even opposition political parties. I wonder how they can wage the war against corruption if they are leading the way in corrupt activities, so it means that this will transcend electoral process. We do not expect this to be what Zambian people ought to be given.”
Hichilema said the UPND expected a platform that would allow Zambians to elect the best presidential candidate to take the country to the next level.
And Vice-President Rupiah Banda’s campaigner Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika likened MMD campaign manager Mike Mulongoti to a ‘houseboy’ over his statement admitting that the governing party had ‘donated’ K15 million to the NRP.
Aka said the statement attributed to Vice-President Banda, was the official position of the MMD on the matter.
However, he could not categorically say whether the statement attributed to Mulongoti was a lie or the truth.
Reminded that Mulongoti was the MMD’s campaign manager and his statement confirmed what transpired, Aka responded: “Well, he is a campaign manager; a campaign manager is like a houseboy. It’s like listening to a houseboy and the owner of the house. Obviously the voice of the owner of the house should carry more weight.”
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, NRP, RUPIAH BANDA, TIZ
Read more...
NRP withdraws support for Rupiah
By Maluba Jere
Saturday September 27, 2008 [04:00]
INFORMATION minister Mike Mulongoti has contradicted Vice-President Rupiah Banda with his revelation that the MMD 'donated' K15 million to the opposition National Revolution Party (NRP) for filing nominations.
Vice-President Banda had earlier said that reports in The Post that he gave K15 million to NRP leaders for them to support him in the October 30 presidential elections were mere politics meant to scandalise him.
Former NRP secretary general James Lukuku revealed on Wednesday that NRP had received K15 million from Vice-President Banda to endorse his candidature.
And reacting to this revelation Mulongoti - during a press briefing on Thursday - confirmed that MMD had given the K15 million to NRP. He justified the 'gift', saying there was nothing wrong with offering assistance to small political parties.
Mulongoti said the MMD gave K15 million to NRP after its president, Cozmo Mumba, requested for financial assistance. He said it was sad that certain sections of the media wanted to politicise the money given to NRP to enable it file nominations.
"As campaign manager there are many people who have gone there to see me, looking for assistance because either the party is too small, they have no capacity or they are honest enough to realise that MMD we are a bigger and stronger party and that the political parties who are supposed to help them realise that it would be a waste of money to invest in a political party which has no chance of winning elections," Mulongoti said.
"And we are a bigger brother and we are proud to say that if people come and make a request as a political party, if we can help, we are free to help. It does not imply that we are corrupting anybody. There is no need to corrupt people because we have support all over the country. Those who are busy trying to undermine us by pretending that the people they are supporting are much more holier than us, we know who they are."
And according to the Times of Zambia yesterday, Mulongoti said Cozmo Mumba had in the past asked to be linked to Vice-President Banda's campaign. He said he had asked Cozmo what exactly he wanted to discuss with Vice-President Banda. He said Cozmo said he wanted to discuss matter concerning elections.
He further asked if Cozmo had any other business to discuss with Vice-President Banda. Cozmo disclosed that his party needed resources for transport from constituencies to the Supreme Court to file presidential nomination papers, food for 500 people, banners, public address system and fuel totaling K15.5 million.
Mulongoti said he advised Cosmo that he was not comfortable with the issue regarding resources in that the MMD also needed the same resources. He said the same day he had a telephone conversation with Cozmo, Mulongoti found Cozmo at Government House where he handed over a copy of NRP's budget to him.
However, Mulongoti's revelation was contrary to what Vice-President Banda said when he visited the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) offices on Thursday morning.
Vice-President Banda said media allegations that he bribed opposition party officials for them to endorse his presidential candidature in the October 30 elections were mere politics. Vice-President Banda said those who came up with the story carried in The Post on Thursday were merely trying to scandalise him.
Vice-President Banda said it was not possible to buy support to be a leader of a country. He said a person could only become president through people's wishes.
"People have to elect you as a legitimate president of the country," he said.
Meanwhile, NRP former secretary general James Lukuku said Mulongoti had exposed the corruption in MMD.
Lukuku said he had been vindicated by Mulongoti's statement.
"He Mulongoti has just exposed the corruption that is in the MMD and I would urge the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures," Lukuku said. "We are being ruled by people with no integrity. People must know that what goes round comes around and this is the bribery I was talking about."
Lukuku wondered why Mulongoti earlier denied having given money to the NRP, saying he had now contradicted himself.
"The information minister's statement on national television has vindicated me because he himself refused having given the party NRP money," Lukuku said. "The statement is most welcome because some sections of society thought I had orchestrated the story about the K15 million."
But Cozmo yesterday denied having received K15 million from the MMD and accused Mulongoti of being a liar. He said both Mulongoti and Lukuku were liars with hidden agendas.
"I never met Mulongoti to talk about anything but I had a meeting with the Vice-President and in our meeting, there was no money involved. We talked about other things but nothing to do with money," Cozmo said. "I challenge Mulongoti to confess if he gave me any envelope. Maybe he gave it to Lukuku and if he Lukuku got that money then he should return it."
Cozmo also said he had resolved to withdraw his earlier support for Vice-President Banda, saying people had misunderstood his endorsement.
"The indication right now is that we were going to support Mr. Rupiah Banda because of the same money. We have now relinquished our support because it seems we were bought to rally behind Rupiah Banda," Cozmo said.
"We have also boycotted the elections and I would like to advise all my members not to vote in the presidential election but rather support our candidate in Ndola Central Constituency. We will not support anyone, whether it is Mr. Banda, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema HH or Patriotic Front Michael Sata but support our candidate in the parliamentary election."
Cozmo also urged the ACC to investigate the matter and ensure that culprits were brought to book.
When contacted for comment yesterday over Cozmo's statement, Mulongoti said he did not have time for immoral people before cutting the line.
"I have no time for immoral people. That's all I can say," said Mulongoti.
But Lukuku warned Cozmo to stop denying having received money from the MMD, saying he would expose him of other things.
On Wednesday, Lukuku revealed that NRP had received K15 million from Vice-President Banda to endorse his candidature.
Lukuku said the NRP had a meeting with Vice-President Banda where they presented their budget of K80 million but that the Vice-President told them that they had only prepared K15 million for them.
Lukuku said Vice-President Banda then asked them to collect the money from William Banda who was outside his office with Mulongoti. According to Lukuku, the envelope containing the K15 million was wrongly given to Victory Ministries founding pastor Nevers Mumba but that it was later retrieved with the help of William Banda.
Lukuku then differed with Cozmo over his decision to support Vice-President Banda because the NRP had earlier resolved to endorse Hichilema's candidature.
When they didn't agree, Lukuku resigned from the party.
And when contacted for comment on Wednesday, Cozmo said Lukuku had been fired from the party about four days before his meeting with Vice-President Banda.
However, he confirmed having met Vice-President Banda where they discussed continuity, the genuineness of the K30 billion Youth Fund as well as the involvement of young people in national development.
Cozmo denied having received money from the Vice-President.
William Banda said Cozmo did not meet Vice-President Banda, adding that if he went to Government House, he could have definitely seen him.
Mulongoti was very upset when contacted to comment on the matter.
"Do you think I have a job like that of being an usher? I am asking you. You think with my status I can be an usher?" asked Mulongoti.
"That man is an Acting President. He has protocol officers. Will it be in order for me as a minister to turn into an usher? You are just being malicious because you know that at my level I can't be an usher."
Mulongoti said his presence at Government House did not mean he was ushering in people that wanted to meet the Vice-President.
"You mean I should not be at Government House? If I am there, I am meeting the Revolution Party?" Mulongoti asked before hanging up.
Labels: MIKE MULONGOTI, NRP, RUPIAH BANDA
Read more...
Rupiah is lying - Lukuku
By Patson Chilemba, Noel Sichalwe and Lambwe Kachali
Friday September 26, 2008 [04:00]
OPPOSITION National Revolution Party (NRP) former secretary general James Lukuku yesterday said Vice-President Rupiah Banda is lying by saying that he cannot buy the presidency with money.
And Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka reminded Vice-President Banda and those surrounding him that the jobs and promises they were allegedly offering to some people visiting Government House would become the albatross around their necks.
Lukuku's comments come in the wake of Vice-President Banda's statement yesterday that he would not buy the presidency.
Vice-President Banda, who visited the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) offices, said it was not possible to buy support to be a leader of a country. He said a person could only become president through people's wishes.
"People have to elect you as a legitimate president of the country," he said.
Vice-President Banda said his visit to the ACC demonstrated his commitment towards the fight against corruption and hoped that other presidential aspirants would emulate him. He said the visit to ACC meant that he had also visited other institutions fighting corruption like TIZ and others.
"I am committing myself to the fight against corruption," Vice-President Banda said. He said jobs for ACC employees were assured because they were working on behalf of Zambians.
Before getting in his official vehicle, Vice-President Banda was mobbed by street vendors that complained that council officials were confiscating their merchandise.
In response, Vice-President Banda said he could not do anything until he talked to the council to understand why they were taking such an action.
But Lukuku maintained that Vice-President Banda gave NRP K15 million in order to secure their endorsement of him in the October 30 presidential election.
"If he is saying he cannot buy the presidency using money, why did he give us K15 million? Before we went there, the K15 million was already waiting for us. I cannot do a fabrication over him, and what benefit is it for me to make all sorts of accusations against him?" Lukuku asked. "What is he going to do if it is found to be true?"
Lukuku said the truth shall be established that Vice-President Banda gave K15 million to NRP for the party to endorse his candidature. He said Vice-President Banda gave his former party an initial amount of K15 million with a promise to give them K40 million for campaigns after he files his nomination papers today.
Lukuku said he also expected former Republican vice-president pastor Nevers Mumba and William Banda to be honest.
Lukuku also revealed that he had received several anonymous calls from people who were asking for his whereabouts after his revelations that Vice-President Banda paid them K15 million in The Post yesterday. He warned that he would report the matter to the Anti-Corruption Corruption and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for investigations.
And Reuben Lifuka said Zambia was at a crossroads in terms of fighting corruption. He said Zambia risked reversing all the gains made in the last few years on account of greed for power by various political players.
"We are worried that Zambia can easily be mortgaged to the highest bidder just for the sake of ascending to power," Lifuka said. "A few days ago, Transparency International Zambia launched the TI Corruption Perception Index for 2008 and we did indicate that there was some positive movement on the CPI. It is a pity that today, we are learning of serious allegations that could wipe out several years of the crusade against corruption, which has been implemented at great cost to this country."
Lifuka said TIZ found the allegations of impropriety on the part of Vice-President Banda and his campaign team to be serious and needed an immediate response.
He challenged Vice-President Banda to state his position on the matter and also requested ACC and ECZ to investigate the allegations as a matter of urgency.
"We need to see immediate action before other political players take up the cue from the ruling party and engage in wanton political corruption, thus diluting the whole essence of democratic elections," Lifuka said.
He warned all political parties participating in the October 30 elections to desist from corruption.
"You may lose an election by being clean but you will gain the respect and admiration of the majority of Zambians for your stance.
Our elections in the past few years, have lacked role models. We have had too many hypocrites who say one thing about fighting corruption and do the opposite under the cover of darkness," Lifuka said. "It is a pity that in this year's elections, we are yet again witnessing politicians who have a fragile veneer of integrity."
Lifuka said the 2008 elections should be different and politicians should not disregard the principle of gaining power on a convincing political platform. He said that vote-buying and other forms of political corruption served as a catalyst to the general loss of faith in politics, politicians and political parties.
"We wish to remind the Acting President and the people around him that the jobs and promises that they are alleged to be offering to some of the people visiting Government House will become the albatross around their necks," said Lifuka. "The Zambian people are watching and the impact of such political corruption is clearly understood; and in due time the Zambian people will demand for answers."
Labels: JAMES LUKUKU, NRP, RUPIAH BANDA, TIZ
Read more...
Walubita Jnr resigns from NRP
By Kelvin Tembo
Friday June 20, 2008 [04:00]
KELI Walubita Jnr yesterday announced his resignation from the National Revolution Party (NRP) following his suspension over an alleged coup against party leader Cosmo Mumba. Reacting to his suspension in a walk-in interview, Keli said the accusation of a coup was baseless because Cosmo was not worth overthrowing.
"I have resigned because I have seen that the party does not have a vision for the young people which I thought it had," he said.
Keli said he regretted having associated himself with such a visionless party and a leader who just wanted to use the opportunity for his personal gain.
On Tuesday, NRP secretary general James Lukuko announced the suspension of Keli as spokesperson and gave him seven days in which to exculpate himself over allegations that he tried to unseat Mumba.
Labels: KELI WALUBITA, NRP, PARTIES
Read more...
