Maravi

Miyanda to complain over Sata's vote splitting allegation

Miyanda to complain over Sata's vote splitting allegation
By Speedwell Mupuchi
Monday September 29, 2008 [04:00]

HERITAGE Party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda yesterday said he would lodge a complaint with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) against PF leader Michael Sata for alleging that he has been sponsored to split votes in the presidential by-election.

And Brig Gen Miyanda has revealed that prior to the 2006 elections, late president Levy Mwanawasa sent a senior chief from Southern Province and current Vice-President Rupiah Banda to ask him to accept to become his deputy and subsequently take over from him in 2011.

Sata on Friday told his party’s secretary general Edward Mumbi not to blame the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for the delay in announcing successful nominations but blame the person who had sponsored Brig Gen Miyanda.
He alleged that the person who had sponsored Brig Gen Miyanda wanted to split votes for the opposition.

But Brig Gen Miyanda said Sata’s allegation was not only serious but also false and defamatory of him.
Brig Gen Miyanda said to insinuate that someone else other than his party sponsored him was to suggest he had been bribed or coerced to stand as a candidate for a less than noble motive and impliedly for material gain.

“Why was I not bribed when in the same year again the late president sent the current Vice-President Rupiah Bwezani Banda who told me that the late President was offering me to be his Vice-President in 2006 and subsequently take over from him in 2011?” asked Brig Gen Miyanda.

“Was it a crime for UPND president Hakainde Hichilema recently to visit me at my house for talks? Was it alright for a PF official to contact me with a message for talks with Mr Sata?”

He said at the Supreme Mumbi confirmed that the man who approached him with a message for talks with Sata was their member.

“After nominations I asked Mr Sata why he did not call me as indicated by his people; Mr Sata did not give me a coherent reply,” he said.
Brig Gen Miyanda said he had a desire to serve but was not overcome by unbridled ambition.

“If anything positive could come out of a discussion and that is national and patriotic, I would consider it but as the time was flying with nothing concrete, I judged that I might be taken for a ride and decided to exercise my right to participate even though at short notice,” he said.

“That is what leaders are made of; determination, faith and resoluteness even in the face of ridicule from fellow competitors.”

Brig Gen Miyanda said he never shirks in the face of a small hiccup.
“Only those who rig elections will know the outcome in advance. Ukutangila te kufika,” said Brig Gen Miyanda.

Labels: GENERAL MIYANDA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 4:15 AM