Maravi

Take interest in politics, Martinez urges Zambians

Take interest in politics, Martinez urges Zambians
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Wednesday March 26, 2008 [03:01]

ZAMBIANS should take an interest in their country's politics, United States Ambassador Carmen Martinez has advised. And Ambassador Martinez said the voter turnout in the ongoing US primary elections is the highest the country has had in decades. Commenting on the ongoing election primaries in her country, Ambassador Martinez said politics were not for politicians alone but the voters as well. Ambassador Martinez said African countries and Zambia in particular could learn from the elections in the United States by being interested in their politics.

"I just hope the Zambian people for the next election in 2011, you will see a lot of activism, campaigning much earlier and a lot of women going out to vote and you have a big blog of vote there and you can really make a difference and also work on getting more women into Parliament," she said.

Ambassador Martinez said the US elections were very tight and the assumption was that senator John McCain would be the Republican candidate.

"That seems to be pretty much forgoing but you never know there still has to be the convention and the race between Senator Obama (Barack) and Senator Clinton (Hillary) is still very tight so I think it's going to be interesting. I think we have another primary coming up and there's the whole issue of what will happen with delegate county and we have always had the super delegates (Super delegates are people who can change their vote, they are not obliged)," she said.

Ambassador Martinez said the conventions this year would be the most interesting since the 1960s.

"We had so much violence going on then but there won't be violence this time. It will be interesting, we haven't had any really interesting conventions since the mid 60s," she said.

Ambassador Martinez said also noted that there were so many young Americans that were interested in the forthcoming elections and that the voter turnout was high.
She said it could be the highest voter turnout in decades especially among young people.
Ambassador Martinez also said Zambia was ready for a female president.

"I think you are, anybody is ready. If you have a candidate, it's a question 'will men accept', is that the question, I don't know, I think they will," said Ambassador Martinez.
The US goes to the polls in November this year.

Labels: CARMEN MARTINEZ, POLITICS

posted by MrK @ 3:18 AM