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Information Minister Ken Lipenga said yesterday he would think twice to attend the UDF executive committee meeting over allegations of banning former president Bakili Muluzi and others as he was fearing young democrats who have been baying for his blood lately might see it as an opportunity to pounce on him.
He was reacting to remarks by UDF secretary general Kennedy Makwangwala on Tuesday that the executive committee would want to confirm the reports with Lipenga.
“Let’s see how we will cross the bridge once we get there,” he said. “The problem is that some people who are facing some challenges think they can surmount them by creating stories against Lipenga to divert people’s attention. It will not work.”
The Information Minister, who lately has not been in good books with some officials of the party that led to him being removed as publicity secretary, said rubbishing one another in the media would be an indictment of their two leaders — President Bingu wa Mutharika and Muluzi.
“The problem is that there are Rasputins (in reference to a Russian who had a bad influence on the Tsar — king — and his wife that led to the Russian revolution) on both sides. Generally Rasputins tend to promote their selfish personal interests, and not national interests. Personally I think we would rather keep quiet and let the two leaders talk to each other quietly,” he said.
Makwangwala, confirming the party has heard about the alleged ban, said on Wednesday the executive committee would want to confirm the report with the Information Minister himself “because, if it is true, it is a very sad development”.
“It is our belief that the gentlemen in question have all the rights deserving them to be heard or features on the national broadcaster,” said Makwangwala. He did not specify when Lipenga would appear before the committee.
Lipenga rubbished the reports. He said it was not his upbringing “personally or intellectually” to order people around. He added that it was not within his nature to “use public resources to promote personal agendas.”
“Those reports are utter garbage and must be treated with all the contempt they deserve. I do not get involved in the day-to-day editorial decisions of MBC. Everyone knows that the time I went to MBC I told them to open up and attend to everybody. Now where is all this nonsense coming from?” he questioned.
MBC Director General Owen Maunde corroborated Lipenga’s version of the story, saying no ban had been effected at MBC against anyone.
“Those allegations are malicious. There is no such a directive. In any case the Minister of Information asked us to open up. And for that matter we featured an item on the former head of state just lately. So what are the rumour mongers talking about?” questioned Maunde.
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