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There's no automatic win for Banda - Prof Chirwa

There's no automatic win for Banda - Prof Chirwa
By Lambwe Kachali, Mutuna Chanda, Mwila Chansa and Zumani Katas
Monday September 08, 2008 [04:00]

MMD 2011 presidential aspirant Professor Clive Chirwa yesterday said that opposition political parties have rightly observed that the adoption of Acting President Rupiah Banda as MMD candidate does not mean he will automatically win the presidential election. And Prof Chirwa has said his vision for Zambia is beyond what most MMD presidential hopefuls are targeting. Prof Chirwa said he was on course for the 2011 presidential elections, saying his vision was beyond what other presidential aspirants were currently targeting.

"First, I need to carry the NEC members with me and together we will deliver the vision for the future. My vision is beyond what we are currently targeting.

It is about total eradication of poverty, complete overhaul of education system that is outdated and will be insufficient for our needs in the 21st Century, re-model our working culture that encourages minimal delivery rather than maximum output, create jobs so that 90 per cent of Zambians will be in work contributing to the national development and feel proud to be Zambians; strategically build roads, railways, waterways and all necessary infrastructures from a position of knowledge and know-how. Only I can deliver these extraterrestrial targets for our nation," Prof Chirwa said.

And welcoming the adoption of Vice-President Banda as MMD presidential candidate in the forth-coming presidential by-election, Prof Chirwa said all unsuccessful candidates should not think that they had lost.

Prof Chirwa said the losing candidates demonstrated why Zambia was ahead of many African countries when it comes to the true democratic process in elections.
"Opposition is right in reminding us that choosing a candidate does not mean we are going to win. Therefore, all of us and I mean every MMD member should support RB.

This is a good day and common sense has prevailed over personal gratification. I am extremely happy that the NEC national executive committee has democratically chosen RB as our representative. I know he will deliver continuity in the development plan for another three years to 2011.

Therefore, I would like to thank all the NEC members who took part in choosing our representative for the presidential election. Indeed I would also like to thank all those MMD members who submitted their candidature. These candidates should not think that they have lost.

What they have demonstrated is how Zambia has left behind many African countries when it comes to true democratic process in elections. Let us show Africa our great value for democracy," Prof Chirwa said.

Prof Chirwa said he would campaign for Acting President Banda starting this month.
He further urged Acting President Banda to carefully follow policies that late president Levy Mwanawasa championed.

And former Republican vice-president Enoch Kavindele said he was not bitter at his loss to Acting-President Banda. In an interview on Saturday, Kavindele said he had accepted the decision of the MMD's national executive committee.
Kavindele did not get any vote.

But in Kitwe, UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa said Acting President Banda's adoption as MMD presidential candidate for the forthcoming election was the greatest opportunity for UPND to get into government. Kalusa said UPND had received Banda's adoption with both hands because he would not manage to dribble the entire nation.

"We are praying and worshipping God for giving us that weak candidate. We all know that his chances are based on tricks looking at the people who are surrounding him because birds of the same feather flock together," Kalusa said.

"But I know Zambians will make the right decision because they are not like the 43 NEC members who voted for Rupiah."

He said Acting President Banda represented the old generation and would not add any value to the country's growing economy but would instead take it 20 years backwards.

Kalusa claimed that UPND's chances of scooping the elections would be higher after they roll out their programmes to the people. He said UPND stood a good chance because its candidate, Hakainde Hichilema, was a young candidate with good economic management skills, and was in good health and was a farmer like late president Mwanawasa.

Kalusa said UPND would offer free grain and fertiliser to farmers in the first three years after being ushered into office in November.

Meanwhile, Bishop Joseph Kazhila of Life Gospel Fellowship Ministries International charged in Kitwe that Acting President Banda had no vision to lead Zambia.

"Most Zambians have not forgotten how together with the church and other stakeholders we protested and sought a withdrawal of the MMD Cabinet's approved astronomical wage and allowance increases for themselves and other constitution office holders.

The Cabinet of RB with impunity ignored the cries of the Zambian people until the approval was taken to Parliament where bills were passed. What guarantee is there that RB will care for the suffering masses if he failed to stop a simple issue like this one? How will he handle complicated matters of state?" he asked. "At 44 years since independence, Zambia does not need freedom fighters to continue leading it.

These men and women need to rest and leave the young ones to preside over the nation while they play a role of advisors."

Kazhila said retired politician Vernon Mwaanga was recently quoted as having said that it was time to give power to young people to lead the country but wondered how all of a sudden he was supporting fellow freedom fighters to continue ruling.

Labels: CLIVE CHIRWA, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:50 AM