President Michael Sata on Saturday issued a statement to indirectly defend under-fire MMD National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe who has sold out to the ruling party.
MMD members want Major Kachingwe out of the party for flirting with the Patriotic Front in an attempt to weaken the former ruling party.
Major Kachingwe’s son is in Namibia serving as First secretary at the Zambian mission there. The chief executive’s allegiance has come under severe question as he has been leaking activities of MMD leader Nevers Mumba directly to President Sata.
Major Kachingwe has also been deployed by the PF to ensure that the loose alliance between the MMD and UPND does not succeed.
After his stooge in the MMD has come under-fire and on the verge of exiting his position, President Sata issued a statement through his mouthpiece George Chellah.
The statement is aimed at protecting Major Kachingwe from leaving the former ruling party so that he continues his mission of giving President Sata up-to-the-minute updates of NEC meetings.
Below is the Statement by State House Released on Saturday
His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia, says State House remains open to accept and engage any person, including the opposition as long as they have followed the right procedure and their motives are clear.
The President has described the recent quarrels and accusations within the opposition circles over visits to State House as trivial, counter-productive and devoid of political maturity and nationhood.
“As Head of State, I find it regrettable that visiting State House must be criminalized by those with vested interests. Surely, by now we must be seen to be departing from this type of pedestal politics as a nation,” President Sata says.
“Let me reaffirm that State House remains open and as elected representatives of the people we look forward to greater and progressive forms of engagement with different stakeholders, including the opposition.”
President Sata says during his tenure of office, he desires to demystify the notion that State House is a place out of reach for citizens with divergent views and political inclinations.
“Historically, State House has been visited by people from all walks of life and I shall therefore not segregate for as long as my schedule permits and intending visitors follow laid down processes, and their intentions are in the interest of national building and unity,” he says.
The Head of State emphasises that though motives for visiting State House may vary, he remains a listening President and devoted to paying attention to all sides and voices in the nation.
“As leaders, if we genuinely desire to serve the Zambian people; we must respectfully and in the spirit of consultation, consensus and nation building engage each other for the benefit of the general populace and the country,” President Sata says.
Issued by:
GEORGE CHELLAH
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS