CHIEFS in Mambwe district have advised the Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata, to swallow his pride and apologise for comparing them and their subjects to animals.

The chiefs have also advised Mr Sata to apologise to President Banda.
Chief Jumbe said the Chipata-Mfuwe road which Mr Sata is referring to as being favored at the expense of other roads has been an issue since independence.

The chief said in an interview yesterday that it is unfortunate for someone who is aspiring to be a leader of the nation to utter such retrogressive remarks.

“Mr Sata should humble himself and swallow the words because traditional rulers who reside here where the road will be constructed are upset with him for comparing them to animals, it is unacceptable,” Chief Jumbe said.

He said the tarring of the Chipata-Mfuwe road which President Banda commissioned was an issue even in President Mwanawasa’s Government.

The traditional leader said what the incumbent President is doing is fulfilling President Levy Mwanawasa’s promise of giving the people of Mambwe a good road.

“The late President said the road will be constructed and that is what I can remember. It is very unfortunate that Mr Sata can go as far as calling us animals when there are chiefs here who have been crying for this road,” he said.

Chief Jumbe said the road being constructed is not for President Banda but for the people who live there.
He said it is important for the opposition leaders to give credit where it is due and not to criticise unnecessarily.

“The opposition leaders are there for checks and balances and not to issue baseless attacks where one is doing a commendable job,” Chief Jumbe said.
He said a good road is key to national development and that the construction of the road will help boost economic activities in Mambwe.

And Chief Mukanya described Mr Sata’s remarks as retrogressive to national development.
He said Mr Sata should know that thousands of people reside in Mambwe and not just animals.
The chief said the subjects will be scared of Mr Sata because his remarks are a clear indication that he does not regard them as people.

“We doubt if Mr Sata can remember us if he happens to be President of this nation because he does not respect people,” Chief Mukanya said.
He said the best thing the PF leader should do is to apologise.

“I wonder if Mr Sata knows this place where we live and what we go through just to reach our chiefdoms,” Chief Mukanya said.

But Mr Sata said he will only apologise when the Katete-Chadiza road is commissioned.
Mr Sata said many of the roads in Eastern province have not been worked on for many years and that it is only cardinal that Government shared the money equitably to benefit other roads.

“I am willing to apologise when they commission the Katete – Chadiza road because it connects many parts of the province and people living there want to see the road in a good state,” he said.

Mr Sata said in an interview yesterday that the people living along the Katete-Chadiza road have been complaining about the poor state of the road.

Apart from the chiefs, the MMD in Eastern Province has demanded an apology from Mr Sata for saying that President Banda has favoured the construction of the Chipata-Mfuwe road which leads to a game park where animals live at the expense of equal development of all provinces.

Zambia Daily Mail

Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda has warned the opposition to desist from unwarranted attacks and insults on President Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Banda said it is sad that despite the president not responding to their insults politicians from the opposition political parties have continued to insult the republican president.

He said president Banda and the party will not respond to the insults as the president is concentrating on implementing national programs that are aimed at improving the lives of the many Zambians including those in the opposition.

Mr. Banda made the remarks in Lusaka today when he addressed MMD party members in Chawama compound on the need to start reorganizing the party at the grass root level in readiness for the 2011 general elections.

He said there is need for party members at the grassroots to concentrate on building the party if the MMD is to win the general elections.

Meanwhile Mr. Banda has called on all MMD branches in Lusaka province to start organizing meetings aimed at looking at various challenges the party is facing at the grassroots in an effort to strengthening the party.

Mr. Banda also disclosed at the same gathering that he will this month unveil the official program for the province that will guide all party members on how to operate in their duties in the quest to bring coordination among party members.

He said this will also help reduce division among members within the party as every one will know exactly what is expected from them before the general elections.

And speaking at the same gathering Lusaka Province District Chairman, Paul Chihade instructed Chawama Constituency Executive Committee to rename one of the branches out of the 28 branches in Chawama compound which is named after Patriotic Front President Michael Sata.

Mr. Chihande noted that Mr. Sata is not a member of the MMD adding that there is no way a branch could be named after him.

“The branch was named after the PF leader when he was MMD National Secretary and now that he is not our member you have to rename the branch.” Mr. Chihade instructed.

ZANIS

Opposition United National Independence Party (UNIP) Acting Secretary General Jemima Banda has taken a swipe at his Patriotic Front (PF ) counterpart Winter Kabimba’s attacks on first President Kenneth Kaunda.

Mr Banda said in a statement received by ZANIS, today, that the first republican President Dr. Kaunda has the right to advise politicians to practice clean politics in the country.

The UNIP Acting Secretary General said Mr. Kabimba should not be excited on the matter as the former head of state’s statement was not meant to injure anyone.

“Dr. Kaunda statement was rather constructive advice to anybody who cares to listen,” Mr. Banda added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Banda challenged Mr. Kabimba to just explain how he acquired properties in Independence Avenue, one on Njoka Road and Taverns which he turned into business Centre.

“Lusaka residents would like to know who shared Council properties during his reign as Town Clerk,” he said.

ZANIS