Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Labour Fackson Shamenda has said that former President Rupiah Banda will not be paid his retirement benefits as long as he remains in active politics. He said the law is clear regarding the payment of benefits to former Presidents.
Mr Shamenda said this following Mr Banda’s remarks that he will continue to be president of MMD until a new leader is elected at the convention in April.
Mr Banda declared that he will continue to support the former ruling party even after a new leader is elected. But Mr Shamenda said Mr Banda should be wary of the consequences of his decisions.
“It’s up to him (Mr Banda). If he wants to continue participating actively in politics, he should bear the consequences of doing so,” he said.
Meanwhile, media bodies have castigated Mr Banda for accusing the public media of being reduced to mouthpieces of the government.
Press Association of Zambia president Andrew Sakala said Mr Banda is aware of the fact that himself, his press aide Dickson Jere and former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Ronnie Shikapwasha allegedly used to give directives to public media heads.
“In fact, it is under Mr Banda that there was interference in the operations of the public media. I am talking from facts because I worked for the Times of Zambia and I was dubiously retired for standing up for the truth,” Mr Sakala said in an interview yesterday.
Mr Sakala said it is unfortunate that former leaders are now crying foul over media coverage when they had turned the same institutions into propaganda tools for their selfish interests.
He said Mr Banda and the MMD lost an opportunity to transform state-owned media into better public media institutions by meddling in their operations.
Zambia Union of Journalists president Anthony Mulowa expressed disappointment with the former President’s remarks on the public media.
“I don’t see any sense in Mr Banda’s comments on the public media. He abused the media. It is disappointing that he can cunningly accuse the media under the PF Government of being biased,” he said.
Mr Mulowa said every Zambian knows how Mr Banda’s administration reduced the state media to propaganda tools.
He said Mr Banda should sober up and accept the loss of power to President Sata, instead of attacking public media organisations which are now operating professionally.
Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators president Martin Maseka said Mr Banda should not cry foul now, after failing to implement media reforms.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
But why do you keep making the same statement Mr Shamenda? Stop boring us with that cra.p now, i am sure the man knows what he is doing. He is obviously wiser than you lot combined.
Good point on Shamenda. Why dont you say something about RB’s foolishness also?
This is blackmail Mr. Shamenda. Just because RB made a statement against PF, then you have to remind him about his benefits? Does PF know about serious developmental issues? Are you guys working at all? I mean serious developmental work like building roads, bridges, boreholes, schools, hospitals, and the list is endless.
RB has read the constitution and am sure he has bn advised so he knows whathe is doing. its his choice
Why is PF so scared of RB? He’s an old man, for crying out loud and PF is now in power! Get the hang of it.
Who’s scared? Are you delusional? RB is the one who is scared of conviction and is firing blanks hoping we’ll let him go or lose power to someone who will let him off the hook. Kunya bebele.
This is a veiled threat against RB, they want to sghut him up so they are trying to hurt his pocket. Sadly for PF RB was a good businessman before Levy brought him back so he probably does not need the money. The retirement fund is for retiring from the Office of President, not from politics per se. KK gets his money yet he often makes political comments. RB should oversee the transition of power within the MMD, it is his duty. At least the MMD are doing it properly, lets see what happens to PF when Pres Sata dies…you will see them all scrapping and fighting like dogs fight over a bone!
This is ridiculous. RB and sons stole and that is why his son is in hiding. Get real! Liato availed himself and is going thru the court processes. No one has caged him. He still walks freely until the courts conclude the case. So why are the Bandas not eager to clear their names if they are innocent? Dont be blind or malicious or silly.
Besides, KK is a citizen like any other citizen, and can make political comments whenever he likes, just like Banda will be free to do when he retires. Not everyone who makes political comments is an active politician. Where’s your logic at? Exercise your reasoning!!!
No one denies him the duty of handing over power smoothly. Its just that during that process he is not yet retired. What the F is wrong with you lot??
It shows that RB is not driven by money but vision.He will not abandon his ailing ship just for the perks he gets as retirement benefit.PF chill, April is around the corner hope you won’t come up with another excuse though of not paying our Former President
Why cant they allowed RB to smoothly hand over MMD presidency. How do you abandon your party just to get meagre gratuity from Shamenda. RB is more decent than those that have been abandoningMMD ship to seek jobs with PF. Has KK retired, if so why is being used by MMD….Angola, China. ?
No one is denying RB a smooth handover. He can do it as slowly as he likes. He just wont get retirement benefits within that time . English. RETIREMENT BENEFITS: BENEFITS YOU GET WHEN YOU RETIRE!!! Kaunda’s missions cannot be compared. Kaunda is not president of any party, and those tours he is doing are not in his capacity as leader of any political party. He goes as a goodwill ambassador, not as a politician, just like when RB was invited to go to support Chipolopolo in Gabon, he went as former president, not as MMD president.
Childish outbursts from the honourable mninister. April is only 2 months away and RB will hand over the presidency. Why is PF so afraid of RB?
I came, i saw, i conquered.Viva RB!
@Madea a backup excuse of not paying RB his dues has already been put into place. They will use the parentage issue. Winter Kabimba is busy with it. Watch this space!
too easy to make decisions to nail Bwezani, koma ma gay rights mwayakanga.
zegt:Op dinsdag 21 freaubri zal de 2e Familiedag van CV de Brikkebekkesch plaats vinden. De middag die zal starten om 14.11 uur zal opgeluisterd worden door tal van artiesten. Om 15.11 uur zullen enkele Brunssumse Prinsen de Brik met ballonnen de lucht inlaten. Deze zal begeleid worden door ballonnen van een 60-tal kinderen, die tussen 14.00 en 15.00 uur gratis afgehaald kunnen worden. Net als vorig jaar zijn er weer een 1e / 2e en 3e prijs voor de ballonnen die het verste weg vliegen. Tevens is er ook deze keer weer gratis braadworst voor alle aanwezigen.
The man looted so much that he does not even care about his benefits.
PF solve the gay rights issues. Leave RB alone. The man handed power to you smoothly and when he wants to do the same to the MMD you are busy crying. RB seems not to care about the so alled retirement package.
RB was forced to hand over power. Dont give this foolishness of saying it as though he is some honourable guy who just agreed and stepped down. Mambilima threatened to reveal the truth, and KK and the American Ambassador Storrella had to talk to him. They tried their tricks until the last minute. Get your facts right before you mislead yourself and others!!!
Why is the Minister worried? If the law is there just apply it unless someone complains then you can explain. Just get down to work instead of making uncalled for statements.
Here is another math trick This will work only with 7 digit Phone No. 1. Grab a luclacator. (You wont be able to do this in your head)2. Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOT the area code)3. Mutiply by 804. Add 15. Mutiply by 2506. Add the last four numbers of your phone number7. Add the last four numbers of your phone number again8. Subtract 2509. Divide number by 2 Do you recognize the answer? IS’NT IT YOUR PHONE NO:?
HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU GOING TO STOP PAYING RB HIS BENEFITS?? WE ALL THOUGHT YOU HAD FROZEN HIS BENEFITS?? MR SHAMENDA, ASK YOUR PREDECESSOR(GIVEN) WHO TOLD THE NATION THAT RB’S BENEFITS HAVE BEEN FROZEN. WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TELLING US NOW??????
# 5 Chimpi iyee iwe ati RB was good businessman before Levy brought him back? Clearly you know nothing where you are. Ask any Zambian familiar with what is going on in Zambia why Mahtani was hounded. After you know this fact, I suggest you correct your statement about RB being a good businessman. For your info RB was in his village wearing maliposas on the farm!!!
You are mistaken, you should have seen RB’s farm before he became president or veep. it is one of the top commercial farms in chipata. Now dont tell me you know what a commercial farm looks like if you have only been to Kasama or the monkey areas.
well maliposa is a shoe.. i would not mind putting on one…..in fact a pair of shoe does not expose someone’s wealth.Tongas will put on maliposa but still owning thousands of catlle wealth billions.
Absolutely boring Mr Minister, Lubinda already told us that, and everybody including RB heard it the first time. So what is your issue? Try the fake trillions line of your comrade Bob, maybe we will listen to you then.
Come on people! You just castgate RB and stop there? We voted for change and we have new government. No more RB or MMD but Sata and PF. We were promised change in the way public media would be run. What RB saying is that where is the change if ZNBC or whatever public media is not covering opposition parties functions like the one for MMD last Saturday? We want things to be done differently in the new government. Why should we have new government if there is no change is doing things? You may condemn RB but the point is, has the public media changed in the way they are covering issues or it’s the same old way of MMD? Imwe bama Union, imwe, especially bamu public media, we have not seen you changing in terms of reporting but only your alligence to the new governement.
Let us move on please. Zambians are always looking backwards. He! Colonialism, he, Kaunda, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, now RB – always living in the past!
What if RB doesn’t need the stupid useless benefits?
RB did not voluntarily retire from office but was defeated at the polls. Its only in politics where defeat is equivalent to retirement.
It would be nice to extend the same to ordinary workers and label all fired workers as retired.
When will Zambian politicians learn to respect former President’s offices? RB may have been beaten in elections but that does not mean that a Minister should have a dig at him in such a demeaning manner. Dr Chiluba never lost his benefit even when he was under trial AND politically supporting the PF. President Sata must stop PF ministers demeaning the office of former Presidents. In the US, former Presidents continue to support their parties, why can’t that happen in Zambia?
# 23 The Saint, my brother you are asking for too much from Hon. Shamenda. He does not have the acumen to even comprehend what you are putting forward. As you have said this minister needing a visit to the barber shop taking cheap shots at a former head of state is really unfortunate. You guys are elderly but your conduct does not befit ministers.The country needs direction on poverty reduction and youth employment and all the minister responsible can do is gossip. GBM has matured a bit he is no longer making unncessary comments (hope I have not spoken too soon). Please work, I completely blame the president he must be scaring the hell out of his ministers to an extent they have gone blank and wait only for instructions from state house. Then you have Kabimba saying this cabinet is dull
Zambian politics will never change always talking about the past how can we go forward if we drive backwards????
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