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(HERALD) Mwanawasa, Sata talks fuel speculation of MMD-PF merger

Mwanawasa, Sata talks fuel speculation of MMD-PF merger
By Meluse Kapatamoyo in Lusaka

Widespread speculation of a possible merger between Zambia's biggest opposition political party, the Patriotic Front (PF), and the ruling Movement for Multi-Party (MMD) is mounting following the dramatic reconciliation of the parties presidents early this week. PF president Michael Sata on Wednesday met state president Levy Mwanawasa at State House, and the two leaders held a closed-door meeting for close to two hours, before jointly addressing the local media.

The "reconciliation" of the two political giants came barely two days after Sata returned from South Africa where he was evacuated for specialist treatment on Mwanawasa's orders. Sata suffered a severe heart-attack last month, and was attended to at Milpark Clinic.

"Today, is one of the most important days in Zambia, in my administration of six years. I have always wanted the opposition to work with me to develop this country. I am always of the view that we should not be campaigning for five years and do nothing else to develop the country," said Mwanawasa at the joint press briefing.

And Sata, who seemed completely different from the hard-hearted person he was before suffering the heart-attack, calmly thanked Mwanawasa for taking him to South Africa for specialist treatment.

"I am entitled, everybody is entitled, but somebody has to make a decision at the right time. Your Excellency (Mwanawasa), I am very, very grateful," Sata said.

"My party will soon prepare a list of issues to discuss with the government, we need to work together for the benefit of the Zambian people."

Other than pledging to burry their differences and putting national issues first, the two national leaders did not disclose proceedings of their almost two hours long meeting behind closed doors, which has given birth to speculation.

"I don't know what to make of this new friendship between the two. The way he (Sata) is behaving, one would think he had a heart or brain transplant. I think he is caught between being grateful to Mwanawasa and his political career. I just hope this is a strategic move on his part, otherwise I would hate to see the downfall of such a strong political party (PF)," said George Mubanga, a Lusaka resident, and sympathiser of the opposition political party.

The PF is Zambia's biggest opposition, with almost 50 of the 150 parliamentary seats. In the 2006 general election, Sata won all urban parliamentary seats with open margins in the capital Lusaka, and the country's economic heartland, the Copperbelt province, but he lost the presidential vote to Mwanawasa.

Sata has been a consistent critic of Mwanawasa's policies; among them the pro-market investment policies that have been entitling investors to lengthy tax holidays, the on-going constitution-making process, and the 'poor-paying' Chinese investment.

Mwanawasa has also declared his dislike for Sata on several occasions, and even had him locked up on charges of theft of motor vehicle shortly before the 2006 ballot. Sata had held on to a government vehicle after leaving government in 2001, and when parliament passed a law that made car theft a non-bailable offence, he was among the first victims.

Neo Simutanyi, a senior political science lecturer at the University of Zambia, said the possibility of a merger between the two political parties was high.

"People will interpret things differently and think that Sata wants to become a sell out. I don't think so, because I think even Sata is using this for his benefit, showing that he is a statesman and he can show gratitude where it is due," Simutanyi commented.

After the State House meeting, Sata declared he would never criticise Mwanawasa publicly, while Mwanawasa also announced he would maintain an open door policy to the opposition heavyweight, adding that the two had exchanged cellular phone numbers.

"It is important that a leader of the country's largest political party is able to talk freely to the head of state and their views are made public. (But) if his (Sata's) views are going to be made private, then there is no opposition at all," Simutanyi added.

"I think his party officials are likely to bring him in line, yes he can talk to the (state) president but the party should have its own position on matters and him as the leader of the opposition, should be able to articulate the opposition's position publicly."

Labels: MMD, MWANAWASA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 3:45 PM