Africa Institute for Democracy and Good Governance (AIDGG) spokesperson Thabo Kawana has urged Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata and sections of society to stop linking the first lady Thandiwe Banda’s charitable works to corruption and political campaigns.
Mr. Kawana has in an interview with ZANIS in Kapiri Mponshi today, observed that Mr. Sata’s and some politician’s comments in the media linking the first lady to politics and corruption are irresponsible and politically aimed at tarnishing her image.
The AIDGG spokesperson said Mrs. Banda’s activities across the country should be supported as they are aimed at strengthening women and improve their welfare.
He said the first lady is going across the country to support women clubs which consisted women from various political parties and hence accusing her of campaigning for the ruling MMD through this activity is baseless.
Mr. Kawana noted that the first lady had resolved not to form her own Non Governmental Organization (NGO) like her predecessors to help women but opted to work with existing ones a move which is commended.
He said the move was a clear indication that Mrs. Banda wanted to support and work with all individual women and women clubs in the country regardless of political affiliation.
He said the first lady needs to be supported and not disturbed for her activities therefore it is regrettable that some politicians and critics want to destroy her good name and works.
Mr. Kawana has since urged Mrs. Banda not to relent or be disturbed by these politicians and critics of her works but be focused to helping the needy in society.
Meaniwhile, First Lady Thandiwe Banda has commended the women of Chiengi District in Luapula Province for taking farming seriously in the Chiefdom.
The first Lady said this today in Chiengi when she donated 40 by 50 kg bags of fertiliser, 20 bags of maize and sunflower, sewing machines and a hummer Mill to Women Clubs in the area.
ZANIS reports that Mrs Banda also promised the Women that she would request the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to teach them how to apply the fertilisers using new farming methods.
She thanked the people in the area for voting for President Banda during the 2008 presidential by elections. And speaking during the same occassion, Chief District Association Chairperson Alice Mtine said Women were part and parcel of all Government programmes in the district adding that they played a significant role in national development.
Mrs. Mtine said some of the challenges women Clubs faced included lack of access to equipment such as hummer mills and sowing machines adding that the donation the first lady rendered to the organisation would go a long way in mitigating some of the problems they were facing.
Meanwhile, the First Lady paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Puta’s wife Agnes in Chiengi district who thanked Mrs Banda for visiting the area for the first time.
The traditional Leader’s wife further appealed to Government through the First Lady to adequately empower women in the area to enable them look after the
vulnerable in society and fight against the HIV and Aids respectively. The First Lady is in Chiengi District for a one week tour of Luapula Province.
She is accompanied by Mrs. Edina Mukuma, Wife of Presidential Affairs Minister at State house Rolnald Mukuma, Mrs. Felisty Mushosha, Mrs. Agnes Chinyanta and Mrs. Gloria Sichilima.
ZANIS
And Dr Chiluba charged that Mr Sata was a dishonest person who on two occasions was sent to friendly foreign presidents to collect money for the party, but that the PF leader failed to account for it.
Dr Chiluba revealed that on two occasions, he also provided Mr Sata with funds but that Mr Sata equally failed to account for it.
He said Mr Sata was an unrepentant opportunist, whose loyalty to leadership and the people of Zambia was always questionable. And Vice-President George Kunda said Mr Sata and his PF could no longer match the strength of the MMD and had therefore entered into a pact with another finished party, the UPND.
“There is confusion in the pact, they are fighting for who is to stand for what seat, there is total confusion in the pact,” Mr Kunda nailed it.
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ONLY IN ONE SOAP OPERA ARENA CALLED ZAMBIA CAN CHARACTERS LIKE SATA BE CONSIDERED AS PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS.IN OBAMALAND SUCH CHARACTERS ARE CONFINED TO PSYCHIATRIC WARDS
OBAMA = Original Black African Managing America
BANDA = Black African Not Delivering Action
SATA = Serial Advanced Traitorous Asshole
# 4 s ID and comments once again comfirms hw much of a threat Sata is to some people s hold on power and greedines.
Comparing what obtains Pa Zed and US only displys ones little knowledge which can be more dangerous than a child with a knife.
According to Mpombo’s description :BANDA = Baboons Against New Deal Administration
thandiwe should not be seen dishing out brown envelopes. however if she has a program which she wants to fund let her be transparent enough so that everyone knows what she’s doing. since when did dishing out a brown envelope became part charity work in Zambia. this same LT showed us pictures of thandiwe giving out envelopes to individuals. that is undisclosed sum of money. i dont support Sata but let the first lady know that she’s married to a politician and cos of that she’s a politician too and she not a private housewife but public figure.
# 4, i guess you are wrong, look at political parties in zambia, who is keep them MMD guys moving? who is a threat to them- i thought Sata is doing a very good job, even if some people feel he cant be our kateka, at least he does give us some information on how MMD is doing. So, let us give a ukuboko for the job well done-then when it comes to voting, go for ever u feel can be our kateka. But as at this time, it is only Sata , them MMD guys are scared of. Maybe am wrong- help
Ba Sata nabo bazola diplozo.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Surely we have govt departments responsible for helping any progressive group? We can not have 1st lady being used by the VJ engineered campaign tactics. That Money she is dishing out is in actual sense interfering with the Zambian minds such that everywhere she goes, people will be expecting handouts! It is not a good presidency to set. Unless of course diversion of funds is the way of MMD.
Play with Sata and you paly with fire. Wether you like it or not Sata will rule Zambia next year!! we want to get ride of some nosense in this country. we need a serious leader!!!
VJ formula will not work out this time, never!!!.Thabo you have no point the only reason you are supporting thandi is because your names start with tha. by the way LT, you have left out his sir name….. mbeki.
hmm #7 efyo tuka nabawiso naba noko ifyo sure?
#11 you are very right.
#15you are also hitting the nail on it’s head. True to the point.
Thabo kawana you should tell us where the money is coming from, the money she is giving out. Who is funding her? If the money is from the OP then she is abusing public resources. there is no official office for the first lady to be drawing funds from the public treasury.
What is thing called Kawana? Do we have such animal species in Zambia called Kawana
#5, Tracy what about HH,GBM na KK?
The first lady is free to be involved in community activities, but what makes it political is when the state media is parading her as if she is on a campaign trail. Zambia is a ”poor” country because we donot use the little we have resources wisely…aimless travels,unproductive seminars ,workshops,commissions to review this and that !!!!
#22 Shi Philipo- Free as she may be but the timing is wrong. If you see the next story it confirms that MMD has moved in using GRZ facilities for the campaign. A mini bus has been given to Mpulungu just now. Why? Mpulungu is not a new place on our map, so this mini bus could have been delivered along time ago or better still let all Districts get a mini bus each to day.It takes only a Sub Standard A pupil to see that the the MMD is doing this because of the impending by election. You guys who have taken over MMD have no brains, because in each by election you have used the same gimmick but have lost. You transfered road repair kit from Kalulushi to Nchanga and Masaiti to Chifubu but still lost. Revise your strategy by doing the right things.
Where is she getting the money? can one be wrong to speculate that its bloody money or government money or stollen money? DEC should follow her
Waz the difference between wat Thandiwe is dishing out and FTJ’s slash fund back in the day? MMD better get ready to lose the Mpulungu seat despite sending Thandi there
#21 awe naleka l have respect for all our leaders regardless of their views
these issues about these women called first ladies distributing brown envelopes and other goods is not done in good faith. where is hope foundation and mmci?, they are non existant now simply because no one is interested in funding such without a political favour in return. lets not be cheated by these ladies, thats why we appreciated ba mayo ba betty kaunda.