Maravi

LETTERS - Electoral Corruption

'Brown envelopes' and election
By Julius Kaunda
Friday September 26, 2008 [04:00]

I was reading The Post of yesterday and I am beginning to understand that we are going back to the 1996 politics of brown envelopes.

It is very evident that this year’s campaign for the MMD is totally different from the one we saw under the late president Levy Mwanawasa. Under Mwanawasa, people complained of not receiving anything from his campaign team and most marketers even threatened to quit the MMD.

Now we hear of people like Cozmo declaring that they are supporting RB simply because they will get something. If we are not careful and don’t vote wisely, we will take the country 7 years backwards. Let us look at the people surrounding RB and those supporting him. It will just give us an idea of how the next three years will be.

As a youth, I want a better Zambia for my children that can only be guaranteed by a leader who has Zambia at heart. Someone who is careful with the resources not one who will establish the presidential slash fund for paying those supporting him. I never liked Mwanawasa but I can say he had Zambia at heart. We indeed have another chance, let us vote wisely.


http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=46527

Youths and election corruption
By Victor Chimakanta Lusaka.
Friday September 26, 2008 [04:00]

The revelation by former New Revolution Party general secretary, James Lukuku in yesterday’s edition of your paper that they were paid in order to endorse Vice-President Rupiah Banda as their prefered candidate for the October 30 presidential by-election shows the real chararater of the person who wants to get to State House.

Even when people have revealed more of his corrupt behaviour, the man has continued with his dirty politics. What Mwanawansa legacy is he talking about? This is an initial failure to fight corruption.

To the so-called organisation claiming to be presenting the youth, I can assure you that genuine youth are never corrupted, instead they fight their way to leadership. These youths are dirty-minded, and they do not deserve to present any youth.

Genuine youth are attracted by good works and words, not by corruption. This also tells the nation never to give them any platform in future because they are dirty-minded youths with appetite for money. Another disappointing part is our so-called pastor Nevers Mumba.

As the Bible says, “ Can two walk together unless they agree?” To fellow youths and Zambians in general, let’s vote for a pragmatic person who will address our problems, not corrupt Rupiah.

Rupiah and his camp should not be given a chance. This time God is going to reveal every bad deed of the Rupiah-led group.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=46526

Mbeki's resignation
By Mwiya Nawa
Friday September 26, 2008 [04:00]

In a letter in Wednesday’s Post, Nyambe W. Namoobe asserts that Thabo Mbeki’s resignation was in response to the “wishes of the masses”. I beg to differ. The views of Jacob Zuma’s supporters, no matter how elevated, cannot be synonymous with the views of all South Africans.

What is at play is that the ANC is deeply divided between Zuma and Mbeki or more ideologically between radicals and reformists. To dismiss Mbeki in that vengeful manner, regardless of his weaknesses, is not the best way to part company with a man who has done so much for his country and the continent.

Azwell Banda in his Tuesday article did outline the political and legal circumstances leading to Mbeki’s dismissal. The ANC sends or, as Azwell put it, ‘deploys’ people it wants to serve in government. Those deployed are therefore expected to toe the line of the party. Thus, in such a system, even the same Zuma, who is waiting in the wings to become president in April 2009, can be treated the same way if he dares cross the line set by the party.

Therefore, the current system in South Africa, where Parliament elects the president, has its own advantages and otherwise. The disadvantage in this case is that even when there is no genuine case of wrongdoing, Parliament, which in the case of South Africa is dominated by the ANC, can recall its president even against popular opinion.

Labels: ELECTIONS

posted by MrK @ 5:35 PM