Maravi

Sata, HH have no capacity to govern Zambia - Rupiah

Sata, HH have no capacity to govern Zambia - Rupiah
By Lambwe Kachali and Chibaula Silwamba in Mpika
Tuesday October 14, 2008 [04:00]

MMD presidential candidate Rupiah Banda yesterday charged that opposition Patriotic Front and UPND presidential candidates Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema have no capacity to govern Zambia.

And Vice-President Banda annoyed and caused panic among his supporters and journalists because of his unreliable campaign programme for Northern Province which they kept on changing at short notice.

Addressing his supporters and sympathisers at Mpika's Chibansa airstrip after they waited for his arrival for several hours amid conflicting and constantly changing programmes, Vice-President Banda said no party other than the ruling MMD could claim to continue with the programmes left by late president Levy Mwanawasa. He urged Mpika residents not to be cheated by Sata or Hichilema.

Vice-President Banda said Sata and Hichilema were the minority in Parliament.

"The two gentlemen are only standing as president but have no capacity to govern or run national programmes because their members of parliament are not enough. Sata has only 39 while Hakainde only has 22. So they are minority political parties," Vice-President Banda said. "But MMD has 83 MPs."

Vice-President Banda said MMD was doing significant work as evidenced by the construction of schools, hospitals and roads among other things.

He urged the people, especially those from Kanchibiya Constituency, to vote for MMD candidate Judith Kapijimpanga in today's by-election.

"We are on a long trip but tomorrow (today) we plead with you to vote for your own young lady here so that she can bring development in Kanchibiya. And on 30 October, remember that ndani a phika nsima? Who is cooking nsima?," asked Vice-President Banda, as people responded, "Ni Banda. It's Banda!"

Vice-President Banda responded: "Navomela nchito yamene mwanipasa ya ukhuki. I have accepted the job of a cook which you have given me."

However, there was uncertainty on Vice-President Banda's trip to the province that was initially supposed to commence on Sunday but was postponed to yesterday.

Journalists who had travelled to Mbala, where Vice-President Banda was initially supposed to land on Sunday, had to return to Kasama and thereafter proceed to Mpika.

According to a new programme, Vice-President Banda was supposed to arrive in the province early Monday morning in Mpika aboard a presidential helicopter but the programme changed. Instead, he arrived at Kasama airport.

There was still uncertainty as to the time he would arrive as party and government officials gave conflicting programmes.

Soon after arriving at Kasama airport, Vice-President Banda proceeded to Mpika enroute to Kanchibiya Constituency to drum up support for Kapijimpanga.

Vice-President Banda was supposed to address a rally in Tazara township in Mpika but cancelled it due to his late arrival in the area. The Tazara township rally was scheduled to start at 10:30 hours but Vice-President Banda only arrived at Chibansa airstrip at 11:30 hours.

A stopover at Chibansa airstrip was more to refuel the helicopter than to address MMD supporters. It took Vice-President Banda and his campaign team a few minutes of private discussions before he could address the people who had anxiously waited for him.

Soon after addressing the supporters, Vice-President Banda, Kapijimpanga, MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga and pastor Nevers Mumba boarded the presidential helicopter to Chundaponde to address a campaign rally.

Also among those accompanying Vice-President Banda were Lusaka businessman Bwalya Chiti and Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika.

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 8:09 AM