MINISTER of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Given Lubinda says it is against the law for former President Rupiah Banda to continue receiving emoluments if he continues to engage in active politics.
Mr Lubinda was reacting to appeals from the MMD to Mr Banda to give the former ruling party more time to stabilise before he can retire from active politics.
He said although Government will not interest itself in the internal wrangles of the MMD, it is against the law for a former President to remain in active politics and continue receiving emoluments.
Mr Lubinda said Government needs a strong opposition to keep checks and balances but that it will not tolerate lawlessness.
He said it is up to Mr Banda to decide whether to continue in active politics or not but that Government will not pay a former President who is in active politics because it is against the law.
The Benefits of Former Presidents Act (Cap 15) states:
5. (1) The pension and other benefits conferred by this Act shall not be paid, assigned or provided to a former President who is…
(b) engaged in active politics.
But MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu said there is no need to rush Mr Banda into retirement before the former ruling party stabilises.
Mr Nyangu said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the party just came out of a defeat after the September 20 polls and that it still needs time to re-organise itself.
He said no-one in the MMD is happy about the defeat but that the party needs to move forward.
Mr Nyangu said if the party president retires, then it means that it has to go to a convention to elect a new leader. He said the party has no financial capacity to hold a convention as it spent a lot of money during the campaigns.
Mr Nyangu said it would not be the right thing for Mr Banda to retire as this would leave the MMD crippled with no-one to lead it.
And Mr Nyangu said MMD members are scared of revealing their intentions to lead the party because of fear of victimisation allegedly by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.
He said the recent arrests and probes of MMD leaders have led to most members shunning the application process because they are afraid that Government would arrest them.
Mr Nyangu complained that Government had focused its attention on investigating the former ruling party when there are other parties such as the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the National Restoration Party (NAREP).
He said the PF should also explain where it got funds to finance its campaigns.
Mr Nyangu said it is public knowledge that the MMD has well-wishers who provided funding.
He said the MMD did not harass any party when it was in power over the source of funding for campaigns because every party has members and well-wishers who help it from time to time.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
No 1
No 1.5 !
Banda, please just retire
Nyangu, why did you also focus on PF when UPND and NAREP where also around??? Foolish point, just say those who are guilty and have skeletons hidden some where, are now scared and would rather craw and hide in the nooks and crooks.
who is paying him, isnt it PF govt?
Oh please , this government is now behaving like Under 5. Just because some unknown MMD cadre calls on our president to wait before retiring and the government jumps on it and makes headlines saying he is in active politics and breaking the law. How cheap can you get?
Mr Lubinda, unless you have been living in a PF bubble of excitement, it is open knowledge that we have already set an irreversible process to have a new president. Just because some cadre screams whatever, does not mean MMD NEC has asked RB to be in active politics.
Please stop behaving like you are in opposition for once, obsessed with every trivial and start running the country. There are many issues to channel your energy to and leave RB alone.
Leave the old Chap alone he will win the next election ViVa Banda
ALL POLITICAL PARTIES MUST REVEAL THEIR SOURCE OF FUNDING. JUST FOCUSSING ON MMD IS WITHHUNTING AT ITS WORST!
I can see that your English has improved by one word, witch-hunt. UPND, NAREP, PF and all the others were not in power therefore could not steal public funds. That is where the issue is at.
This is boring. Lubinda please inform us above developmental programs. If RB continues to be in politics the only people to break the law are those who will provide him the former presidents emoluments. The law is clear on this one there is no need for an announcement.
@ # 5, if RB has not put it in writing for records’ purpose that he has retired from active politics yet he just says it then he hasnt retired. You guys manupulated a lot of money from the govt and u still want to continue? Shame on you! Lets move on, active politics – no pay; retired – pay finito.
Chiluba at one time campaigned for PF and most recently, before his demise, campaigned for RB and the MMD, why wasn’t his perks affected? PF has even promoted as P.S Late Chiluba’s spokesperson, Emmanuel Mwamba, who never saw any wrong in everything that Chiluba did when he was in power and even after his retirement. Mwamba strongly condemned all those who said Chiluba was acquited under suspicious circumstances.
I WILL NOT LEAVE HIM ALONE NOT UNTIL HE PAYS ME BACK WHAT HE STOLE FROM MY POOR ZAMBIANS
I insist, MMD require a qualified and experienced mortuary attendant for president. For now, RB meets the qualification.
Iwe Za yellow, you were using Chiluba just this year for campaigns. What has changed?
No 5, Bootlicker, your myopia is pathetic. Many credible comments on different issues have been heard from critics of the PF government. You decided to go under as you could not stomach your deserved defeat. Now here is a passing personal comment made by a minister and suddenly you make a mountain out of it!
Why dont you comment on more serious matters like telling us how your oppostion MMD will halt its decline! come 6 months MMD will be half its its current diminishing size and yet you continue to waste your ammu at the strong PF. Dont you feel some shame?
Rupiah has not yet retired from active politics,so let him retire officially then take action.
This government is becoming boring..they cannot talk about job creation but always noise making with former leaders in MMD. We are now becoming fed up….with this Lubinda
@9 good point, active politics – no pay, retired – pay, that’s what the law states and it’s such a simple law that doesn’t need a Havard graduate to interpret.
“(Nyangu) said the MMD did not harass any party when it was in power over the source of funding for campaigns because every party has members and well-wishers who help it from time to time.”
Because of the vicious witchhunt that Sata has instigated against MMD, all future govts must take it upon themselves to sort out opposition malware and viruses that Sata and PF were before Sept 20. Mwanawasa and RB had enough ammo to stop this thug and throw him in jail for life. Now see how he is shafting you? Never leave an enemy standing. Remember King Shaka’s rule.
balubinda for heaven sake please we need action for what we voted you in and stop wasting time on mmd because those clocks failed us and we dont want to hear anything from them what we need are jobs.otherwise will look for chipimo come 2016.
Its actually them breaking the law, why pay someone who is actively involved in politics. Liven Gubinda, wake up and think the other way round….
LUBINDA JUST TURN THAT FILTHY BUILDING OF YOURS[PA CHILAITI] IN CHILENJE/KABWATA INTO A SCHOOL.I MEAN NAMAKAU NIGHT CLUB.
STOP ENCOURAGING PROSTITUTION[WAONONGA BANA] WHAT A WASTE
OF A PLOT.HAVE SOME DECENCE PLIZ.YOU ARE NOW A MINISTER AND
ANY ASSOCIATION WITH SUCH A BUILDING WHETHER RENTING OR ON LEASE
IS BAD FOR YOUR NAME
This Nyangu is a dimwit! Has he forgotten how Sata was harassed and tear-gassed over a small amount of K100m he received from a well wisher within the party? Why should Banda be above the law and continue in active politics when the law is very clear?!
Banda needs to decide – if he wants to be paid, he must retire. Otherwise, payments to him should stop immediately! You can’t have it both ways – if mmd has no money to find a successor, that is not our problem – they should deal with it. This is why Africa can’t develop – small minds and greed!
Even Chiluba did it to KK…why waste time???
Ka lubinda who is paying RB? is it not your Government, dont start telling us you have already failed to govern the nation yet, we are still celebrating RB`s defeat.
Rupiah Banda does not qualify for any emoluments. He did not serve as President for 5 years. Check the constitution.
infact this thief, rupiah, should not be paid until all investigations are concluded. that should include his false parentage declaration. if found guilty, why should he be paid benefits? for what? for ruling zambia illegaly? no.
WEN ARE U REMOVING THE IMUNITY OF THIS ZAMTEL DEALER? BA RB IMWE ULSE, BAZAMANGA UYU MUNTU! RB RB RB UZIMVELA
heheh ..the circus will never end in Zambia for as long as we have such politicians..old guards..
Is KK still in active politics seeing as though he has been sent to Angola and now China on behalf of the current administration? Does that mean his payments should also be stopped? Is he getting paid twice now – through his benefits as former head of state and for the services he is now rendering?
Leave KK out of this No.29. He is an honourable man who should not be brought into such cheap talk. He is simply being used as advisor, being a former head of state. And believe me, all former presidents after KK should have been doing the same. The man is a hero.
# 29 Again you are back with the same argument. Kaunda in non-partisan. He is not a member of any political party including his former party UNIP. Banda is still MMD. Lyambai uli chikopo chashani? Ubukopo muletona kwati ni honey!!! On your boat and sail off into the sunset of barotse plains!!!
@29 Are you as thick as cow dung or you just have same deep hatred for Dr KK??? your reasoning is really is hard to understand…..KK is going out to fix relationships that got strained when mmd was in power eg Angola, we really need the Angolan & Chinese govts on side
For sure Mr Lubinda, why should you cry hoo ho ho…RB should not begiven any money so long he remains in active politics, thats what the law says. We heard he was campaining in chongwe, please cut off his wages period.
@ 29 Lyambai ,
Sure you are dull man….KK is a state’s man. He stopped politics after 1996. Yaba , you are so dull man.
@29 KK is on national duty not “UNIP/PF” business…I never hear KK campaigning for and party!
Chembe Nyangu’s point to prolong RB’s stay in active politics is genuine, especially that MMD was foolish enough to scrap the position of Party Vice President. Their current Chairman, Mabenga, lost his parliamentary seat. MMD put all their hope in one person, RB and as such, he owes MMD more than his benefits. Let RB forfeit his benefits until such a time he leaves MMD with a sound leadership. Let RB spearhead for a democratically elected leader in MMD, otherwise his benefits are not a priority as of now.
is he a threat. you have won what more do you still want from him. leave him alone you fools
The issue at hand is not KK working but Sata cant perform to the outer world at all. he will just go and insult the other leaders. the guy is just good in zambia with his Kaponyas not here in the developed country bane.
when is sata dying. am sick and tired of him.
sata is just a sick fool Musonda just dont mind him. he was sick and MMD took him to hospital. we will see if Zambia wont morn again. stupid fool
One has to take a very hard look at Lubinda. This man of Indian genes will devote all his “intellectual abilities” to denounce RB in order to protect the evil financial acts of his blood-Uncle Mathani. The PF have been directing all hues of slander to RB in their bid to DISCOVER a fault. When RB casually replies to their allegations, Lubinda springs into a stance of black-mailing RB from stating the TRUTH. Privately Lubinda is actively burrying the financial crimes which his Uncle has inflicted in Financial Bank and several other dubiuos businesses. I challenge Lubinda that Mathani financed the hire of the Helicoptor that Sata used in the election campaign. These facts will come to the fore when Sata finally dies of heart attack and the will scamper in all directions when HH takes over.
Ba Chikoko What is wrong with Indian genes? Victims of racism such as us blacks should never be in the forefront of perpetuating the very evil we have been fighting all our lives.
Was this worth commenting on by the Hon. Minister of Info? Really???!
Our tax payers money goes to foot the bill for such folly – Of what benefit is this press statement by the entire Honorable minister? We want to hear about reform and efficiency policies that will create job opportunities and better the livelihood of our people. Not ifi ifya bu fontini ifyamu UNIP… This is the information age Mr Information Minister – there is a lot of opportunities in this industry that Zambia can tap into… Twala misula naimwe Ba Lubinda..
CHI # 43 TAKE A LEAF FROM THE USA POLITICS WHEN BUSH GOES OUT OF WHITE HOUSE, HE GOES BACK TO HIS HOME IN TEXAS AND DOES NOT START GOING ARROUND CAMPGAING! ( GOOD THE PEOPLE OF CHONGWE BOOED RB) AFTER ALL RB WAS A RETIRED FARMER HE HAS A HOME, HE IS NOW BEHAVING STRANDED WAITING FOR A HOUSE TO BE BUILT WHEN HE FAILED TO SERVE A FIVE YEAR TERM, I URGE THE EXPERTS LOOKING AT THE COSTITUTION TO SAY SOME THING ABOUT THE EXTRAVAGANT BENNEFITS OF A PRESIDENT AND WHO QUALIFIES CO’S RB DOESN’T!!
Lubinda was sleepy he didnt mean what he said please forgive he spent all his night in a night club and in the early morning kama small girl gave him a BJ he was tired to the bone.RB is giving sleepless night to his boss.Given,you won the elections so my boy dont be vindictive.Zambians are waching
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