2 October 2008
Acting President, Rupiah Banda has denied teaming up with former president, Fredrick Chiluba in his campaign for the forthcoming presidential by-election.
In another development, United Liberal Party (ULP) president, Sakwiba Sikota yesterday joined Mr Banda's campaign team, which left for a tour of Western Province.
Mr Banda, the MMD presidential candidate, said he last met Dr Chiluba during the prayers for late president Levy Mwanawasa at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.
He described the allegations as imagination by Patriotic Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata.
Mr Banda was speaking to journalists at City Airport yesterday shortly before departure for Western Province.
"It is not true that I have teamed up with Dr Chiluba. I last met him during the church service for our late president Mwanawasa at Cathedral. It sounds like imagination by my good friend Mr Sata, " he said.
He said it was sad that he was being accused of having teamed up with the former president without any proof.
Mr Banda also said he would work towards resolving the recent complaints by retirees when he returns from Western Province
He said the Government had a duty to listen and to assist in resolving such problems.
Yesterday, a group of retirees besieged the entrance to Cabinet Office to demand their retirement packages, blocking senior Government officials from leaving the building.
The retirees are demanding payment of their retirement packages, saying their colleagues had died without being paid their dues.
Mr Banda said he was looking forward to meetings in Western Province and hoped that they would be as successful as those held in other provinces.
Mr Banda was seen off by Cabinet ministers, their deputies, defence chiefs and MMD officials.
He was accompanied to Western Province by Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Mike Mulongoti, Education Minister, Geoffrey Lungwangwa and Mr Sikota.
And MMD national secretary, Katele Kalumba has expressed ignorance at allegations by Mr Sata that Dr Chiluba has teamed up with MMD campaign team to campaign for Mr Banda.
Dr Kalumba said in an interview yesterday that he was not aware as national secretary that Dr Chiluba had teamed up with the MMD to campaign for Mr Banda.
He was reacting to a statement by Mr Sata at Katozi Village in Nakonde that Dr Chiluba was in league with Mr Banda because they both believed in short cuts.
"As MMD national secretary, I am not aware that Dr Chiluba has teamed up with Mr Banda. But I want to state that if it is true that he is getting involved in politics, I would kindly advise him to keep away from politics," Dr Kalumba said.
He said that Dr Chiluba had a duty to protect the integrity of his office as former head of State, hence, the need for him to remain non- partisan and advise leaders who would need to be directed.
Dr Kalumba described the level of such politics as low because political parties were supposed to focus on how they would deliver to the electorate if elected in the forth coming by elections.
"You see, politicians must focus on how they are going to improve standards of education, how they will ensure that Zambians have access to small-scale mining (SSM) activities and many other issues affecting Zambians," he said
He said politicians should concentrate on issues which were relevant to the needs of the people of Zambia.
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