The UPND has written a letter notifying the police on their intention to hold a peaceful procession to Parliament building. In their letter to the police the UPND state that they intend to present a petition to the Parliamentarians to stop the “illegal” allocation of K1.4billion towards the construction of President Sata’s retirement house and K20bn towards the constitution making process which the UPND allege has no legal framework.
According to a letter addressed to the commissioner of police and obtained by The Supreme Times, dated 5 November 2012 and signed by UPND deputy chairperson for finance Kuchunga Simusamba, the UPND is notifying the police of its intention to hold a peaceful procession from its secretariat in Lusaka’s Rhodespark area to Parliament building on 15th November,2012.
The letter states that the reason for the demonstration is to present a petition to the Parliamentarians.
The MMD has already vowed to support UPND president Hakainde Hichilema’s advise to Members of Parliament not to support the allocation of K 1.4 billion the 2013 national budget for the construction of President Michael Sata’s retirement house because it is illegal and immoral.
MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu said it was immoral for Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda to allocate such an amount of money for the construction of a house for a sitting President when that of the late Presidents Fredrick Chiluba and Levy Mwanawasa have not even been constructed.
According to the law, the acquisition or construction of the former head of state’s house can only take place within a period of two years after leaving office.