Late President Michael Sata’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah has said that an abridged version of the document was given to the late president for his September 19, 2014 speech because it was decided at the time, by all concerned with the finalization of the speech that the presentation of a lengthy or bulky speech by president Sata would be inimical to his health, and that the late president agreed accordingly.
Reacting to former Finance Minister’s assertions that the late president’s speech was swapped, Mr Chellah said that the abridged version of the speech had full presidential approval and input too.
Over the weekend, Mr Chikwanda wrote that late’s President Michael Sata was undermined by people around him to the extent of having the speech he ordained for the fourth session of the 11th National Assembly of Friday September 19 2014 removed for one he found was not his speech.
Mr Chikwanda stated that president Sata was alarmed and severely constrained to read that speech and that unfortunately, he just made off tangent jokes.
Below is the full response from George Chellah
IN DEFENCE OF MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA’s LEGACY
By George Chella
I have read with keen interest the write-up from Mr. Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda, the immediate-past minister of finance, in which he accuses certain “aides” of swapping the late president Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata’s speech and in which he insinuates that there was some sort of foul play.
To begin with, I need to emphasize that I am extremely reluctant to engage people who are much older than me in unnecessary debates because my cultural and religious beliefs compel me to respect our elders. In this instance, I am forced to respond to defend both the government processes that are used in presidential speech preparation and presentation but also defend the honor of the late president Sata with whom I worked very closely for the last 10 years of his life and to whom I owed unwavering loyalty. I believe I owe president Sata loyalty both in life and in death.
Secondly, I am very reluctant to respond to statements that leak internal government memoranda and documents, which are otherwise classified under the State Security Act. But I feel constrained to respond without revealing the actual documents and correspondence that occurred within State House at the time. I strongly feel that the integrity of government correspondence and work requires the maintenance of high-level confidentiality in presidential matters and by virtue of his expansive wisdom, knowledge and experience in state matters, I expect bashikulu Ba Chikwanda to know this better. Having said that, the following is my response:
The write-up by Mr. Chikwanda has one material misconception, which I wish to correct. Presidential speeches are subjected to an elaborate and well-structured process, and to suggest that any one person in a former or the current government can manipulate a presidential speech meant for the legislature, is both an assault on the government process but also on the integrity of the sitting Head of State. Also, to suggest that president Sata’s speech was swapped is being less than truthful and unfair because nothing of that sort happened, and to insist on this claim, is to insult president Sata’s intellect especially that anybody who worked closely with him can attest to the fact that president Sata was a detailed and methodical man who insisted to have his draft speeches two weeks before the event.
Perhaps, let me briefly run through what amounts to be a traditional presidential speech preparation and presentation process. Zambians should know that the president’s speech for the official opening of the National Assembly is drafted by a special committee constituted by the Secretary to the Cabinet before final submission to State House for the Head of State and his aides to have the final input and tailor the document in accordance with the president’s short and long-term vision and plans for his tenure of office. So, insofar as the presidential address to the National Assembly is concerned, the Head of State is the final authority on what is submitted to the August assembly and subsequently, to the nation at large, and I can confirm that president Sata personally participated in these procedures. The Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr. Rowland Msiska and the current Principal Private Secretary at State House, Dr. Simon Miti can attest to this fact.
Now, let me specifically address the issues pertaining the alleged swapped speech. The impeccable truth about president Sata’s September 19, 2014 speech is that as per norm, president Sata wholly contributed in the process and sanctioned what needed to be incorporated or expunged from the final document for presentation to the National Assembly. Also, it was decided at the time, by all concerned with the finalization of the speech that the presentation of a lengthy or bulky speech by president Sata would be inimical to his health and the president agreed accordingly. That was how all concerned settled for an abridged version of the document. Although, I cannot go into the intricate details for reasons of confidentiality and in keeping with my oath of secrecy I can confirm that the abridged version of the speech had full presidential approval and input too. I should pose here to clarify that although president Sata had challenges with his physical health at the time, his mental faculties were intact and that is why Cabinet of which Mr. Chikwanda was an integral part did not trigger the constitutional provision for the removal of the president for mental incapacity.
Lastly, let me remind all those concerned that out of respect for the late president Sata, I have kept quiet about the intrigue, cunning and manipulation that happened during that time and which in certain instances hinged on criminality so unless they want to invite me out of my silence but I can assure them that this is not an invitation I will chicken-out from, as I am more than willing and able to defend my integrity and public service credentials. I thank you!
Sata rest in peace. We miss you especially in cholera days.
And yet they told us that the man was fine, just going on “Medical Tourism” in Israel. Liars in the name of state secrete. Lies! Lies! You held the president hostage, now you are saying that some decisions bordered on criminality : “cunning and manipulation that happened during that time and which in certain instances hinged on criminality”
Sata never read any speech without cracking jokes. All his life, in good health and in sickness, he always went off tangent to crack jokes.
Mr Chella please write a book and spill the beans. You owe Sata that. You were with him during the campaigns and during his presidency.
With due respect – I have no respect for Chellah, like many.
I have read through this half way and given up.
It’s a lot of codswallop.
Chellah should’nt claim to respect elders if his statements during the Greatest president ( Who was my grandfather- through my Mother) is anything to by.
My advise is for George to remain in obscurity.
You have always misinterpreted judgement- when you should say something and when you shouldn’t.
Go away for what it’s worth.
Chanda is bad but you were terrible.
Thanks
BB2014,2016
Really?the man who ordered vendors back in the streets
Whilst I respect women, Mushota’s mouth opening is no different from animal Flatulence.
*SURELY THERE ARE FAR WEIGHTER THINGS TO TALK ABOUT AT THIS TIME. LIKE WHY DO WE ALLOW SO MUCH GARBAGE ALL OVER ZAMBIA AND STREET VENDING OF FOODS IN UNHYGIENIC CONDITIONS.
WHAT THE HELL BLOATED COUNCILS AND CORRUPT HEALTH INSPECTORS ARE DOING ABOUT THE CHOLERA OUTBREAK.
SHAME ON US
Everything points to the fact that things were not right at the time and I can see that not everyone was in agreement, from the two articles we have read from ABC & GC I can smell a rat. GC is threatening here hence we need to be careful what we are trying to expose it may backfire on all; however, since all is being brought to light I demand that we be given the truth period. If the President was involved in providing an abridged version of his speech why did he fail to present it but resorted to “off tangent” jokes according to ABC.
George Chella was a conduit for Mr Mmembe and the Post Newspapers and hence now is afraid…The guilty are always afraid…ABC did not mention any names and George Chella is a small boy who was just used by the Cartel…
Do you have any evidence or its just out of hate?
Lies always catch up…isn’t this the boy who said at the time that old man Sata was in good health.
Iwe Chellah you are lying, all lies and contradicting yourself. You are NOT smart you are now dragging Msiska and Miti into the scandal. Sata informed Ba Chikwanda how disappointed he was with the speech. I doubt Sata agreed to the removal of the most important piece of his speech. You were controlled by cartel just tell us how you accelerated the death of our Big man Sata. I would advise that you do not remain in silence but unleash the scandals you and cartel committed. Miti and Msisika ba mbuli imwe also tell us what you know. Zambia is larger than you greed and corrupt people.
I remember very well when the late president got incensed at the contents of the speech and he threw it away as rubbish.
I don’t see why he is talking about defending the integrity of President Sata. ABC did not attack Sata’s integrity in his article. There were no attacks on the late President at all but George, here, is all guns blazing. Its very suspicious this response.
Ifyo balya ubushiku bafi mwena kuma lushi
Chella’s statement gives credence to the widely held view that MCS (MHRIP) was non compos mentis towards the end of his rein. Perhaps one needs to take a little step back and take a general look at how he was governing the country in this state of health. Are we where we are today as a result of some of these erratic decisions?
Chaps like GC here gives a very bad name to young people in high offices!
There is nothing to defend here especially that old man ABC did not point at you and the fact that the speech was never your job alone but a collective of people at plot 1. So why are you defending yourself when nobody has asked you to?
Upanfiwe eulwa nechibi
@ 9 I agree. ABC didn’t mention any names but Chella jumps up to defend himself. The guilty are always afraid!!
These things are now coming out in the open and it explain how a full cycle alcoholic stupid ***** ended up being installed as president and now we are in trouble. Sata was not only physically but mentally incapacitated too. We saw him in Parliament presenting the contentious speech, he could hardly speak while his appearance in court with Kabimba was a classic case of someone clearly mentally insane! Calls came from many such as Brebner Changala to have Sata’s kalukobo examined by Prof. Haworth for Masalamusi but all his handles kept on ducking & diving while they ruled by proxy. I mean, if he was given an abridged speech and he went on to read it, it means he was senile. But Chellah makes a valid point that a long speach would have been inimical to his health because we could all see…
Sata was not only physically challenged, he was severely mentally incapacitated too. We all saw in him court with Kabimba for the Richard Sakala case acting very *****ic! He was mad in the head.
The man is dead why not leave him alone? Is this nonsense of blaming each other going to change anything.
Ndanje, you think the life of a president can just be treated like trash? This whole issue needs to be revisited and investigated. Contrally, its standard procedure when the president or king falls sick, not to just announce to the entire world that the king is sick for security and economical reasons. It took a lot of days before MMD could inform us that Mwanawasa had died. Its like that all over the world, just dont hate GC for nothing.
There’s no difference between me and a president because I can also become a president. He’s dead, Chiluba is, Mwanawasa is dead so will Super Ken,Rupiah, Edgar and those who will come. It’s just a waste of time. I thought it’s only people who raise unnecessary issues after someone has died.
People from Luapula. ..to us no death is natural there must be someone responsible.
ok
Batampa ukuyalukila bekabeka. Chella and Sata’s wife were busy saying Sata was not sick right up until the time the man died. Why is he now telling us the speech Sata gave was abridged due to health concerns? So these clowns think we have to take the crap every time they decide to lie to us. What’s George’s interest in this now anyway?
Showing loyalty to Sata could earn him political mileage at the next PF conference/convention
It seems Hon. the former VP and strongest VP ever zambia had ENOCK KAVINDELE was right that we constitute a commission of Inquiry into the cause of death for MCS. It seems we can come up with good conclusions though life cant be brought back but would be a lesson for sitting and future (HH) pRESIDENT
But clearly during the presentation of his speech, ba Sata was sick. In the first place some of us proposed that Guy should have represented him. The man went missing from public domain for a very long time and only appeared on the day when parliament was opening. There was an outcry on the whereabouts of Michael Sata. As usual the responses were that he was in good heath. We even doubted whether he would present the speech in parliament because we suspected he was very sick. Indeed when he appeared the man was not in himself. It could even be possible that the man forgot that his speech was abridged due to his poor health. I 100% agree with G.C. Ba Chikwanda please do not divert our attention from the debts you have this country in.
Ba Chikwanda please do not divert our attention from the debts you have left this country in. For many years to come Zambia will see more troubles because of your careless borrowing taking advantage of Sata’s poor health. GC tell us more.
Didn’t Mr Sata that he was sick? If it was me I would have simply said “bane nshile unfwa bwino”. Unless someone had drugged him to the extent that he didn’t know what was happening.
In this case Chellah has got lots of questions to answer! Who authorised to change the Presidents speech! When did Chellah come to realise the President was that sick, and could not do with reading a long speech. Who chose what to take out of the speech? This is a serious breach of his confidentiality by accepting that he and others agreed to change the speech. Who are the others? Were they government employees or outsiders. He has a lot to explain, and probably knows more than he can chew!