Maravi

It won't be easy for Banda to win if disunity in MMD continues

It won't be easy for Banda to win if disunity in MMD continues
By Katwishi Bwalya
Monday October 20, 2008 [04:00]

IT will not be easy for Vice-President Rupiah Banda to win the elections on October 30 if the current disunity in the MMD continues, late president Levy Mwanawasa's nephew Peter Shakafuswa has warned.

In an interview on Saturday, Peter said it was unfortunate that Vice-President Banda had continued to sideline all those who voted against him during the MMD national executive committee (NEC) meeting that was held to elect a presidential candidate.

Peter wondered how the MMD hoped to win the forthcoming elections when it was divided.


“There is a lot of speculations that he Vice-President Banda has forsaken finance minister Ng’andu Magande and all those who voted against him. So I am challenging my Acting President to come out in the open and tell the nation the true picture...

Where is the trust going to be and where is democracy going to be if among ourselves we have not reconciled?” Peter asked. “We are seeing situations where home affairs minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha, Magande, local government minister Sylvia Masebo and many others are not part of RB’s campaign.”

Peter asked Vice-President Banda to forgive all those who voted against him.

He said it was late president Mwanawasa’s wish especially that he preached forgiveness even in his will to the nation.

Peter also said he was worried because he did not know who would carry on the legacy of president Mwanawasa.

However, he urged the electorate to gauge all the four candidates taking part in the elections and make informed decisions because all of them had a chance of winning.

“Mwanawasa never gave out a brown envelope. He just spoke. And today, among the four leaders gauge them. Which leader will carry on the late president’s vision? If we fail to do that then we are going to cry as Zambians,” he said. “Just convince the people that you will turn the tables by doing what Levy did. But failure to do that, we will regret as Zambians.”

He said Zambians could not be cheated any more and urged the candidates to be issued-based.
Peter added that it was never too late for the MMD to reconcile and that chances were still high for the party to win the elections.

“It’s never too late. We can win the elections but all I’m saying is let’s reconcile. And I am speaking not as spokesperson for the Mwanawasa family, but for myself,” said Peter.

Labels: MMD, PETER SHAKAFUSWA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 5:13 AM