Maravi

Teta's threats will spell doom for MMD, warns Timothy Nyirenda

Teta's threats will spell doom for MMD, warns Timothy Nyirenda
By Mwala Kalaluka, Maluba Jere and Christopher Miti
Wednesday October 22, 2008 [04:01]

Benny Tetamashimba's empty threats against Easterners that are opposed to Vice-President Banda's presidential candidature will spell doom for the MMD on October 30, UNIP Revival Forum vice-chairperson Timothy Nyirenda warned yesterday.

And FDD spokesperson Charles Banda described as weird Tetamashimba's threats that they will be beat up people from Eastern Province who will not vote for Vice-President Banda.

Meanwhile, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) executive director Goodwell Lungu has advised Vice-President Banda not to make political statements that will be difficult to implement.

Reacting to Tetamashimba's threats against Easterners at a rally addressed by Vice-President Banda in Nyimba on Monday that they would be beaten up if they did not vote for the Vice-President, Nyirenda said Tetamashimba should not cheat himself that he could beat anybody from Eastern Province.

“In fact, such statements are very destructive. They might say them but even in the Eastern Province they are going to lose,” Nyirenda said.
He said the people of Eastern Province would now shun Vice-President Banda and his cohorts more than before in view of such statements. He said this would pave way for an increase in popularity for PF president Michael Sata.

“I can tell you that previously Sata was not popular in Eastern Province, you remember the incident that happened in Chadiza? But now with such statements Rupiah Banda might just get less than 50 per cent of the vote in Eastern Province,” Nyirenda said.

On Monday, Nyirenda stated in a press release that the UNIP Revival Forum had endorsed the candidature of Sata in the October 30 presidential bout following thorough consultations.
And Charles Banda described Tetamashimba's thinking as weird and strange.

“We do not take kindly to such kind of threats. If he is tolerated in the North-Western Province, we are not going to tolerate that in the Eastern Province,” Charles Banda said. “Comrade Tetamashimba has a very weird and strange thinking; he is a weird person and his thinking is very strange. It is not normal and if that is the politics he practices in the North Western Province, where he whips people who do not obey him, he is not going to do that in the Eastern Province.”

Charles Banda said the people of Eastern Province had a right to choose who they want to vote for without being coerced.

“In a democracy, you practice politics of choice,” he said. “Tetamashimba's threats just show what kind of person Rupiah Banda is.”
Charles Banda recollected that at another rally addressed by Vice-President Banda in Solwezi recently, former works and supply minister Ludwig Sondashi openly threatened to beat up anybody who would mention the name Sata in his presence.

And commenting on Vice-President Banda's directive that defence forces should benefit from the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP), Goodwell Lungu advised Vice-President Banda to learn from his predecessor who he said did not thrive on a lot of political statements aimed at influencing voters but tried to stick to the reality of delivering on his promises.

“It is extremely unfortunate for the Vice-President to distort this well intended programme. The Fertiliser Support Programme should not be diverted from the actual intended beneficiaries for political mileage,” Lungu said.
The FSP is meant to empower vulnerable but viable farmers acquire fertiliser at subsidised prices.

And PF vice-president Dr Guy Scott described as naked electoral bribery the directive by Vice-President Banda that members of the defence forces should benefit from the FSP.

Dr Scott said he doubted whether the same fertiliser would be delivered, saying it took months for the government to import fertiliser into the country.
Meanwhile, Eastern Province PF chairperson Solomon Mbuzi has advised Tetamashimba to learn to preach tranquility and peace rather than fanning violence. He said being in a democratic country, easterners would vote for any candidate they like.

Mbuzi said PF would get over 65 per cent of the vote in Eastern Province.

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, THE POST, TIMOTHY NYIRENDA

posted by MrK @ 1:19 PM