Tilyenji confident of UNIP victory in Milanzi

Tilyenji confident of UNIP victory in Milanzi
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Monday June 23, 2008 [04:00]

UNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda has expressed confidence that his party would retain the Milanzi seat if there will be no rigging. And the ruling MMD's campaign manager in the Milanzi by-election, Eustarckio Kazonga said the party had done very well and that other political parties had started panicking.

In an interview on Saturday, Tilyenji who was in Milanzi to drum up support for UNIP candidate, Ahmed Randera, in next Thursday's by-election, said he was happy with his party's campaigns.

"I'm confident we are going to retain this seat because the campaigns have been good, but we are putting our eyes on the ground because we are getting reports that MMD wants to rig the election," he said.

Tilyenji said the party was expecting good results in Milanzi.
"Seventeen years of failure is sufficient enough to show that MMD has failed. UNIP was always right when it was in government.

Look at what is happening now, there is a huge gap in skills. This government is not empowering people even after reaching the HIPC completion point. Now they are talking of Vision 2030 which is nonsense and it's not even there," he said.

Tilyenji said UNIP had better policies because it realised that human beings were central to development.

And Kazonga, who is also local government deputy minister and Vubwi member of parliament said people should appreciate that MMD had delivered a lot of development in Milanzi.

"The MMD has constructed Kafumbwe Boarding School, Mbinga Health Centre and a number of roads have been done. We are focused and will not be detracted by anybody, but will base our campaigns on issues," said Kazonga.

Meanwhile President Mwanawasa is today expected in Milanzi to drum up support for MMD's Rueben Chisanga-Banda.

According to a programme released by Eastern Province permanent secretary, Kelvin Kamuwanga, President Mwanawasa would pay courtesy calls on paramount chief Kalonga Gawa Undi, chiefs Kawaza and Kathumba.

The President will also hold two public rallies in Kawaza area and Kagoro before departure for Lusaka on Wednesday.