RB has exposed his greed and selfishness – Lusambo

Bowman Lusambo

We listened to the Hot FM Red Hot Breakfast Show of Monday, December 01 2014 which featured former President Rupiah Banda as a guest with shock, disbelief and sadness.

As the radio programme went on, it became apparent that Mr Banda was using the unique platform to again lie to Zambians about who he is and what he stands for.

What was however comforting is that Zambians know what Mr Banda is really made of . No amount of media propaganda will help him in that regard.

He told the breakfast show that he is here to help stabilise the nation, we find it hard to believe because it is very hard to believe any of his words.

In 2008, he pleaded to be adopted as MMD candidate after the death of President Mwanawasa saying he only wanted to finish that term and will not run in 2011. When 2011 came, Rupiah Banda was still on the ballot paper.

This is the same Rupiah Banda whom Zambians should not even tolerate by giving him a chance to return to State House. Rupiah Banda is the type that can change the constitution to allow himself to stay in office as long as he pleases.

Mr Banda was a student of Kaunda politics who believes in Wamuyayaya (forever) mentality. He wants to return to power so that he could rule us until he dies.

As MMD youths, we were also pleased that on the same programme, Mr Banda fully recognised our role as the Die-hard movement in the protection of the integrity of the party. When asked to comment on our activities as MMD Die Hard, Mr Banda was very open and admitted that we are a necessary force in the party.

The programme however offered us a chance to confirm what we have always suspected about Mr. Banda. When Hope & Chi, the two good Presenters asked Mr Banda what he would do if he loses the January 20 election, the old man proudly revealed that he would go back into retirement.

We were left baffled by that statement. For us it confirms that Mr Banda’s return to politics is merely for self preservation. He wants to use State House to launder his tattered public image and facilitate the return of his fugitive Son Henry.

It confirms that Mr Banda’s return is about personal benefits. He is surrounded by a group of people that are so desperate that they force an old, tired and retired politician back on the ballot paper.

On the same programme, Mr Banda made a call for MMD President Never Mumba to be truthful. We wonder who needs to tell the truth more between Dr Mumba, an anointed man of God and Mr Banda. Dr Mumba has exhibited high levels of personal integrity in the 30 years of his public life and the same cannot be said of Mr Banda.

Our observation is that MMD general membership must wake up and defend their party from these greed and selfish people.

The MMD was founded by genuine Zambians with higher levels of integrity that Mr Banda’s, Muhabi Lungu, Lucky Mulusa and Joe Mwale put together. When Zambians embraced the spirit of multi-partism, Mr Banda and Muhabi refused to listen to the people’s will and defended UNIP until it lost the mandate to govern the people in 1991.

We therefore state that Mr Banda and his few supporters are destroying the MMD because they are not MMD members. These are UNIP Die-hards who are squatting in the MMD for selfish reasons. These people started their politics in the UNIP era when there was no constitutional order and they want to import the same practice into the MMD.

As MMD youths, we pledge to defend the constitution of our party. We will also defend the legitimacy for Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba to stand as our presidential candidate. We are not anarchists but youths that wish the best for the MMD using our constitution.

Issued by: Bowman Lusambo-MMD National Youth Coordinator

02 December 2014