By Elias Munshya wa Munshya
The news that a group within the MMD has been formed to keep Michael Sata from coming to the funeral of President Frederick Chiluba should be a concern to all peace loving Zambians. In fact, even our gallant security wings have fallen prey to this gibberish by entreating Michael Sata to stay away from the funeral—in the name of “security”. The very thought that it could come to this is not only ridiculous but insolently immature. I wish to argue in this article that Michael Sata should be allowed to attend and mourn his former boss. This is consistent with our common humanity.

Those who believe that Sata had been an enemy of Dr. Chiluba have chosen to look at a fraction of history and ignored the whole. They are simply being economical with reality. There has not been any true enmity between Chiluba and Sata. What existed were mere political interests that took these two gentlemen in different directions—only since 2008.

To use President Chiluba’s mere political difference when he supported Banda over Sata in 2008 as the yardstick for projecting the enmity between the two does not just make sense at all. Michael Sata had been Chiluba’s closest political confidante for years.

It is impossible to define a politically successful Chiluba without mentioning the political engineering of Michael Sata. It is Michael Sata who has served Chiluba in more senior capacities than any other living politician today. Sata was Chiluba’s MMD national secretary, minister of labour, minister of local government, minister without portfolio, and minister of health. Michael Sata helped prop up Chiluba’s credentials as a leader of the common people. Sata supported Frederick Chiluba within the democratic movement of the late 1980s.

Sata campaigned for Frederick Chiluba both in Lusaka and Mpika. In fact, the relationship between Michael Sata and Chiluba is one of the longest lasting political relationships in Zambia today. Spanning from the 1980s Sata remained true and faithful to Frederick Chiluba until Chiluba dribbled Sata in 2001.

But after 2001, and after the subsequent prosecution and persecution of Chiluba under Mwanawasa, it was Michael Sata who came to the support of Chiluba. Sata openly mentioned that Chiluba had dribbled him.

And Chiluba openly admitted that he had made a tremendous mistake by appointing Mwanawasa. But after the theft persecution, Sata became Chiluba’s supporter again. Sata provided Chiluba with the support of the common man from the Copperbelt and Lusaka while Mwanawasa and the likes of William Banda wished Chiluba dead. The alliance between Sata and Chiluba was so strong that it was the PF MPs and PF supporters who would line up the airport roads to receive Frederick Chiluba from hospital in South Africa. In 2006, no one was surprised to see FTJ raise a feeble fist in the air and request the people of Luapula Province and the Copperbelt to vote and vote for the Patriotic Front.

At one time, after the second political fall-out between Chiluba and Sata, Chiluba was addressing a funeral gathering when PF supporters booed him. To this Chiluba answered, “There are no permanent enemies in politics, only permanent interests.” In so saying, Chiluba mentioned one rule that has helped all successful politicians including Michael Sata himself. In politics no one is a permanent enemy. It only takes an expulsion, or the so-called resignation to turn political friends into enemies and political enemies into friends. We saw it happen in 1991 where those who were eating at Kaunda’s table suddenly turned to the MMD and became friends of democracy overnight. Nothing changed among those people, their hearts remained the same. They changed camps due to political interests.

It is rather ironical, that it is William Banda—Chiluba’s long-time arch enemy—who has today been transformed into Chiluba’s ally. What confuses me and many others is that it is this Banda who, while testifying against Chiluba in the 1996 presidential petition, claimed that Titus Mpundu hailed from Congo and spoke a Congolese dialect of Lingala as a boy. So William Banda is now a friend of Chiluba’s while Sata is an enemy. It seems the death of politics and the politics of death are incompatible with logic.

In 2008, it was politically appropriate for Chiluba to support Banda over Sata. A minute after the death of Mwanawasa it was apparent that Mwanawasa’s Vice-President, Rupiah Bwezani Banda, had no political interest in the continued prosecution or persecution of Frederick Chiluba. Under those circumstances, Chiluba was no fool to repudiate such a gesture. He again aligned himself against Sata and of course the Cobra went ballistic. He was angry against Frederick Chiluba. And it is at this point that the current MMD cadres miss it, they equate Sata’s anger as enmity. It is not enmity and it should not be interpreted as such. There was going to be plenty of time for Sata to play politics. And in fact there was still going to be more time for Chiluba and Sata’s interests to be aligned once more. Had it not been for death…Sata and Chiluba were once again going to embrace each other.

Sata and Chiluba’s interests were going to be aligned once more if Sata were to win the 2011 elections. Some have opined that a President Sata was going to revive theft charges against Chiluba after winning the 2011 elections. But those who know history and politics understand very well that Sata cannot take Chiluba to court. They know each other too well to do that. Sata said what he said because he was angry. He felt like he had been dribbled too much. But with him in power, there would be no political benefit for him to continue prosecuting Chiluba. Mwanawasa prosecuted Chiluba only when it was politically expedient for him to do so.

Mwanawasa took Chiluba to court not because Chiluba had stolen; some Zambians believe Chiluba may have stolen just going by the million dollar suits, shirts, shoes and underwear. But that is not the reason why Mwanawasa took him to court. Mwanawasa took Chiluba to court because he was politically in a precarious situation. He wanted ways to silence Chiluba who was still president of the MMD and had the support of almost its entire executive. Sata would not have the same political dynamics at play and as such, he would not have gone ahead with continued prosecution.

Here if the MMD cadres continue with this nonsense, it is Sata who will emerge as the shrewdest of them all. It is Sata who should want to keep away from the funeral. It is he who can say I had been dribbled too much by this man. But Sata is not known to keep grudges, just like Chiluba was. He has thrown all that enmity aside and he wants to go and mourn and sing “icimbo” for his friend and political confidante. This Sata must be allowed to do, even if it will mean taking the whole battalion of Zambian police to protect him from senseless cadres.

In death even enemies become friends; death is just like politics after all!

The MMD and two traditional leaders in Luangwa district have differed over the adoption of parliamentary aspiring candidates on the ruling party ticket.

The ruling party has chosen to back Patrick Ngoma for Feira constituency.

However, Senior Chief Mburuma and Chief Mphuka of the Nsinga-Luzi and Chikunda people respectively want the incumbent, Charles Shawa to re-contest the seat.

Speaking on behalf of his counterpart, Senior Chief Mburuma has cited the development of infrastructure in the area as evident of Mr Shawa’s works.

But MMD Constituency Chairperson, Peter Lungu told ZANIS that the party followed all the procedures in choosing Mr Ngoma.
[ MUVI ]

THE Government has appealed for financial and material support from well-wishers to cover expenses for the State funeral of second president of the Republic of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba.

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha said in a statement yesterday that members of the public wishing to make contributions should channel such through the district and provincial administrations countrywide,while those in Lusaka could take their contributions to Cabinet Office.

“Government is also opening a special account with Bank of Zambia through which well-wishers can channel their contributions,” Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said.

Dr Chiluba died on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at his Kabulonga home in Lusaka after an illness.

Meanwhile, mourners have gathered at Musangu Village, the home of the second president of the Republic of Zambia Frederick Chiluba, who passed away in the early hours of last Saturday, to pay their last respects.

Speaking to the Times, Mwense District Commissioner, Benjamin Chama said the mourners had gathered at the house of the former president’s brother, Jim Chiluba.

Mr Chama said some of the relatives had been transported to Lusaka so that they could attend the burial.

He said the Government had only managed to transport a number of them as there were a lot of people.

“It is for this reason that we have decided to host a funeral here to allow mourners who are unable to travel to Lusaka to mourn the former president as well,” he said.

Some elderly relatives expressed sadness at the death of Dr Chiluba, saying it was a big blow to the family and the country as a whole.

The funeral at Musangu Village would end when Dr Chiluba is buried in Lusaka on Monday.

Some traditional leaders such as Mwata Kazembe, Senior Chief Chisunka and Chief Lukwesa when contacted for comments said tradition did not allow them to comment and would only do so after the burial.

Meanwhile, MMD women in Kitwe yesterday held a funeral procession in remembrance of Dr Chiluba in Kitwe and wished President Rupiah Banda God’s strength and wisdom as the country mourns the ex-leader.

Led by provincial women’s chairperson Elizabeth Mataka, the women prayed for President Banda during this difficult time, especially that he had also experienced the death of president Levy Mwanawasa.

Ms Mataka was speaking yesterday during a funeral procession held at her home in Kitwe’s Riverside residential area attended by MMD women leaders from various districts on the Copperbelt.

Among those who attended the procession was former Chingola district commissioner Jean Phiri.

Ms Mataka said President Banda had always exhibited mature and objective leadership by promoting reconciliation and unity.

Speaking during the same procession, MMD Copperbelt University branch chairperson Lazarous Banda said the students at CBU had been mourning Dr Chiluba from Saturday when they received the message that he had died.

[Times of Zambia]

FORUM for Leadership Search executive director Edwin Lifwekelo has written to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to stop Caritas-Zambia from monitoring this year’s elections on account of its alleged allegiance to the Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr Lifwekelo said he was on record as having been barred from conducting voter education on behalf of ECZ in 2006 following a letter authored by Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi.

He said in a statement yesterday that Ms Nawakwi accused him of siding with the ruling MMD and wrote a letter to ECZ to have him withdrawn from those who were supposed to conduct voter education.

Mr Lifwekelo said on the basis of that allegation, he was immediately withdrawn from conducting voter education on the Copperbelt.

He urged ECZ director Priscilla Isaac to use that as a precedent, especially that records were there to prove his claim.

When contacted, Ms Isaac said she had not yet seen the letter as she was attending a meeting.

Mr Lifwekelo said in a letter dated June 17, 2011 that the credibility of Caritas Zambia to monitor elections either indirectly or directly was “mutilated beyond repair” and that its leadership should take responsibility and resign immediately.

Mr Lifwekelo said ECZ should in public interest exclude Caritas Zambia from monitoring this year’s elections in order to instill confidence in the process.

He said a story carried in the Zambia Daily Mail of October 15, 2010 under the headline ‘Caritas poll ploy exposed’, where it was alleged that Caritas Zambia, a Catholic organisation and some foreign donor agencies were allegedly scheming to announce and declare PF leader Michael Sata winner of the 2011 elections proved that such deals had the potential to undermine the electoral process.

It is further alleged that Caritas Zambia, in conjunction with other civil society organisations (CSOs), would undertake clandestine activities under the guise of a coalition of CSOs.

And the Committee of Citizens has urged the MMD, United Party for National Development (UPND) and other political parties to reject the planned monitoring of elections by Caritas Zambia because it had been hired to campaign for Mr Sata and his party.

The organisation also observed that election monitors should at all times strive to conduct their election activities in an impartial manner to avoid suspicion.

Executive director Gregory Chifire in a statement yesterday challenged ECZ to scrutinise the activities of Caritas Zambia to ascertain the suitability of the organisation to be accredited for the purpose of monitoring elections this year.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Chiefs in Luapula Province have appealed to the committee appointed to look into the funeral arrangements of second republican president Dr Chiluba to consider flying his body to allow people in the area bid farewell.

Luapula Royal Establishment Foundation chairman chief Chisunka and chief Lubunda, made the appeal in separate statements on Monday.

Chief Chisunka says a lot of people in the province have been telephoning him to ask government to fly the body of Dr Chiluba to Mansa for them to pay their last respect.

He says people want to pay their last respect to Dr Chiluba, but are complaining of travel costs to Lusaka.

He says the committee of ministers overseeing the Dr Chiluba’s funeral arrangements should therefore consider flying his remains to Mansa airport where many people will be allowed to pay their last respect.

The chief says people feel it is by taking Dr Chiluba’s body to Mansa airport that the second republican president will be given a befitting farewell in his home.

And Chief Lubunda of Mwense district has also asked government to take Dr Chiluba’s body to Mansa airport a day before burial.

He says this will accord many people from his village to pay their last respect to Dr Chiluba before burial.

The chief, who is also a cousin to Dr Chiluba says he is grieved and in sorrow over Dr Chiluba’s demise.

Chief Lubunda and Dr Chiluba also attended primary school together.

ZNBC

The opposition Patriotic Front has accused MMD cadres of plotting an attack on party leader Michael Sata and other senior members if they attend late former President Fredrick Chiluba’s funeral.

PF Lusaka Province chairman Davies Chama says it is surprising that the MMD have politicized Dr. Chiluba’s death.

Mr. Chama has told journalists in Lusaka that the PF leaders will not force themselves to attend the late Second President’s funeral if they are restrained by the ruling MMD.

He says the MMD’s intension of harassing PF leaders clearly shows how deep the violence is embedded in their party structures.

And MMD Lusaka Province task force chairman Chiwele Maimisa has warned PF leaders and Journalists from the Post Newspapers against attending Dr. Chiluba’s funeral.

Mr. Maimisa has told Qfm that the opposition leaders and Post reporters always put the name of Dr. Chiluba in public ridicule when he was alive and that he sees no point for them be found at the funeral house.

He has charged that Post reporters and PF members are not welcome at the late former President’s funeral adding that should they defy this warning, they risk being thrown out by the MMD.

On Saturday, National Revolution Party president Cosmo Mumba was harassed by MMD cadres at Dr. Chiluba’s funeral house in Kabulonga.

Meanwhile a man was last evening saved from being brutalised by the ruling party cadres after he was indentified as one of the opposition PF members.

The man only identified as a Mr. Mulenga is said to be one of the aspiring candidates for the Mandevu constituency on the PF ticket.

MMD provincial chairman for Lusaka William Banda later asked the paramilitary officers to take the victim to safety and advised his party cadres to remain peaceful.

But some cadres vowed not to tolerate any of the Patriotic Front members as well as the Post Newspapers’ Journalists.

QFM