Rupiah's campaign shifts to Sata

Rupiah's campaign shifts to Sata
By Noel Sichalwe
Sunday September 07, 2008 [04:00]

MMD chairman Michael Mabenga yesterday warned that they are not afraid of Patriotic Front president Michael Sata in the forthcoming presidential by-election and will ensure that he bends to his knees. And Old Maramba Girls Association (OMAGA) chairperson Rosemary Undi has appealed to the government to look after late President Levy Mwanawasa's children until they are grown up.

Meanwhile, losing MMD presidential aspirant Ng'andu Magande has said he is not bitter after losing to Acting President Banda. Speaking after the MMD's national executive committee (NEC) members laid wreaths at President Mwanawasa's grave at Embassy Park in Lusaka, Mabenga said MMD was not afraid that Sata is demanding that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) immediately announce the election date.

Mabenga said Sata should not think that the MMD would be afraid if the election date was announced soon. He said Sata's statement demanding that the ECZ should immediately announce the date for the presidential by-election would not shake anyone in MMD.

"We will see whether the cobra still has teeth and spike. We will ensure that he bends to his knees," Mabenga said.

And Mabenga said he was aware that secretary generals of various political parties were discussing under the Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue (ZCID) on the possibility of rallying behind Acting President Rupiah Banda in the presidential by-election. He said the discussion was happening at the ZCID and not in individual political parties.

Meanwhile, Mabenga said the NEC decided to lay wreaths at Mwanawasa's grave yesterday following the daunting task of selecting a presidential candidate on Friday. He said the NEC wanted people to understand that they were honouring the late President's legacy and that MMD was still united.

Mabenga said the MMD was honouring the wishes of President Mwanawasa by abiding by the rule of law and following democratic tenets in the party. He said the selection process for the presidential candidate was clear and that people were given an opportunity to make a decision without any undue influence.

"We should not divert from democratic tendencies and I am glad that all of us are here to pay our last respects to our great leader," he said.
And Old Maramba Girls Association (OMAGA) chairperson Rosemary Undi said they had decided to lay wreaths in solidarity with former first lady Maureen who is also a product of the school. Undi said Maureen had been supportive of their association and that they had decided to offer solidarity with her by laying wreaths.
"We are really sorry for what has happened and we are mourning with her," said Undi.

Another association member, Matrine Chulu, hoped that the government would assist the first lady to settle down and start a new life now that President Mwanawasa has passed on. She said the children should be supported to finish their education since late President Mwanawasa had done a lot for the country.
And Magande, after laying wreaths, said that elections for MMD presidential candidate were conducted well and that the secret ballot system was fine. He thanked the 11 people that voted for him and that those who voted for other candidates made their political choice. Magande hoped that Acting President Banda would live up to the expectations of those that voted for him. He said he had been ready to lead Zambians since late president Mwanawasa started commending him for doing something better for the country and that he was mature.

"If he was alive up to 2011, he was going to support me to stand," Magande said. "I am not bitter after these elections because when you look at the difference between 43 and 11, it is only 32. Next time, those people might change their minds."
Several members of the public yesterday paid their last respects to President Mwanawasa as individuals, families, groups and organisations. Most of them even posed for photographs while standing beside the grave.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Dr Gaudenzio Rossi has paid his condolences to the Mwanawasa and Kakubo families on the death of President Mwanawasa.
Rossi said President Mwanawasa listened and took advice given by the private sector, usually away from the glare of the media.

"This resulted in the upturn of the Zambian economy. Dr Mwanawasa understood the importance of all sectors of the economy to be pulled together especially in the priority areas of manufacturing, agriculture, mining and tourism," he said.
Rossi said his intolerance to corruption earned him kudos across the private sector as corruption increases the cost of doing business greatly. He said the epic of his cooperation with private sector was evidenced when the late president received an honour from ZACCI and other organisations.

"This was in recognition of late Dr Levy Mwanawasa's positive attitude and contribution to private sector sustainable growth in the country. We would therefore like to appeal to whoever emerges as the next Zambian president to continue embracing the private sector as they are the engine to any country's economic growth," said Rossi.