PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata yesterday said President Rupiah Banda's sympathy for thieves has resulted in the reduction of donor support.

In an interview, Sata said the decision by donors to cut their support to next year’s national budget by half was a serious indictment to President Banda's leadership.

"The whole point is that the co-operating partners are aware that going by what is currently obtaining in the country, it’s clear that Rupiah is the supervisor of thieves," Sata said. "They say actions speak louder than words and the donors have realised that Rupiah is more sympathetic to thieves than the poor people of this country. Therefore, this reduction in aid is basically due to Rupiah's sympathy for thieves, which he hasn't even hidden from the public."

Sata said the cut in donor support spoke volumes of how the current administration was rated both locally and internationally.

"That's why some of us have been trying to plead with the international community to consider the suffering of the masses and not looking at the extravagance of Rupiah and people in his administration," Sata said. "Donors know that Zambia is currently in the hands of an extravagant President and they know that when they give the country money, it will be used for Rupiah's extravagant ventures, which include globe-trotting."

Sata said donors no longer wanted to risk their resources in the hands of President Banda's administration.

"Even leaders of the world's most powerful nations don't travel at the rate Rupiah is doing. Donors don't want to continue funding Rupiah's endless foreign travels at the expense of developmental programs," Sata said.

"At the moment, the donors know that when they give money to Zambia it will not reach the poor. It's the President who will chew it through travels."
Sata said it was sad that President Banda had remained defiant over his numerous foreign trips.

"Probably, if he showed some remorse and stayed at home for a change the donors may reconsider their decision in future. What is obvious is that the donors don't want to put money in Rupiah's jet, which is constantly on the move," Sata said.

"They want their money to go to sectors such as health, education, agriculture and others. Donors are more interested in funding programs that will benefit our people and not one person.

"So the donors have basically snubbed Rupiah and his government because they know that this government is using donor money to plunder from the poor people. They are upset because the money is not reaching the intended target."

On Friday, finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane presented a K20.5 trillion 2011 national budget under the theme: 'A people's budget, from a people's government'. According to Dr Musokotwane's budget speech, the donors have cut their support by about half, from 14.5 per cent in 2010 to 7.7 per cent in the 2011 national budget.

Source: http://www.postzambia.com