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| National |
| Dumbo defies Muluzi |
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by
Mc Donald Chapalapata, 03 August 2004
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12:24:15
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Outspoken UDF guru Dumbo Lemani has defied his national chairman Bakili Muluzi’s request for him to “slow down”, saying he will strengthen his Fast Track group.
Lemani said on Tuesday Muluzi called him to his BCA residence on Sunday evening to ask him to slow down in reacting to President Bingu wa Mutharika’s type of leadership.
Said Lemani: “The national chairman called me last night telling me that I must shut up and slow down, but I am not doing that.
“Why should I slow down when government is saying in newspapers that I stole US$1.6 million from the Petroleum Control Commission (PCC)? I am a human being and I have feelings and emotions. I feel I am being abused.”
Yesterday’s issue of The Weekly Chronicle reported that Lemani, among several other former ministers, was going to be arrested on allegations that he stole money from PCC.
Lemani said Muluzi first called him to support the nomination of Mutharika as presidential candidate and went all out to campaign and support him although there was strong resistance from other members of the cabinet against Mutharika’s candidature.
“I have been holding this close to my heart for a long time, but I feel I can say these things now. There is the rule of law now, but people are being arrested anyhow, I could have understood if it was in the MCP era because there was no rule of law,” said Lemani, apparently referring to the arrest of UDF deputy director of research Humphrey Mvula on corruption allegations on Friday night.
“I know that all this is done to destroy the UDF and I am not going to sit down and let this happen. I am strengthening the Fast Track. I am now stronger than ever before,” added Lemani.
He denied that he has formed a task force with the aim of campaigning against Mutharika. In a strongly worded statement last week the UDF dismissed any suggestions that there were factions in the party, including the Fast Track.
Meanwhile, two former ministers Friday Jumbe and Salim Bagus denied in separate interviews yesterday speculations that they are on the run.
Jumbe said in a telephone interview on Monday that he cannot run away from Malawi for fear of being arrested.
“I am around. You are talking to me now on my cell phone. Why should I run away? What crime have I committed? Even if there is a case against me, I cannot run away from Malawi, this is my country and I have business interests here,” he said.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ishmael Wadi said on Sunday Jumbe is also being investigated on corruption related issues involving his company and Shire Buslines.
But the former Finance Minister said he does not have a company which supplies items to Shire Buslines.
Bagus said in another telephone interview that he is concerned with the speculation that he is on the run, saying his relations from as far as the United Kingdom have been calling him to find out what is going on.
“I have heard rumours that I am on the run, some say that I have been arrested but let me tell you that Malawi will remain my country and I cannot run away from here. I cannot fear anything because I have not done anything wrong. Everyday I recite Job 13 Verse 13 and Psalms 70,” said Bagus.
Wadi said on Monday he is not aware that some people are going to be arrested.
“People should not live in fear that they will be arrested. I will follow procedures and I don’t want to take the option of dealing with issues in an aggressive manner. If there is any case against anyone, he or she will be given an opportunity to clear his or her name in a court of law,” said Wadi.
“I have been a defence lawyer before and I know how painful it is to see the state abusing the law. I am following procedures and I want to emphasise that people should not fear that they will be arrested,” added Wadi.
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