GOVERNMENT has with immediate effect suspended the disbursement of entitlements and benefits to former Republican president Rupiah Banda following the announcement by the MMD that they had maintained Mr Banda as the party’s interim president which is in breach of the Benefits of Former President’s Act.
Chief Government Spokesperson Given Lubinda said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the law was clear on the entitlements of a
former President.
Mr Lubinda, who is Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Minister, was reacting to the announcement by MMD Spokesperson, Dora Siliya, on
Saturday that the party had resolved to maintain Mr. Banda as its leader in the interim before electing a replacement in the next two
months.
“Immediately they made the announcement to the effect that RB (president Banda) is still the acting president, he is also disqualified from receiving any emoluments due to a former president because it means that he is still in active politics.
“There is nowhere in the world where you have a robot president. No political party can be headed by a robot, it is in fact an insult on president Banda for the MMD to say he is a dormant president or to say that he is a robot,” he said.
Mr Lubinda was reacting to MMD deputy national secretary, Chembe Nyangu, who when contacted on the matter said Mr Banda was a ‘dormant member’ of the opposition party who is only acting as its leader in the interim before another leader could be elected.
Mr Nyangu said the party was cautious and alive to the fact that the former president would lose his benefits if he continued in active politics.
“Even during the national executive committee (NEC) meeting, he remained quiet and the meeting was chaired by the national chairperson Mr Michael Mabenga. So he is just a dormant member of the party,” he said.
But Mr Lubinda, said the mere fact that the MMD had announced that he was still the acting president of the party, it meant the former president was still active in politics.
“The MMD cannot have it both ways, so immediately they announced that he is their president, Cabinet Office and the Minister of Finance must take note and forthwith, the calculation of his emoluments is frozen.
“This was the case with former presidents Frederick Chiluba and Kenneth Kaunda. Dr Kaunda was denied his benefits for the whole time he remained in active politics so what is so special about president Banda,” he said.
And Mr Banda’s administrative secretary, Mikatazo Wakumelo said he was out of town and that he would only give an elaborate comment once he got back to Lusaka and had consulted the former head of State.
Mr Wakumelo said he was sure that the MMD NEC was alive to the provisions of the Benefits of Former President’s Act and considered this at their meeting on Saturday.
“All I hear is that this is reported in your paper. I have not read the paper and I was not even in the NEC meeting. I want to ask so that I get to understand what really is on the ground. In the meantime, it would be wise to get hold of the party as this is a party matter,” he said.
According to Section 5 (1) (b) of the Benefits of Former President’s Act (CAP 15), the pension and other benefits conferred by the Act, shall not be paid, assigned or provided to a former president who is engaged in active politics.
On Saturday the MMD NEC resolved that former Republican president Banda would continue to lead the party until the former ruling party holds a mini-convention to elect a new leader.
[Times of Zambia]
:) Â rules are to be followed
Lubinda stop insulting robots, they have a better “brain”.
Ba Banda mast kno lusi .He wasi da presitent ,kabili balingile ukwisiba lamulo .Nganebo ndepela kwi .ba banda nga chungwa
Ba Lubinda we need roads in the constituency. Stop calling pipo robots. Domant is not synonimous with robot, you need a little education.
Robot: a person who acts and responds in a mechanical, routine manner, usually subject to another’s will; automaton. This is what Lubinda meant…get some education iwewine mwandi.
whats wrong with MMD…would you please leave the old man so that he goes back to the farm and rest…remember he has ba mpundu who needs the money for school…may be he is the problem and he still wants to be in leadership….ba mwana RB: advise your papa…..
RB and son’ have cheddar!!!!!. the old man can go back to chipata and farm no hustle. good answer from RB’s answer, well articulated. Freeze it,he wont go hungry and unfeed his got son’s with money, its only for two months.
I like RB. He is a very humble guy
There is a lot of pettiness in Zambia,can somebody please stop the political rhetoric and give civil servants your economic direction
This PF goverment is useless! it has failed to tackle a lot issues since it came into power. 3 months is elapsing on thursday and nothing sensible has been done. Ati development in 90 days…my toe! anyway nothing to expect from a kaponya illiterate govement after all!
You sound like a kaponya yourself
SHUT UP iwe not even a woman can get birth in 3 months, only FooIs like you believed that and expected to get more money yet you are sitting on your lazy bum at home!!
What has 90 days got to do with this article?
@Esther:)
its true you are a woman…..not even a lady..90 days has nothing to do with this article…..
#4 @COMEDY ITS YOU WHO NEED SOME EDUCATION. CHECK THE DEFINITION OF DOMANT FROM A PRIMARY LONGMAN DICTIONARY THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT LUBINDA MEANT. ITS SO SURPRISING THAT A PERSON WHO RULED A COUNTRY FOR 3YEARS DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE CONSTITUTIONS. HE’S GRADING HIMSELF SO LOW.
# 9, Â Everything
Getting it both ways is daft thinking.
Thats quick action. I wish you could be as fast in action on developmental issues of the Country that affect people who voted for you.
Thats why they even lost elections they became over drunk with power. When you are drunk you have force courage, false optimism, false ideas and bad actions. You stop being normal but everything that is fantasy start looking normal to you. You stop thinking properly. Goodbye big body little brain man.Â
You people in the opposition need to know something………..SATA….HE MCS is the peoples president. He is the people’s choice. You will yap and yap and yap until you get uncontrollable diarrhea
diarrheoa is better….uncontrollable SHIKI….
RB and his fellow clowns were on a thieving spree……Sorry nothing lasts forever
Let RB go to the farm and rest,he should stop politics,when will MMD stop acting like a brainless chicken? cant someone else act as president? maybe they fear the african mentality,the acting president would pull strings to be elected when given the power,RB could be the right choice because he stands to lose a lot
@Tracy::::::
diarrhoea is better…..UNCONTROLLABLE SHIKI…
For so many reasons I never thought RB is an intelligent person! Sorry to say this. I have heard he make speeches, trot the world, his employment history, what he has done for Zambia etc, I still see him not to be an intelligent person. He is a mere average performer if not below average. He is old and using wisdom but his intellect, his IQ is generally below average. Even educational attainments must have been achieved with personal struggle and then supported with connections to those in good positions. Compare him to KK, RP is far far below par. Â Â
A lot these people who submit comments are very ignorant about issues. These are the so called future leaders. They are just busy insulting and not making genuine contributions. This fora should be closed.
Most conclusions and comments are way off target and can not influence anyone to make informed decisions. Â
It is these useless bloggers who busy saying that RB will win the 20 September elections.Â
It is no warder HH is failing to get support from youths such as you because your thinking lack analysis and HH is also culprit of that.
ITS ONLY TONGAS LIKE YOU WHO HAVE TIME FOR HH THE REST OF ZAMBIA DOES NOT
#9 Ester Phiri the boxer, I guess your brain has be hammered, so u can’t think straight..RB and Co must know the rules of the game…RB is still thinking like HH…just being in opposition as spoilers or show-stoppers…
I also thought RB was intelligent. Its time to be creative mudala not ve uduwa.
Where are the jobs after 90 days, Mr Sata???
#25 i am sure more jobs will be coming up soon with more “commission of enquery” bodies to be set
What happens to KK’s benefits when he is used as a chola boy for Sata in Angola and China?
What is a commission of enquery?
Fair enough!
ask sata lol
Aha! He will probably ask me to ask you! lol!
Fair enough for sure but to be called a robot is just something else. Lubinda should tone down his language. I agree with some of you who are saying that dormant does not really mean a robot. Its quite insulting to be called a robot in any kaponya language for that matter. Lets have respect for each other even when you are in power it does not mean that you can insult anyone NO. Lets have respect for each other napapata bane. I end here!
I hope his excellency the president, sata over rules his minister. let the old man have his benefits pls, this is bush politics some things are best ignored and instead focus on the bigger issues.
Lubinda has just informed the nation and I do know for sure that RB and company did complain. They knew very well about the repurcations and were able to undergo the decision and ask for RB’s monies. I do not how and why we should be ushering insults to people like morons. Trust me the issue of payment was tabled during their deliberations. Whats the hype about guys??????? Lubinda did his ministerial job and informed us. Did I miss a line of MMD complaining???? RB got money and even before he became president he had a worthy account. We all know that. the constitution is clear and does not need interpretations on this issue. #21 I do not agree with your submission.
The only thing Lubinda has insulted are the robots! They are very intelligent things compared to the daft Ala Bee!!!
no one is above the law,so if ur against this decision u can suck my dick
Have they been paying RB so far? Has RB been MMD president so far? If they have been paying RB since he left State House, what has changed then? This seems like it is just harrassment from Sata!
Well the government should demand a refund then if they have been paying him! Think you muppet!
MMD let the man retire in piece so that he is given his packege which he s gonna share with Iris
we usually give negative comments to Lusaka times on their reporting, however think about what would happen if they were to close this online paper, so I am saying congratulations LT and keep it up. You really keep us informed especially in the diaspora. Just continue improving where you can. Well done guys.
If the mini convention will be held in 2 months time, then it’s really not that far away. After all they will give him back the 2 months benefits in arrears. Dont see what the big deal is here.
Lubinda’s pronouncements so far border on political harrassment so far aka Dr Musokotwane etc. This man could become quite unpopular soon.
Kaponyas excited with empty statements from Lubinda. Within two months MMD part leader elections done, what will Lubinda say? another hulla baloo! Italian Bwangu fimofimo would wish RB dead in that time. Ney, panshi bola bane, PF party leader, elections, convensions await the one man party soon. ke ke ke ke ke ke any choppers to hire?
RB does not need benefits, he was everything ‘covered’ by Liato and Dora… I need benefits to come home..
YOU CAN’T EAT WITH BOTH HANDS, kanitundila!!!
That RB is a true gentleman. In this crisis period for MMD he has graciously accepted not to abandon his party until it is safely in the hands of an elected successor. Very civilised and Britain like, he is light miles ahead of other party leaders. PF are embarassed hence the knee jerk reaction of Lubinda.
kikikikikikikikikikikikik
RB refuse, tell MMD to Find an Interim Leader if you truly meant your words on your Outgoing speech. What nonsense is this?? You mean MMD has no capable members?? It’s again start of confusion. Repeat of what happened when Our President Mwanawasa passed on. This party has problems; it has a lot of dirty minded people.
The same law referenced seems a bit unrealistic. Do party presidential tenure coincide with national presidential tenure? ie on 20 Sept 2011, RB ceases to be president of Zambia. Does the law expect him to cease being political party president at the same time.
Will Sata also cease to be PF president on DD/MM/2016 day of election results?
# 12 Nachula
You dont need a dictionary to understand that domaint is not the same as robot. You are actually exposing your ignorance. LUBINDA once again you are very efficient with this matter, work on the roads and other development issues with the same speed and stop talking all the way.
I can see, some kaponya’s are not too happy about my comment( #9) lol! am not reversing! fwaka goverment!!
Tracy, i agree with you 100%, Sata was a peoples’ choice but definitely not God’s choice!
Esther, how do you know? God talks through people not so. if not ask him if you are right.
you will still pay him his dues..whether you like it or not..
We in PF are just trying to follow the law. RB was so shocked after the announcement of the results that he also announced his decision to quit active politics. Semantics! That is the same as saying that he had retired from active politics.
The talk of a successor has been on. Mumba, Muteteka, Mutati, Musokatwane, Pande and others have been salivating to munch the delicious name of party president. All this is on the understanding that the big man is gone. Out of active politics. So a suspension of RB’s pay is OK and it should not raise any dust. The MMD itself did so to Kaunda and their own FTJ. There is precedence and there is the law. Yap agaaaaaiiiiin you robots.
Lubinda is wrong RB is not a president of MMD he resigned, so MMD has no president now, their is nothing wrong for a party to run without a president for 2 months before they choose another. Wait in 2016 ZRP will be in power and SATA will continue to be president of PF , WE WONT PAY HIM TOO
did i kn that Lubinda is a dog? i don’t want to question his IQ  …i wounder if this ministers  went to school….kabwili, lubinda and  sata ( below average )
Do you guys just yap without reading? Do you know when these requirements were crafted into law? Which party introduced this “no-pay-when-in-active-politics” for a former president?
To be ignorant is dangerous. A robot has a programmed brain. It can not do anything else other than that which it has been programmed for. It can not analyse situations and make any informed decision. A human has to do that and input into its mechanical brain. A brain that can only perceive or sense only predetermined signals. A normal and intelligent human brain uses sight, sound, smell, touch, taste in combination with experience and intuition, reason, logic to process a response. I can tell that there are robotic minds spewing irrelevant points. The law has not changed on RUPIAH.
I like the helpful info you provide to your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and take a look at once more right here frequently. I am reasonably certain I’ll be told plenty of new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the next!