Wednesday, April 24, 2024

My Mayoral bid is not a downgrade-Maureen Mwanawasa

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Maureen Mwanawasa speaking inside Radio Phoenix  studios
Maureen Mwanawasa speaking inside Radio Phoenix studios

Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa says her decision to contest the post of Lusaka Mayor is not a demotion.

Dr Mwanawasa who featured on a special interview on Radio Phoenix said she has always been a down to earth person who interacts very well with the grassroots.

She said her love for the ordinary person was manifested in her decision to set up and run the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative during the tenure of her late husband President Levy Mwanawasa.

The Former First Lady observed that her community efforts were sometimes overshadowed by the fact that she was living in State House.

“I am a social worker, I have been a social worker all my life and I like working with the vulnerable in society but sometimes when one is in State House, those qualities are sometimes overlooked as people only see you as the wife to the Head of State,” Dr Mwanawasa said.

Dr Mwanawasa said if elected Mayor, she would use her grass root working abilities to improve the lives of women and children.

She said coming from a legal background, she would help reenergize the revenue side of the city council by encouraging the council to venture into revenue generating activities.

“I don’t see a reason why the Council cannot buy shares in thriving businesses? The Lusaka City Council is ought to be the richest in the country and we can help realise that dream,” she said.

“I grew up from the Township so I am familiar with having to go with no water and having to go and answer the call of nature outside the house. So I want to become Mayor so that I can help our women address some of these issues,” she said.

Dr Mwanawasa revealed that she will soon be meeting officials from the Millennium Challenge Account to understand why it is taking long to operationalise the modernisation of the Lusaka water and sanitation project.

“On our agenda are meetings with several stakeholders such as the Millennium Challenge Account and the business community in the city, we want to hear from them and get to understand their challenges,” she said.

44 COMMENTS

    • This is the systemic problem of Zambian politics short sighted politicians. They need to see the larger picture of:
      1. Expanding the City outwards to reduce the over congestion.
      2. Identify smart private partnership to bring in a modern transport network such as a mono rail to link airport, matero, new kasama, Lusaka west and lilayi.
      3. Stop the nonsense of selling meat on the streets of freedom way and introduce an on and of street market operational only on specific days.
      4. Strengthen the traffic enforcement depart at the council.
      5. Modernise city bus stations and remove thugs that hold innocent passengers to ransom.
      Instead these candidates are mere telling us the usual rhetoric with no substance at all!

    • @james buga – so true. Sometimes I wish these people read comments like yours. They would greatly improve their goals and make their campaigns so much easier

  1. Mwanawasa funeral cash should be accounted for-Daughters

    The row over succession wrangles in the late President, Levy Mwanawasa’s family has deepened.

    This time around, two daughters of the late president, Mirriam and Lona, have called on the Auditor General to review how the one million US dollars alleged to have been sent to Percy military hospital in France to foot medical bills by the Zambian government during the illness of their father was spent.

    Dr. Mwanawasa died at the same hospital on August 19th 2008.

    In a walk-in interview with MUVI TV News, Mirriam and Lona, the step daughters of Maureen Mwanawasa, further disclosed that Lafarge Headquarters which is based in France footed all accommodation expenses for the former first lady.

    The duo has also called for the…

  2. Late president Mwanawasa family fight for estate

    Late President, Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa’s older children, Miriam and Rona have accused Mrs. Maureen Mwanawasa of depriving them their father’s multi –billion estate.

    The children have also stated that they will instruct lawyers to sue Mrs. Mwanawasa and the Administrator of the estate on Monday. The legal action is aimed at recovering their share of the estate.

    In a statement issued by the late president’s children on Saturday in Lusaka, they accused Mrs. Maureen Mwanawasa of benefitting from the assets of their father and keeping the wealth and estate to herself and her biological children.

    Miriam and Rona accused Mrs. Mwanawasa of collecting K800million from Cabinet Office, contributions made by Zambians towards the funeral…

  3. Maureen Mwanawasa Insults Threatens Step-Daughter

    UPND endorser and former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa has issued a series of insults and deragatory remarks against her step daughter, Mirriam Mwanawasa.
    Mirriam has appealed to Maureen to stop abusing the Mwanawasa name as she is accused of failing to unite the family.
    Below are forwarded messages that Mrs. Mwanawasa has written against her step daughter.
    ” Kwati your mental issue has resurfaced l wonder whether the people paying you know your background. Records are still there let’s not show that you are an angel when you are not. Twaleni ubushilu kumbi.”
    “Just eat the money u are being showered because l’am not a candidate so no matter what u say can’t affect the campaign”
    Mirriam has been campaigning for Edgar Lungu in lamba…

  4. High Court orders Maureen Mwanawasa to pay back money given to her MMCI NGO

    THE Lusaka High Court has ordered former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa and five others to pay back over K1.2 million they received through a non-governmental organisation the Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) for HIV/AIDS-related activities which they have failed to account for.

    This is in a matter in which ZNAN sued Dr Mwanawasa and five others for failure to account for a K1.25 million grant given to the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI).

    The six are Dr Mwanawasa, Noreen Mapala, Wright Mumeka, Sam Mundia, Simon Sakala and Rosario Fundanga who are all trustees for the non-governmental organisation (NGO) which was founded by Dr Mwanawasa in 2002.

    When the matter came up on Tuesday for the…

  5. This woman is corrupt to the bone
    She is despised in Lambaland
    She was the one receiving $16 000/week bribe from Luanshya Copper Mines every Friday

    • You cannot prove your allegations. You are just making false claims without any basis. The Chinese would never pay such money for nothing.

  6. Mercenaries for hire.
    Why can’t you just discuss the merits and demerits of Mrs Mwanawasa standing for mayor.
    What does her family circumstances got to do with her aspirations?
    Surely there must be courts ready to listen to the grievances of the children??
    Thank Mrs Mwanawasa for prioritising sanitation challenges in Lusaka if elected into office.
    Lusaka,Mongu etc are a stones’ throw from major rivers and yet we fail to supply this most important of all needs to our people.
    Haphazard town planning or lack of planning must also appear on your agenda madam.
    Shame.

    • That is the problem with you Zambians. These issues that are being raised are very pertinent and they go to show what kind of person is aspiring to become Mayor of the capital city. The woman is not trustworthy, especially where money is concerned. Put her in the mayoral office and she might just disappear with all the funds meant for development. The truth MUST be told so that people can make informed decision on who to vote for.

    • Ba General, this is a public office, that runs on public funds, in other words mine and your. Therefore when you are in public office, decisions you make at family level that surface in the public are prone to scrutiny. On the basis that the same personal decisions you make can be made when you are dealing with public funds. In the western world where there is strong accountability and transparency, public figures have been known to resign by making wrong decisions in their personal lives. If there is lack of integrity and honesty in one’s personal life, how will that change in the public life?

  7. Maureen Mwanawasa claims to have come from a humble background but since she stopped being first lady her organization died and she has never stepped into any of theses compounds until now. She doesn’t even know that we already have council constituency offices.

  8. THE Lusaka High Court has ordered former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa and five others to pay back over K1.2 million they received through a non-governmental organisation the Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) for HIV/AIDS-related activities which they have failed to account for.

    This is in a matter in which ZNAN sued Dr Mwanawasa and five others for failure to account for a K1.25 million grant given to the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI).

    The six are Dr Mwanawasa, Noreen Mapala, Wright Mumeka, Sam Mundia, Simon Sakala and Rosario Fundanga who are all trustees for the non-governmental organisation (NGO) which was founded by Dr Mwanawasa in 2002.

  9. i conquer with Mofu Maureen wanted to be a running mate was sidelined due to the fact that GBM bought off the position and because she power hungry she opted to go for mayoral…

  10. she should start as a Councillor so that she understands what really the people need and so that she learns how to work with the people especially those in the compounds

    • @12 Mihal, I agree with you! If she is a grass roots person she should have worked first at that level as a councilor before offering herself to run the bigger thing as an Executive. This is what we call being “power hungry”!! She doesn’t even know the real problems she wants to solve:“On our agenda are meetings with several stakeholders ….., we want to hear from them and get to understand their challenges,” The Millennium project is an aid program that should consume too much of her energy- there is little she can change there! Let her go to the council itself discuss town planning, collection of rates,land allocation..etc and to Lusaka Water and Sewerage Co. and ask them why we cant have water 24/7! Do you believe as lawyer you can help to generate revenue with an haphazard…

    • Zedian you are only entitled to one vote. So you shall vote for her. Don’t use we unless you registered twice which is a crime.

  11. she is always reading what she says, its clear she doesn’t have a vision and just relies on her notes from the campaign manager.

  12. After opening your legs to the Tonga Bull, he duped you but chose a more intelligent GBM now you want to pretend that you are not affected ! Selfish woman iwe who doesnt forget how you filled ZESCO and the foreign missions with your relatives ! We know that when you ‘accidentally’ win, it would be ‘wako ni wako’ for the Lenjes again, we know you. Busy riding on Levy’s ‘legacy’ of looting ZAMOIL money today you want to pretend that the guy was honest etc. You are all Pompwes ! Meanwhile SMS me Darlington Chanda’s number

  13. General Shikapwasha said the death of the late president was certified by the doctors in France and that Mrs. Mwanawasa is aware of that.
    He says it is unfair for the former first lady to accuse government of not carrying out an investigation now when at the time the late president died she did not raise issues against the medical doctors both in Egypt and France nor against the assistance rendered by the Egyptian and French governments.
    Lt General Shikapwasha says government believes that the medical doctors both in France and Egypt did their best to try and save the life of the late president Mwanawasa.

  14. He adds that the condition and health of the late president was public knowledge.
    On complaints that government was in a hurry to hold the presidential by-elections to replace the late president, General Shikapwasha said Mrs Mwanawasa as a lawyer knows that the current constitution states that upon the demise of a sitting president, elections for the position of president must be held within 90 days.
    He says for this reason, the elections were held in accordance with the constitution, adding that the allegations that government was in a hurry to hold the presidential by-election are unfair.

  15. On the former first lady’s complaints that the government is not providing enough money for herself and her children, General Shikapwasha stated that the benefits of former heads of state, their spouses and children are prescribed by the benefits of Former Presidents’ Act, Cap 15 as amended, and the presidential emoluments Act Cap 261.
    Lt General Shikapwasha explains that government rents a house for the former first lady and rentals so far paid by the government from November 2008 up to October 2010 total 700 million kwacha.

  16. He adds that gratuity paid to the estate of the late president is over 378 million kwacha, while public donations to the funeral collected by government and paid to the late president’s estate amounted to over 705 million kwacha.
    He said other benefits include motor vehicles, goods and services, travel expenses, fuel, repairs, security services and insurance amounting to five hundred and thirteen million, five hundred thirty four thousand nine hundred thirty three kwacha.

  17. So who is Maureen Kakubo Mwanwa…MKM was a struggling council typist in Ndola when she first met the late LPM who was at the time happily married to his second wife. Fast forward she took a job in his successful firm and was elevated to legal secretary…soon the affair blossomed, LPM stopped spending nights at his matrimonial home and the wife stood no chance with the much younger and succulent MKM…In 1990 when FTJ made LPM vice at a conference at Mulungushi MKM jumped in excitement and shouted ‘thank you Mr. President’

  18. MKM in that period of time had gone to school and read for a law degree after improving her grade 12 results and then at law school engaged the services of Darlington Mwape to ‘assist’ her with her assignments…later LPM was roused from his sleep imposed on MMD and became President after living in exile..FTJ trusted no one with the post of President but for his former lawyer and friend…MKM formed a foundation ensured kulibonesha tah were in office…state house saw grade 12 become comptroller of finances etc and her toy boy affair flourished

  19. The MMW foundation was a money spinner it saw he travel receive ‘donations’ and it was run by her relative and the former speakers daughter who now looks like a man on account to the gym…she engaged and got mining concessions which she on leased and earns a whopping sum of money to date but it was by use of force…when her relative had a child with a lawyer Inambao she ensured he was made commissioner of lands… she wanted him to grant her title to a precious piece in siavonga when he reufsed he saw the door..she went to India got bagfuls of bribe money and landed the police with tata cars and trucks…she went into petrol distribution as a silent partner…she hated her ‘step’ children with a passion

  20. When LPM fell ill she knew he was dying the doctors told her but her appetite for wealth didn’t wan she grabbed all the money she could lay her hands on and brought on board her daughter to ‘over see’ most of her ill wealth…LPM passed on in Shelma Shek after a stroke…MKM took a corpse to france and fed off it…’medical bills’ for corpse were sent to her and she charge grz coffers…out of state house for some reason RB felt indebted to her so he halted any investigations against her..sent her toy boy to Sweden as Ambassador where he quietly help her launder her cash…she had a fling with William the Nyi…his wife had a semi-stroke..she shifted her attention to HH she used wat she knows best and now here we are..vote for her

  21. MAUREEN IS JUST HEARTLESS AND SHE SHOULD BE NEVER BE GIVEN CHANCE TO RUN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL.BUT BA MAUREEN BAPUBA FROM BEING THE FIRST TO EYE THE POSITION OF A MAYOR ATI ITS A PROMOTION TO HER…..HONESTLY EVEN MY EYES CANT BELIEVE THAT I HAVE READ WHAT I HAVE SEEN.FROM STATEHOUSE TO BE IN A COUNCIL OFFICE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD ATI ITS NOT DEMOTION,THEN I DONE KNOW WHAT IT IS.POOR YOU YOU ARE EVEN BAD HEARTED TO JUST EVEN ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE ON A DEMOTION LEAGUE BECAUSE GBM PLAYED A SMART GAME ON YOU AND YOU OPENED YOUR LEGS THINKING YOU CAN BE THE RUNNING MATE……..IMPOSSIBLE

  22. Molin is dull worth to be a commercial prostitute who can not be satisfied in any field in bed,cash included.thankx to kaseba who on principle rejected running mate offer from sata ‘s enemy.God s time is best.avoid making enemies in life but always try to make friends or stay put

  23. Chi Maureen chipubafye thinking that sleeping with the party president will give her good chances to be a Running mate.when will women stop thinking with using their private parts and think using their brains.Am very disapointed really.

  24. Am even ashamed for a normal woman like maureen to shamelessly think that what she is doing is a promotion unlike a demotion.please have a life you where suppose to eye atleast been a MP that would be share game not a Council worker you dont even know where Chibolya is do you?

    • Even in 2015 you and your fellow failures kept mumbling and talking same rhetoric and bigotry but ECL triumphed. HH lost and will happen 2016.
      HH blind followers think 2015 numbers were a popularity test for him. You forget simple facts that voter turnout was 33% average but 95% in Southern province. That is why 2016 voter register shows Sountern province having 17% of voters beating Northern, Luapula and Eastern so that hh wins on voter turnout.
      Bringing into HH team, haters of ECL like Kilometer, Sikoti, maroads masebo gbm will not make hh win 2016 election. Be prepared for an excruciating defeat. Zambians have already decided. KATEKA is already known, UMUNTU (human( NOT ANIMAL (HH), is already known, NI LUNGU.

  25. Its oneway of opening up for more cliets to recover from lost s*x hours shame.unfortunately jj is taking it as an opportunity to abuse some widows who have s*x poverty unable to control thenselves molin wudaku mama ukufwa katataka.kaseba thankx it shows u are intelligent able to analyse issues

  26. MOST OF THE COMMENTS ABOVE SHOW THE LOW AND CHEAP THINKING OF THE MAJORITY OF THE SO CALLED EDUCATED ZAMBIANS. THAT’S WHY THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TO BE BACKWARD AND UNDEVELOPED. THAT’S WHY THE LEADERSHIP IS IN THE HANDS OF THE LUNGUS, KAMBWILIS AND SILIYAS, ETC. OUR ECONOMY CONTINUES TO BE IN THE HANDS OF FOREIGNERS 50 YEARS AFTER INDEPENDENCE.

  27. @Lolo spot on besides what written about MKM aka manomabulwa is fact not fiction people need to know who their mayors are and what they truly stand for….

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