Maravi

Chirwa still in MMD race

Chirwa still in MMD race
By Lambwe Kachali
Thursday May 22, 2008 [04:00]

Professor Clive Chirwa has said he has gained enough ammunition to defeat all those who have declared their candidature to contest the MMD and later, the Republican presidency. And Prof Chirwa said the President Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata reconciliation deal should not be treated as a sign of political weakness.

Prof Chirwa said although some top government ministers and other high-profile politicians had announced their intentions, he was ready to challenge them. He said he was already on course in his strategic plan and was getting closer to the state of readiness and fitness needed for the 2011 general elections.

“Mentally, I have fully blossomed since my announcement to run for the top job and serve my country Zambia. Physically, I have gained one or two kilos that will become useful to shed through sweat and anxiety during the days I will be in the theatre with my machine guns and propel grenades,” Prof Chirwa said.

He said with the poverty that had gripped Zambians for decades, it was necessary that people rallied behind him to help improve their lives.

Prof Chirwa said he would build strong “work frames” to ensure that Zambia became self-sufficient in food, water and shelter among other problems.

He said after 43 years of independence, Zambians deserved a better life.
He said he would keep on working hard to gain the nomination from the party.

“As I have said many times in my speeches, Dr Kenneth Kaunda former Republican president and all the freedom fighters brought us the needed independence. Frederick Chiluba brought us democracy and President Mwanawasa is working tirelessly in bringing economic recovery.

I will bring end to poverty,” Prof Chirwa said. “No longer should a Zambian be uneducated, no longer should a Zambian be treated as a second class citizen in his own country by being offered casualisation conditions and strip him off the human rights dignified status.”

Prof Chirwa said he would ensure that more jobs were created for Zambians through proper use of mineral resources.

“No Zambian should die from diseases that are treatable. To achieve all these goals, a president should have long-term planning and vision.

The president also requires to be courageous and sometimes should make difficult and unpopular decisions to those who take wealth out of Zambia. Fair play is my vocabulary,” he said.

And Prof Chirwa has welcomed the resumption of dialogue between President Mwanawasa and Patriotic Front (PF) president Sata. He said the Zambian government required support from opposition political parties. Church leaders and businesses among other stakeholders.

“Therefore, perpetuation by any leader and peddling triviality is utterly unacceptable as this diverts attention from real national issues,” he said.

Prof Chirwa said both Sata and President Mwanawasa had enormous political experience and their embracing each other was cardinal for governance of the country.

“But this does not mean that Mr Sata should become a yes man. Indeed he will do better by constructively criticising the sitting government and praise whenever it is due.

These are the checks and balances needed in a democracy, because if freedom of speech is extinguished, then we will not develop at the pace necessary to meet our set goals on poverty reduction. We will become complacent,” Prof Chirwa said. He said personally, he had learnt a lot from Sata through his comments. However, Prof Chirwa asked Sata to handover the PF presidency to someone younger.

“Mr. Sata himself will tell you that time has come for him to pass on the baton and sit tight in the background helping in shaping this great nation. I will be more than happy to engage Mr Sata and tap into his enormous national and international political experience that you cannot get from anywhere. This country needs him than ever especially when we are going through a dramatic political development change,” said Prof Chirwa.

Labels: CLIVE CHIRWA, MMD, POVERTY, PRESIDENCY, SATA

posted by MrK @ 2:09 PM