Opposition leader Michael Sata’s threat to run a rival system of government after losing last month’s national elections was branded as treasonous on Monday by Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa.
”What Sata is saying is treason. Let him not push his luck too far. I will sort him out. There is no such thing as independent local government,” Mwanawasa said while unveiling a new Cabinet for his second and final term.
Sata, who claims Mwanawasa ”stole” the September 28 ballot in which national and local elections were held simultaneously, has pledged to run a ”people’s government” in municipalities won by his Patriotic Front (PF) party.
Although Sata and the PF lost the presidential and legislative elections to Mwanawasa and his Movement for Multiparty Democracy, they control municipal governments in areas such as Lusaka and the Copperbelt region, the country’s industrial hub.
Sata has already vowed to cut taxes in the PF-run local councils, which are in turn trying to set themselves up as the principal authority for land deeds.
Mwanawasa said, however, that he was prepared to dissolve the municipal governments run by the PF if needs be.
”I can dissolve the local councils if he pushes me and I will run his councils,” Mwanawasa said.
”If he is playing with me, I will dissolve his councils and will go for by-elections. Let him not test this government and their ability to defeat him at law.”
While local governments have the power to raise and lower taxes, their fate ultimately lies in the hands of the central government, which can order their dissolution if it can provide legal evidence of malpractice.
Mwanawasa also said Sata, who stoked controversy in the run-up to the election by threatening to throw out foreign traders if elected, faced political oblivion.
”The support which Sata is enjoying will soon fade. Zambia forgets very easily. His support won’t be there when he is in trouble. Let me warn him he should stop what he is doing now,” he said. — Sapa-AFP