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(TIMES) I’m ready to jump on Rupiah Banda’s crusade –Kavindele

I’m ready to jump on Rupiah Banda’s crusade –Kavindele
By Times Reporter

Former Republican vice-president, Enoch Kavindele has urged the MMD campaign committee to assign losing presidential aspirants the roles that the party wishes them to play in the campaign for the MMD presidential candidate, Rupiah Banda. In another development, the Zambia Conservative Party (ZCP) has said that it will not contest the forthcoming presidential election but will instead support Mr Banda.

Reacting to MMD chairman for elections, Mike Mulongoti’s challenge for the losing aspirants to attend Mr Banda’s functions if they were not bitter, Mr Kavindele said he was not bitter and was more than ready to help as long as he was given direction.

“My bags are packed ready to travel and campaign for our candidate, the acting President, Mr Rupiah Banda but it is, of course, up to the campaign manager and his team to propose where I should come in,” he said.

Mr Kavindele said losing the election for adoption as the MMD presidential candidate should not be an issue for those who genuinely had the interest of the ruling party at heart as the issue now is for the MMD to win the presidential election.

He said he was also ready to attend joint public meetings with the MMD presidential candidate like he did with Dr Levy Mwanawasa in 2001 when he was Republican vice-president.

“Having served as the last Republican vice-president of Dr Frederick Chiluba and the first Republican vice-president of the late Dr Mwanawasa, I am able to campaign in any part of the country for our presidential candidate.

“In the UNIP days we stayed in Mpika campaigning for two weeks. We proceeded to Zambezi and stayed for three weeks. Even today our campaign committee can send me anywhere the services of a political heavyweight are needed,” he said.

Mr Mulongoti, the acting president’s campaign manager, said in an interview over the weekend that the losing aspirants should show maturity and support Mr Banda who was adopted as the MMD presidential candidate.

ZCP president, Joseph Chipili and party publicity secretary, Peter Simpemba said in a joint statement yesterday that their party stood firm in supporting the implementation of Government policies left by Dr Mwanawasa.

Msanzala Auctioneers managing director, Masautso Lulanga said it was important Mr Banda wins the election.

Mr Lulanga appealed to Zambians to turn up in large numbers and give Mr Banda a massive vote if Zambia was to continue on the positive economic path left by Dr Mwanawasa.

House of Chiefs chairperson, Chief Mumena of the Kaonde people of Solwezi called for issue based campaigns during the run-up to the election.

Chief Mumena said in an interview that Zambians deserved better than campaigns of insults.

Labels: ELECTIONS, ENOCH KAVINDELE, RUPIAH BANDA, ZAMBIA CONSERVATIVE PARTY

posted by MrK @ 4:21 PM