CHIEF Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha yesterday said former minister of Defence George Mpombo breached parliamentary etiquette when he commented on the proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission Act outside the National Assembly business.
And MMD chairperson for information and publicity Dora Siliya said the ruling party was now surprised that a man who served as minister of Defence could exhibit such reckless behaviour against his appointing authorities.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said Mr Mpombo should disclose the reasons for his demotion from the position of minister of Energy to that of deputy minister for Copperbelt Province by late president Levy Mwanawasa before he could start condemning others over corruption matters.
Gen Shikapwasha said the Kafulafuta Member of Parliament did not have the right to insult the vice-president before the amendments were officially introduced to the National Assembly as a Bill.
He said prior to the Bill being introduced to National Assembly, MPs were restrained from debating classified information to the media and warned that charges of illegality could be preferred against Mr Mpombo.
The standing orders in the National Assembly were documented as regards to matters that were already on record as having been put together for purposes of consumption by the National Assembly.
Gen Shikapwasha was commenting on the The Post newspaper of yesterday which carried unprintable material against vice president George Kunda claiming that he intended to remove some aspects from the ACC Act.
Gen Shikapwasha, who is also minister of information and broadcasting services, said Mr Mpombo did not have the right to condemn anyone until he explains why he was demoted.
He said the Government would not allow Mr Mpombo to insult the vice-president who had done a lot in fighting corruption while Mr Mpombo did not have any track record in that regard.
The minister said Government was aware why Mr Mpombo was demoted but would allow him to disclose to the public.
He wondered what Mr Mpombo had done in the fight against corruption and that the only record that existed was that he was demoted as cabinet minister.
Meanwhile, Gen Shikapwasha has cautioned Zambians not to be excited by the promises from some opposition politicians whose track records speak volumes of selfishness and greed.
Gen Shikapwasha said Zambians should not be excited at the promises that opposition politicians were making, but they should critically analyse their track records and how they had acquired their wealth, before they could listen to their promises.
It was shocking that some opposition politicians, who had contributed to the problems the MMD Government was trying to solve, were the ones promising people that they would revive the country’s economy.
Gen Shikapwasha said it was sad and disappointing that some opposition politicians were so desperate to form government and that they had resorted to telling lies about the Government and making promises that they would not fulfil.
“Most of the promises that the opposition politicians are making are mere lies and so Zambians should not be excited by these fake promises, but should critically analyse these promises.
“Some of these opposition politicians who are making promises of improving people’s lives have a track record of selfishness and greediness and one wonders how they can improve people’s lives,” he said.
And General Shikapwasha has advised Zambians to look at the way some opposition political party leaders were running their political parties before they could give them chance to rule Zambia.
He said some opposition political party leaders have no human interest at heart as evidenced from the way, they were running their political parties and it would be disastrous to give them the Republican presidency.
Meanwhile, Gen Shikapwasha has urged the media to desist from promoting hatred among politicians and concentrate on highlighting developmental and progressive debates that will benefit the people in various parts of the country.
He said he was saddened that some sections of the media were only reporting about political mudslinging when they were supposed to report on developmental issues and the various challenges and problems facing the country in its efforts to achieve economic recovery.
The media had a critical role to play in maintaining peace in the country and it was imperative that the private and public media were responsible and objective in their reporting so that they do not promote hatred among politicians.
And Ms Siliya said the MMD would deal sternly with the political future of Mr Mpombo and his Chilanga counterpart Ng’andu Magande for their continued attacks on President Banda and Mr Kunda.
She said the attacks were unjustified and was certain that they would be shunned even by the opposition political parties.
[Times of Zambia]
