LUSAKA, Tuesday, August 2, 2011 – Following numerous Press queries concerning the announcement by the Patriotic Front (PF) that they intend to petition several international bodies over the parentage of His Excellency, Mr. Rupiah Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia, I wish to respond as follows:
It is the right of any citizen to petition any relevant Tribunal if they feel aggrieved on any matter. The President cannot stop any citizen from petitioning the United Nations or any other body to seek redress.
The President is surprised that the issue of the nationality of his parents has become very important now when the PF has been claiming that they will beat the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) during the forthcoming elections. So why are they scared to face President Banda in the elections scheduled for 20th September 2011? In 2008, he filed his valid nomination and beat PF leader Michael Sata in the elections. Why did the PF keep quiet in 2008? Why do they want to block him from standing?
President Banda is on record several times, including his family, as having stated clearly that both his father and mother were Zambians. If his parents were not Zambians, why did the PF fail to raise this issue when President Banda was appointed Vice-President of Zambia by the late President Levy Mwanawasa, SC? The Constitution of Zambia requires that the Vice-President should have the same qualifications as those of the President.
Further, President Banda served Zambia in a number of portfolios, including that of Ambassador to the UN, Washington and Egypt; Minister of Foreign Affairs; Senior Governor of Lusaka; Minister of Mines; General Manager of Namboard (National Agriculture Marketing Board); General Manager of the Rural Development Agency; Member of Parliament for Munali and Vice-President. All these years, no one has ever raised the issue of his parentage. So why the sudden interest now?
This is according to a statement from the Press and Public relations unit at State House.
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