Sata has lost it – FJT
09 February 2010
By Times ReporterPATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has lost direction, the office of the second Republican president Frederick Chiluba has said.
Featuring on Joy FM’s Platform programme, Dr Chiluba’s spokesperson Emmnuel Mwamba said the former president had in 2006 supported Mr Sata because he had raised attractive issues.
Mr Mwamba, however, said Dr Chiluba had chosen to support President Rupiah Banda because of his good leadership as opposed to Mr Sata who had been inconsistent in the recent past.
“A lot has happened between 2006 and now, and Dr Chiluba’s choice should be respected because dynamics in politics have changed,” he said.
He said Mr Sata had been inconsistent on several issues such as the windfall taxes and the Constitution review process which he had initially supported but later changed positions.
In 2009, Dr Chiluba did not see stability in Mr Sata’s leadership, hence his support for Mr Banda.
Mr Sata was also not telling the truth by claiming that he had been given a dossier on Dr Chiluba by late president Levy Mwanawasa.
Mr Mwamba said Mr Sata should never think that he had done any favour for Dr Chiluba because the former head of State did a lot to help the PF as he had encouraged people to join it.
He refuted allegations that the former president was actively involved in politics, saying he had no intentions of holding any elective or party office.
According to Zambia’s laws, former presidents could issue any statements because they had not lost their fundamental right of expression, he added.
Dr Chiluba’s support of President Banda should be respected, just like when he supported Mr Sata in 2006, Mr Mwamba said.
He said Dr Chiluba remained a man of great influence like Dr Kaunda and some people still appreciated what the two former leaders did for them.
Meanwhile, Chief Chikanta of Kaloma District has said he does not see anything wrong with Dr Chiluba’s support for President Banda because it is normal in a democratic society.
The chief, who was flanked by outspoken Chief Bright Nalubamba of Namwala, told ZANIS in Mazabuka yesterday that Dr Chiluba had a right to support any presidential candidate in next year’s elections.
Chief Chikanta said Dr Chiluba was a member of the ruling party and it was normal for him to rally behind President Banda who also belongs to the same party.
He cited former South African president, Nelson Mandela who openly supported President Jacob Zuma during the presidential elections in that country.
He urged those criticising Dr Chiluba and threatening to lobby the Government to withhold his benefits to allow the former president to exercise his constitutional right to associate with other groupings.
[Times of Zambia]
