Banda advises Kanyama residents not to be intimidated by politicians

Banda advises Kanyama residents not to be intimidated by politicians
By Lambwe Kachali
Thursday February 21, 2008 [03:00]

REPUBLICAN Vice-President Rupiah Banda has said Kanyama residents should not be intimidated by politicians or any other forces but instead be given a chance to vote for a candidate of their choice in today’s by-elections. And All People’s Congress party (APC) president Ken Ngondo said the ruling MMD and other opposition parties that represented the constituency had failed to deliver. Meanwhile, UNIP candidate Hasty Mwachilele said he was confident that people of Kanyama would vote for him because they were aware of his developmental ideas.

During campaigns at Linda grounds yesterday to boost support for MMD candidate Mwalimu Simfukwe, Vice-President Banda said Kanyama Constituency was a hot seat and therefore harassment of voters from either MMD or the opposition would not be tolerated. Vice-President Banda said he was looking for free and fair elections where voters should be given ample time to choose their representatives.

And Ngondo said the people of Kanyama had tried MMD, UPND and the Patriotic Front (PF) but they failed to address the numerous problems Kanyama was facing. Ngondo said he would work hand in hand with the residents in ensuring that major problems such as water, poor drainage system, roads among others were solved within three years. He charged that people of Kanyama would continue to suffer if PF or MMD won the seat.

And Mwachilele said he would ensure that he legalised the houses that had no title deeds. Mwachilele said he believed in politics of development and urged the electorate to vote wisely if the area was to change for the better.

MMD’s Simfukwe said the opposition had occupied the seat for seven years but failed to deliver and it was time that his party tried again. He said he had a developmental mind and would ensure that Kanyama enjoyed the respect other townships in Lusaka had. Simfukwe promised the electorate that he was ready to be voted out of office if he failed to deliver by 2011.

Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD)’s candidate David Kasanga said he was a man of his words and as former Resident Development Committee (RDC) chairman, he would use that experience to channel development. Kasanga said most projects such as building of ablution blocks at markets as well as water reticulation were started by him and it would be important that he was given another mandate to complete them. He said people of Kanyama had suffered enough and it was important that an experienced and competent leader of his calibre was voted into office.

Chushi Mwewa of the New Generation Party said he had set up developmental programmes for widows and youths to acquire skills in the area. Mwewa pleaded with the electorate to vote for him as he was young with new ideas. Mwewa said despite having several investments, he had never ran away from the problems Kanyama was facing.

United Liberal Party (ULP)’s candidate Elizabeth Phiri said she was the right person to take development to Kanyama as all men had failed to do so. Phiri said people of Kanyama should not be deceived by male politicians whom she accused of being incompetent and failures in most sectors of life.

Patriotic Front (PF)’s Colonel Gerry Chanda said people of Kanyama were geared to vote for development. Col Chanda said he believed in politics of development and was confident enough to change the face of Kanyama within a stipulated period. Col Chanda said when elected into office, he would work with members of the constituency to ensure that development reached all corners of Kanyama.

Harrison Mukupa of the UPND said Kanyama residents had now come to realise that they made a grave mistake when they did not vote for him in 2006. Mukupa said he was hopeful that he would carry the day because of the good economic policies of his party. Mukupa said he did not believe in politics of rhetoric the way other parties did.

“I have no doubts that I will be the victorious one today. None of these candidates can match the support I have from people of this constituency,” said Mukupa.

Nine candidates are vying for the seat which fell vacant following the death of Henry Mtonga. The campaign trail has been marred by violence between MMD, UPND and PF.