Bob Sianjalika
19 July 2008
Lusaka — UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema, has dismissed suggestions for the appointment of a medical board to ascertain the health of President Mwanawasa who is currently admitted to a French hospital.
Mr Hichilema said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that those calling for the appointment of a medical board were being insensitive to the illness of the President.
He said Dr Mwanawasa had only been away from Zambia for two weeks and it was highly immoral for any leader to suggest that a board of doctors be appointed to investigate whether he was still able hold the office of presidency.
"This call for the formation of the medical board to go to France and examine the President has come too early. It is untimely and rather insensitive. The nation is at the moment engulfed in a prayerful mood for President Mwanawasa and wishing him a quick recovery," he said.
He said prevailing conditions were not compelling for anybody to suggest the appointment of a medical board because the President had not even finished treatment.
"The medical board constituted under Article 36(1) of the Constitution is not for patients who are still receiving treatment in hospital but for those reasonably suspected to be incapable of ruling after receiving treatment beyond a reasonable time," Mr Hichilema said.
He said those in a hurry to invoke the provision of Article 36 of the Constitution should wait for a reasonable time to allow the treatment of Dr Mwanawasa.
Mr Hichilema singled out Patriotic Front (PF) president, Michael Sata, as having taken an irrational approach when he proposed that doctors should travel to France so that they could determine President Mwanawasa's condition.
"It is true that every country has its stock of individuals with negative opportunism," he said.
He said it was most surprising for Mr Sata to speak as he did especially that he has offered the same sentiments in 2006 when Dr Mwanawasa suffered the first stroke.
Mr Hichilema said the Government should not grind to a halt because of the absence of the President, as the challenges facing the Zambian people were still alive.
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