29 August 2008
MMD spokesperson, Bennie Tetamashimba has advised that people who are wishing the first lady well should not tempt her into joining politics at the time that she has lost her husband.
Mr Tetamashimba also said in a statement yesterday that there were provisions in the President's Emoluments and Former President's Act, which provided benefits accruing to a president who died in office.
He said the benefits included a house, monthly salary, motor vehicles and gratuity for the period served.
"I want to explain that if these benefits will be paid to the surviving spouse is a matter that falls under the ministry of Justice. I am sure that at an appropriate time, the ministry of Justice will deal with this matter," he said.
He said assisting the surviving spouse and children of the deceased president was a good thing.
Meanwhile, Northern Province Minister, Lameck Chibombamilimo has said Mrs Mwanawasa is not a political novice and those who think she is a pushover should realise that they face a serious challenge.
Mr Chibombamilimo said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that women's rights organisations should rise up to the challenge and show disgust at suggestions that a woman need not pick up her pieces immediately following the loss of a beloved one.
He said well-meaning Zambians were ready to rush to Mrs Mwanawasa's side and together show that genuine mourning for a leader the country loved and believed in could only be demonstrated by replacing him with someone who truly shared his vision.
"On my part I am motivated to throw my weight behind the candidature of the first lady not because I am insecure or looking for a livelihood or afraid of loss of income.
"I have in the past, at the height of the return to multi-party politics, risked everything by advocating for change when alternative employment was almost impossible," he said.
Mr Chibombamilimo said claims that it is traditionally unacceptable for the first lady to seek election following the death of her husband were highly hypocritical.
He said when a woman lost a spouse, society wanted her to mourn to a point of depression and total inactivity but when such bereavement befell a man, society expected him to show that he was a man by resuming normal duties even the following day.
Mr Chibombamilimo said contrary to such beliefs, women's capacity to accommodate emotionally depressing moments such as the loss of a beloved one was much greater than that of men.
He said those opposed to the candidature of Mrs Mwanawasa were only motivated by selfish motives, using as an excuse unfounded traditional and cultural practices.
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