FORMER President Rupiah Banda is not the best person to comment on the nation’s diplomatic relations and etiquette involving the head of State, says Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Given Lubinda said.
Mr Lubinda said in an interview yesterday that Mr Banda’s comments were misplaced. “My ministry is in total agreement with the statement issued by State House on Friday and would not want to make a mountain out of a molehill.”
Mr Lubinda urged Mr Banda to take time and reflect on what he has been told by his successor President Sata. He said Government had a much bigger agenda of developing the nation and not to concentrate on trivial issues.
President Sata on Friday advised Mr Banda to behave in a manner befitting a former head of State and not look to gain political mileage through non-issues like cheerful discourses.
The comments followed Mr Banda’s correspondence to Mr Bush in which he took it upon himself to apologise “on behalf of the Zambian people” for light-hearted remarks made by President Sata to Mr Bush, during a State House function on Wednesday.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
VIVA RB!!
CHEERS TO RB THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT HAVE CHRITICISED ITS SELF. LUBINDA CAN YOU BINDA OR CAGE YOUR PRESIDENT TO MIND HIS ROTTEN MOUTH AND TEETH.
true
This chap Lubinda is being funny. That is like telling us that his mother is a woman, who doesn’t know that?
Do we expect him to critise his boss, the hands that feed him? of Course not that is obvious. Sometimes silence is golden. Lubinda would do well to just keep quiet, and hope this passes silently. Don’t add more fire to this embarrasing episode and entertainment for Zimbabweans. We have had enough please.
It helps matters if you let PF supporters castigate their president most when he has made a mistake. Brother man, we are all zambians and most of us however the government and the president we support continue pretending, here they fumbled. Lets not just get into personalities. You are at liberty though to say what you feel, except you would not be taken seriously considering you have opposed everything MCS/PF. Let us fight your war on this one as zambians because Rupiah Bandah was permitted by the current government to do what he did. But that’s besides the point here bcoz no matter how anyone defends MCS, he blundered here and I agree with every zambian that feel he went too far. Aluvyenyezile.
I meant Rupiah Banda was not permitted to write that letter.
Why is the govt so concerned with Mr Banda’s apology?Did he insult anybody?GWB said it himself that he didn’t want to argue meaning they there was some differences.These guys have got the world in their hands and you cant know what they can do.Better be nice with them.
RB is wise in this matter. Sata thinks he can mess with the USA. We are not at that stage yet, wisdom doesnt come with age so we almost understand but its no excuse to be rude
But for heavens sake do we expect him to say to the contrary? These guys enjoy simplicity for sure – never serious. Or is it a cover-up from the Livingstone saga where he is at the epi-centre for the lose? I end here.
very diplomatic and so loving RB..viva !!
RB HAS NO RIGHT TO APOLOGISE TO BUTCHER BUSH AS HE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE ANY MORE AND HE SHOULD BE CONCERTRACTING MORE ON HIS AND HIS CHILDREN PLUNDERING CASE THAT IS PENDIND IN COURT INSTEAD..RB IS PUSHING IS LUCK TOO FAR AND SHOLD STOP CHEAP POLITICKING.
this is exactly was the press statement of the president said. you mean, you could not have any thing new to add to the debate
Fact of the matter is that President Sata messed up bigtime on this one. Lubinda is messing up his own name by trying to defend the indefencible. Threatenning RB and making innuendos against him is what amounts to cheap politicking.
Unbelievable. Some people still think that cnp was ryt. How low can people sink just to please their boss. If u r a cnp follower the best u can do is to keep quite on this one
For Lubinda’s information this issue in America is not a molehill but stands as large as Mount Rushmore which carries the faces of some American Presidents. The so called “light discourse” has earned our presiden, in the American press, the unenviable reputation of being “the dullest president in the world”. Lubinda should be concerning himself with the perceptions of our president abroad. Does Lubinda also know that back here at home our president is refferred to in diplomatic circlrs as “Mr. Bean”? This is certainly not a trivial matter.
thanks for that, he is Mr Bean indeed. what an *****.
I like the way you have aptly put it i would not want to add anything lest i spoil every.The bit about Mount Rushmore just did it for me. Do keep well. I think humour should be left to certain people.
Mr Bean again? Not UKWA, cnp
I think zambians should be careful, wrong or right what Sata did puts us in danger. Sata should be careful, Mugabe next door is a good example and Sata should learn from that
I agree with you whole heartedly.
do not talk too much, the president now knows, and in future, he is going to be care when dealing with his counterpart. We all make mistakes, stop blaming my preident (Sata)
Ba Sam: I promise you what happened in Zimbabwe will not happen within Zambian. MCS will be out of office in no time, don’t mess with the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise, our franchise is strong with the right checks and balances in place.
Back to more important things, the Zambia Enterprise has the second highest number of cervical cancer cases in the world, and many of the women are also living with HIV. MCS needs to focus on that yesterday. As part of the charity initiative the Bushes helped open medical centers providing cancer screenings.
The $3 million women’s health initiative, called Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon, is a partnership between the George W. Bush Institute, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, UNAIDS and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Also, the PF Govt needs to concentrate on how best it work with the George W Bush Institute and partner together. The institute wants to work and help our own people, we should reciprocate the gesture in kind.
During his presidency, Bush launched an initiative to fight HIV/AIDS in sub-Sahara Africa. Since leaving office he has turned his attention to health issues in Africa, which he calls a “labor of love”, raising some $85 million for cervical cancer program.
The Bushes spent US Independence Day in Lusaka at the University Teaching Hospital, announcing a new health research center. “On our country’s birthday, it is important to remember the blessings of freedom and the blessings of being an American, and to give back,” President Bush spent his own 66th birthday in Zambia.
I just don’t get it where these people we supported Brave, are getting the courage to pretend they are so important. Newakwa mwine lubemba, ayamano ba PF have adopted of not listening to the masses will cost them dearly. Uukwebele imfwa yakwa noko mutanshi. I like MCS but na amba mukufyumfwila mumbi on most issues. By the way, did you attend the conference in Brazil as it’s in line with what your company aspires to achi
Was interrupted Brave. Did you attend the conference in Brazil?
The only problem with PF government is, everyone fears a Cobra, (Sata). To say, whoever opens his/her mouth will be condemned to him or fear to changed to a smaller ministry. So so everyone to save his master and position, there must be tolerance in whatsoever the dull words he spits.
Ministers, kindly work-up
A man takes his time to come to Africa to help people in need. He also takes a risk because there are some bad people after his blood. In return, a politician insults him and his country. I think that deserves an apology
Mr. Lubinda, if what RB apologised for as a citizen of the country was trivial then you as PF should urge Michael Sata not to involve himself into trivial things he is a head of state earning tax payers money and should as such be serious at all times and not waste time on trivial things. His office demands that he is sober at all times and apply his mind on what he says. While we recognise that he has his own personality, he should align his habits to the values of his position as His Excellence of the republic of Zambia.
Tell them, please tell them. This generation of Zambians is not ignoramus and shall not accept pseudo heroism or pointless utterances. The honeymoon is over for PF’s marriage with plot 1. We want kids not ‘light moments’. PF must prove that they’re not CNP and gat things under control.
Except we are not giving them time. “Give a rogue enough rope and he will hang himself.” What we are doing as impatient zambians, is basically to give them ammunition to tell us 5 years down the line that they were not given chance.
Lubinda showed his callibre when he was ordered to kneel before the people of Livingstone and he promptly did so. Does anyone believe he would dare stand up to Sata and tell the Cobra that what he did was wrong? No chance Lubinda will continue living on his knees as shown in that shameful Livingstone picture.
And boy, the kneeling sure did help a great deal.
I wonder how long these dung beetles are going to silently row the balls before realising their positions are untenable. The perils of trying to defend stupidity are collosal, even wise men like Lubinda all of a sudden look like the unintelligent Kamalondo, William Banda or Satamashimba.
If PF are holding RB to ransom over his alleged plunder then it is wrong and it is corruption on the part of PF. If Banda has plundered prosecute him otherwise we will believe what Banda has said that they are just talking so that they get some credibility. Whatever you say RB has stolen and release information piecemeal is a sign of weakness on the part of PF. Sata is busy suing wrong people(HH) instead of suing RB as you allege that he has stolen. There may be truth that RB is innocent but that PF is trying all to hold everyone with contra views to ransom including suing them.
Kelvin, Rupiah Banda has what we call here in the USA the fifth amendment. He has immunity and without lifting that, we can talk all we want, but won’t get us anywhere. Sata suing HH is within his confines, for HH is a commoner like you and me. If you want to find out how Rupiah’s kids and himself suddenly became zambian billionares, you have to lift his immunity. Because even people like Dora will know they have no protection. Right now, his immunity is protecting his people.
Imwe, Ka Bush came in 15 minutes late as if that was his father’s palace, believing that it wont affect an African president. The president only wanted to give him a little spank so that he does not feel too bossy anymore. That is what befit a descendant slave master.Iwe Bush next time you come to Africa treat our president with utmost respect, ala, sha! kaleasuka nokwasuka kwati kalelanda nomunankwe.
This is the stupid *****s we don’t want as zambians. @Third Term, the man u call ka bush is bigger than our Sata. If you can’t see reason with us zambians in diaspora, then Kuja mwa ja. Sata is my president and human, and I am not gonna swallow my pride because a fellow is all hateful. 2016 may not be there if we cannot create jobs for university graduates, let alone school levers. Don’t lie to the president pantu you will be the first party to only rule for 5 years. I support you as a zambian but pleeease, do not take us zambians for granted. Mr President, you served in Super Ken’s government. Go ask the oldman on the way forward for you are messing everything zambians supported you for. This has no tribal inclination, but bakateka, you are making a very big mistake here.
you must be Sata’s cholaboi. thats why you are poor. you are ignorant and arrogant for nothing.
Nevers Mumba is worried that RB might come back and take over MMD
Given Lubinda is just fine after all. We all speak officially to the outside world through Office of the President. So if there was any apology for what is actually not deserving of it, it should have been done through that office. The WEST is responsible for our suffering NO DOUBT! What is this charity compared to the loot they did to our mother land. On top of that they even go as far as selling Copper on our behalf. Imagine if they had to come over to buy it from our local market. IT’S PAY BACK TIME!!!!!
what are you talking about when you failed to run zccm?Worst still where can you take your copper to can you use it here in Zambia without their involvement.You are dreaming.
# 20
It can’t be pay back time because the copper from Zambia needs to go out in order to add value to it. What are you going to do with the copper cathodes from the mines? Only Zamefa in Luanshya turns the cables into copper cables and other copper related products. The copper pipes used in water geysers are manufactured outside Zambia despite having plenty of the mineral in Zambia. The best way to hit back is by becoming self sufficient and being equal players in the game. If development was measured by mere rhetoric, I can assure you that Zambia would be a rich country.
Sata was wrong to say what he said. Equally, RB was wrong to apologise on behalf of the Zambian people whom he no longer represent. He should have just advised Sata in private. RB has no mandate to speak for Zambians.
This generation of Zambians is not ignoramus and shall not accept pseudo heroism or pointless utterances. The honeymoon is over for PF’s marriage with plot 1. We want kids not ‘light moments’. PF must prove that they’re not CNP and gat things under control.
@Third Term, you’re right that it wasn’t RB’s place to be apologizing for HEMCS and the people of Zambia to Bush or the US, you’re wrong in believing the west looted Africa. The West left Africa better off than it is today, and we still have our resources They brought medicines, education, civil organization, the notion of rights, technology e.t.c. You’re using your computer because of Western education and culture. Name one thing that’s improved longevity to in Africa can actually be attributed to Africa.
Just to add to Rycus’ point, most african countries Zambia included were at independence wealthier than South Korea and Malaysia. While our friends started developing and saving, we were busy eating more than we were creating, with no plan for mining and diversification to ensure long term sustainable development.
Ghana was in the 1960’s giving technical advice to Malaysia on rubber production, compare Ghana and Malaysia today
@Third Term, you’re right that it wasn’t RB’s place to be apologizing for HEMCS and the people of Zambia to Bush or the US, you’re wrong in believing the west looted Africa. The West left Africa better off than it is today, and we still have our resources They brought medicines, education, civil organization, the notion of rights, technology e.t.c. You’re using your computer because of Western education and culture. Name one thing that’s improved longevity in Africa that can actually be attributed to Africa. Is it the west’s fault that we cannot add value to our raw materials before exporting them? How have countries like Malaysia and Singapore managed to develop after been looted (as you put it) by the West?
RB may have been wrong if he apologised publicly on behalf of Zambians for Sata’s sins. However, if this was a leaked letter and his intentions were to do so privately then there is no wrong but diplomacy in his actions. Anyone can write to the Bush family on whatever subject matter. RB felt the need to apologise and rightly so following yet another episode of undiplomatic and embarrassing behaviour by Zambia’s leading clown. Again at the expense of the nation.
Knowing how excited RB was to write this letter, I do not for one bit think Bush’s office leaked this letter to the press. RB’s office made sure the letter got out. And right here is where RB’s wisdom was short. He should know how big-headed being president can make a human being become – he used to tell everyone how he was President. When you feel like that you don’t want another person to start behaving like the alpha male, especially the one you have just displaced.
Chi RB big thief shout up, King Cobra has messed up so what? MMD is a killer what ever the case, the past 20 years should be accounted for by MMD. Pliz Sata arrest this chi old man RB and his son. if u want information on how they plundered the country just go to any bottle stole in chawama or kanyama and sit there for one one and you will hear very thing about these thieves.
If Sata thought Bush was unimportant as sata said in his own words( should have relegated to a ministe)r, Why was he waiting for him at the gate? That 15 minutes he spent at the gate could have been spent at his desk!
Both these two OLD MEN were wrong!!!!
Sata was wrong for saying what he said to Bush. Claiming that Sata has cultivated some personal relationship with W, to the extent that he he (Sata) can call Bush a Colonialist in public is not satisfactory enough. If they have such a personal relationship, they should keep it between themselves and in private. Otherwise people may have wrong impressions—as it has already happened!!
RUpiah was also wrong for writing an apology letter to Bush. For in what capacity was Rupiah Banda acting for him to apologize on behalf of Zambia? Is the office of the Former President authorised to do such a thing anywhere in the world? Me think NOT! If Banda claims to be well mannered than his pal Sata, he sure did not display good manners in this case!!!
Don’t just. Shield sata. Please ask him to resign and appoint kabimba or scott
#11 & #12 remove sun glasses at night, but zambians nabena nga bwacha bwafya mwee.
I canned the Zimbabweans for using a broom against our president. Now I will not condemn them because I now realize that Sata is going with his untamed mouth which PF cadres are supporting. RB was right to apologize. Sata should apologize to Bush too.
I am a supporter of Sata and his PF party, but I am not PF, just a zambian. For those PF supporters that don’t see anything wrong in Micheal Sata, they are making a mistake. For those opposition in Nevers Mumba, Hakainde Hichilema, Charles Milupi etc who only sees everything wrong about the current government, you are doomed to fail. Zambians have been dribbled, played with, lied to by almost all political parties and they are now very awake to the fact of deception. Right now, the PF have an edge, but let them not think by being arrogant over issues that hinges on the survival of our country, they will survive by arrogant. You make a mistake in life, you say sorry and everyone will forgive you.
I am a supporter of Sata and his PF party, but I am not PF, just a zambian. For those PF supporters that don’t see anything wrong in Micheal Sata, they are making a mistake. For those opposition in Nevers Mumba, Hakainde Hichilema, Charles Milupi etc who only sees everything wrong about the current government, you are doomed to fail. Zambians have been dribbled, played with, lied to by almost all political parties and they are now very awake to the fact of deception. Right now, the PF have an edge, but let them not think by being arrogant over issues that hinges on the survival of our country, they will survive by arrogant. You make a mistake in life, you say sorry and everyone will forgive you. You keep saying you are right, you lose everyone ba PF.
Zero international tabloids wrote or reported about Sata and Bush. this shows that, RB is majoring on minors. All those who think Sata’s light hearted conversation with GWB is an issue need some mental checks. Seriously.
#19 Third Term- 15min late driving from Kabwe to Lsk is not bad my friend. Did you take into consideration the traffic and any accidents on the road, let alone downtown Lsk? If he was coming by helicopter I would understand. I personally believe the president was wrong with those remarks to Bush. However, I also think Rupiah should have let one of his surrogates complain about the incident to the media instead of writing directly to Bush as it would have achieved the same results without hard feelings. Thats just my own opinion.
Sata was used to abrassive language as young man and as an opposition leader.However,due to his upbringing,inexperience and raw temperament he does not realize that the office of the presidency calls for proper etiquette thus he cannot blurt out whatever verbal missiles he has in mind.Once you let off such verbal missiles there’s no recall button.
Whilst you notice intelligent discourse from the likes of B R Mumba Snr, one cannot cease to be amazed by the base submissions of the likes of Fisenge. That the two polar opposite bloggers are perhaps citizens of one nation is surely a classic case of diversity! The foulness of the mouths (or is it words) of some bloggers (perhaps of low moral standing and devoid of good character and of course debased if not depraved minds) beats one and could allude to the fact that they did grow up in homes which lacked a modicum of respect not to mention honour. One word for such people: pathetic.
A USA PRESIDENT OR FORMER PRESIDENT DOES NOT JUST VISIT ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL AS THERE IS SOMETHING HAPPENING IN ZAMBIA WHICH WE CANT SEE. OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN GOVERNMENT NEED TO BE CAREFUL OVER STATEMENTS THEY MAKE. AMERICA IS GUIDED BY GOD AND BUSH AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY FORGIVEN OUR PRESIDENT IN JESUS’ MIGHTY NAME!
Sata should step down. period. His views do not represent 70% of the people who voted for him. If only African leaders could be advised, but its hard to do so, it always goes to their heads that they alone can think and organise. RB was right to apologies, thankyou RB. what an embarrassment from the Toho of State???????????
…… International Diplomacy is offered at NIPA….lubinda please enroll!
Sata messed up on this one. But under what capacity did ALA B come in? Ninshi ebakwatishe amano ukuchila Zambia yonse?
Why is the the daily mail characterising the discussion as a a ” light-hearted remarks made by President Sata to Mr Bush, during a State House function on Wednesday” . when this a defence by Sata’s group over his misconduct, the dailymail is defending Sata in the news by by adding their opinion on a news article. They article should have read, according to Sata, his contends that his remarks were light-hearted; the article should also have included RB’s position on the incident, the dailymail should have also attendeed that that RB had written in his letter of appology that Sata’s was behaving like a baffoon.
LEAVE RB ALONE BECAUSE HE DID IT PROFESSIONALLY AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE SUFFERING MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
weather who is right or wrong it is NOT a responsibility of RB to justify that at the interest of Zambians. it is professionally incorrect and probably treason. pliz RB you are WRONG. etiquetts please!!!!
Ati cheerful banter! If Bush had responded by calling Sata ‘a baboon eating, nicotine saturated, diretionless, planless, field nigga type of chimbwi’, would that have qualified as cheerful banter that the US embassy must not appologise or coment on?
These guys don’t know a thing about governing, i think they were not expecting to win the elections. no wonder they just do or say things without thinking. how can Mr Lubinda say that the president was right to issue that statement about RB. RB was being diplomatic to coz he knew that there was no sensible people in the current regime to apologise coz no one saw anything wrong with our H.E remarks towards Bush. don’t follow what Mugabe was doing other wise the same sanctions can be applied by the US to teach us a lesson. its barely a year and these guys have messed up BIG TIME, i wonder what will happen next before 2016.
This thing Called Ala Bee would have gone into tantrums if he was the one in power. Let him bring his son to Zambia for questioning instead of diverting peoples attention.
More oxygen for Mr Big M
What is there to protect Mr Lubinda, your president got it wrong. May be what you and others need to walk through our beloved president what it would mean for his economy without the help of Americans. The HIV program depends heavily on the aid from the Good People of America; mainly due to this man’s initiative to help Africa and Zambia in particular. It would be like someone insulting my president in public and he/she decides to defend him/herself by saying it was over a light moment since he/she is from the east. In other words there is a time and place for everything, and that moment it was not well place for the president to say what he said
I am A zambian but a refuse to be represented by a very corrupt person like RB. RB is not president of Zambia, who gave him authority to represent me??? RB is pushing his luck so hard. Can he behave please.
Amazing stuff above, arguments for and against Sata. No wonder it was alright for some to vote Sata into Presidentcy. And of course others voted against him. Diversity.
It is when the stupidity and mediocrity of human nature decrees otherwise. If Bush himself had issued a replica of Sata’s comment, no one would be talking. It’s time people faced facts. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that comment. People try to apply a multidimensional array of thoughts before lashing wow.
I nominate Sata and Lubinda to be the next Zambian representatives on Big Brother Africa Stargame. The comedy they provide would ensure that one of them would win. Mampi would look like a genius compared to the two.
People RB had no right or mandate to issue an apology letter at all PERIOD..The best RB could have done was to write to Sata expressing his sentiments about the mistake Sata made. RB deserved to get blasted for his foolish letter. Sata also should learn to think before he talks, just been argumentative does not always reflect intelligence or careful analysis or understanding. Everybody knows that the USA never colonized anybody but were themselves a colony of the British..Even worse George Chellah now claims the comment was made as a joke during a light hearted moment between Sata and Bush..Joke or not the information was wrong and Sata in the end looked foolish.
Kanti ona tumbombo twa ng’anda to tuka katali liili ku kotola mutabani wa mung’a tona!
BR MUMBA Sr, thank you for the facts and information on cervical cancer.
HIV has brought many issues to light. Kaposis Sarcoma (KS), Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and Cervical Cancer are indicators of HIV infection.
Mr Bush’s 15 minutes delay and President Sata’s making the point of the 15 minutes delay happened for a reason: Raising awareness on cervical cancer! That PAP smear of the cervix can be a life saver. Women 18 years and above should routinely have it done.
We made noise about PAP smears in Botswana! We diagnosed at least 25 early cases in 5 years in one small district hospital. Thank you Mr Bush for the 15 minutes delay!
Thank you President Sata for noting the 15 minutes delay.
At least 1500 or even 15,000 people now know about the Mr Bush’s life saving programme!
Waiting for next Public Health Awareness Raising Headline (PHARH) LusakaTimes!
Job well done on this one! Keep the discussion going. There is nothing like bad advertising!
Hope the women have got the CaCx message. Ladies make use of the opportunity, inform your friends, sisters and mothers while the rod is still hot!
I am sure the “Bush – Sata” story will have the same effect as Jade Goody did! May her soul rest in peace!
Hope the cervical clinics can monitor the figures in the next six months and give us a brief in December 2012! The figures of voluntary screening / pap smear will definitely go up! Anybody for a bet!?
Lubinda used to be of quality when he was with SAKI in UPND but now he is more of cadre. King Cobra has managed to neutralise Lubinda. Lubinda, Kabimba, Mumembe really hate RB and MMD as a party. WHY kanshi? Days are numbered. We wait and see. Where is ka Mumbi Phiri? No more yapping at UNZA Monk Parade Square.
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