Maravi

Rupiah can’t reverse political tide on C/belt, says Mpombo

Rupiah can’t reverse political tide on C/belt, says Mpombo
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 24 Apr. 2010, 04:20 CAT

GEORGE Mpombo yesterday observed that President Rupiah Banda’s activities on the Copperbelt are an exercise in futility because he will not reverse the tide of political change in the province. And Mpombo said President Banda’s attacks on The Post are unacceptable.

Commenting on President Banda’s instruction to immediately sell Itawa and Chinese flats in Ndola as well as attacks on the Patriotic Front (PF)-controlled councils which he said had failed to perform, Mpombo who is Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament and former defence minister said President Banda had failed to deliver to warrant votes from the people.

“It President Banda’s activities is an exercise in political futility. If he thinks he can change the tide of political wave on the Copperbelt to his favour, I think it is an engagement of futility because so far he hasn’t delivered,” Mpombo said. “Even the attack on PF councils, again that is something like empty rhetoric because on the Copperbelt there are MMD-controlled councils like Ndola rural, whose budget is a shoestring budget, and workers have not been paid for months and the funding from government is very poor...the speech on the Copperbelt amounts to political gimmickry and that will not yield any results at all.”

Mpombo said the sense of self-delusion in President Banda was amazing.
“When he says more schools, clinics are being built during his time; those are projects that have been on the ground for a long time. District hospitals, district secondary schools, and for one to say ‘it is as a result of my effort’, it’s quite baffling. People want services delivered, not empty rhetoric,” he said.

Mpombo said President Banda confirmed through his utterances that former president Frederick Chiluba went to the Copperbelt to campaign for him.

He said President Banda should not even belabour to convince citizens otherwise on Chiluba’s corruption allegations because people already knew his standpoint.

On President Banda’s attacks on The Post that the newspaper wanted to control politicians in the country, Mpombo said the newspaper had refused to allow stubbornness in the governance of the nation.

“It is unacceptable assault on the integrity of The Post. You see the President’s comment has no substance. I think that amounts to some empty rhetoric.

It is something that should not be taken seriously because the President says he is stubborn, and I think newspapers like The Post have refused to accept stubbornness in the administration of national affairs,” Mpombo said. “Because stubbornness is only applicable in personal issues, so I think he should not blame The Post for that.”

On President Banda’s statement that people should not expect him to join their madness of hating Chiluba, Mpombo said President Banda indirectly linked late president Levy Mwanawasa to the issue since Chiluba’s corruption cases were started during the late president’s administration.

“President Banda has waged a campaign of hate against president Mwanawasa, through his actions and utterances. He behaves like a man who was not plucked out from some place to become vice-president. He doesn’t appreciate that. He thinks he became vice-president and President through his own personal efforts,” Mpombo said. “So his actions shows clearly that he doesn’t appreciate the legacy of Mwanawasa...have you ever heard anyone nowadays talk about the 2030 vision?

We are not saying he should follow Levy Mwanawasa, but you see, why should policies even be affected? Today he is bragging that the economy is doing well without knowing that things are what they are because of president Mwanawasa’s legacy. He laid a foundation for economic development.”

On President Banda’s statement that there were enough drugs in the country, Mpombo asked President Banda to be humble because people would not be saying there were no drugs if there were enough supplies in health centres.

“There are no political points he scored here...I think leadership should not be on the basis of arrogance,” Mpombo said.

Mpombo also said it was un-presidential for President Banda to launch a tirade against Change Life Zambia executive director Fr Frank Bwalya.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, COPPERBELT PROVINCE, GEORGE MPOMBO, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:56 AM