Maravi

Levy tells MMD to look for his successor

Levy tells MMD to look for his successor
By George Chellah
Tuesday February 13, 2007 [02:00]

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa has told the MMD national executive committee (NEC) that he is not backing anyone for the MMD presidency but they should look for a leader of integrity to succeed him. And President Mwanawasa said he didn't want to be seen to be tribal because he hates tribalism and was not interested in people that talked about tribalism. Addressing the NEC meeting on Sunday at State House, President Mwanawasa said it would be easier for the MMD to 'sell' a person of high morals and integrity as its presidential candidate for the 2011 elections.

NEC sources said yesterday that President Mwanawasa advised those vying for the party presidency to first analyse themselves. "He told them to look at themselves whether they are corrupt free or are people of integrity. He said the position of presidency needs high morals and that in fact, it will even be easier for the party to 'sell' such a person to the Zambian people," the source said. The source disclosed that President Mwanawasa also advised the party leadership and membership to desist from mudslinging which he said was prevalent in the party. President Mwanawasa said he did not have a preferred candidate and the party leadership should start identifying his successor.

The source quoted President Mwanawasa as saying: "You people at first were accusing me of grooming Katele (MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba), later you started saying that I was backing Shikapwasha (home affairs minister) and now you are accusing me of backing Kabinga Pande (tourism minister). I am not backing anyone." The source said President Mwanawasa advised the NEC to find his successor from either within or outside the party. "But he emphasised that he doesn't want to be seen to be tribal and that he hates tribalism, that's why he was not interested in people who talk about tribalism," the source said.

The source further revealed that President Mwanawasa reiterated that he was not going to run for the party presidency after his term expires. "He told us that he won't contest because he wants to leave behind a united and strong party. He emphasised the need for us to be united and avoid mudslinging," the source said. The source said President Mwanawasa also spoke against early campaigns by those vying for party positions. On Vice-President Rupiah Banda's admission to the NEC as a trustee, the source said the decision was made in consideration of his current portfolio in government.

Asked if the meeting looked at filling the position of party vice-president, the source responded: "The vice-president will be elected at the convention because we will soon be going for a mid-term convention in two years' time. We will first start with lower organs to elect their leaders then come upwards until we hold elections at provincial level up to the convention. That's where we expect to elect the party president and vice-president." On the recent squabbles in the party, the source said President Mwanawasa reiterated the need for party unity and desist from mudslinging. "He also said that, 'some people want us to remove some individuals from certain positions but they don't understand the implications of that, let's be united'," the source said.

Asked whether Katele's matter in which the President had earlier requested him to exculpate himself for campaigning for the presidency, was tabled, the source answered: "No that issue was not discussed, I don't know why? Probably they settled it the two of them." On the pocketing of party funds by some senior party members, the source said President Mwanawasa emphasised the need for accountability in the party. "The President called on individual committees of the party to take charge of that issue," the source said.

On Sunday evening, Kalumba announced that Vice-President Banda had replaced Titus Kaponda who left the NEC to take up other national duties. He also disclosed that the NEC discouraged early campaigns for any position because that would weaken the party and detract government from service delivery. Kalumba said the meeting directed him and chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti to work out a timetable for party grassroots mobilisation and elections as a build-up to the party's mid-term convention.

Labels: MMD, NEC

posted by MrK @ 8:11 PM