Maravi

UPND cadres fail to disrupt PF Monze rally

UPND cadres fail to disrupt PF Monze rally
Written by George Zulu and Pride Bwalya in Monze
Monday, October 27, 2008 10:22:24 PM

EFFORTS by UPND cadres to disrupt a PF campaign rally in Monze failed on Saturday as PF supporters patiently waited for party leader Michael Sata's arrival.

And Sata has asked the people of Monze to vote for him in order to address many challenges facing Zambia in areas of agriculture, education, health and rural infrastructure development.

The attempt to disrupt a PF rally by the UPND cadres started when a mammoth crowd as early as 12:00 waited patiently for Sata's arrival at the railways ground.

Some unruly UPND youths started hooting and raising their party symbols towards PF cadres, who were dancing and singing while waiting for Sata. Around 14:00hrs, UPND cadres regrouped as Sata's arrival was nearing and joined the rest of the people who gathered at the venue of PF leader’s campaign rally.

Confusion reigned as the UPND cadres went onto the pitch to remove Sata's portraits on the boat, together with the PF youths who were seated in it.

The situation angered PF youths who wanted to reiterate but they were controlled, leaving UPND cadres to continue with their violent conduct while police watched from a distance.

The unruly UPND cadres, however, did not make any impact as people continued to wait patiently for Sata's arrival.

And Sata, who arrived at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula stadium in his chopper at 17:45 amid a rousing welcome from Monze residents, said if elected into office on October 30, he would turn Zambia College for Agriculture into a University of Monze.

Sata said there was no need for the School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine to be at UNZA when there were no animals and agricultural activities taking place at the institution.

“People of Monze, I came here in 2001 asking for your vote and I told you that if you vote for me I will finish “denkede”, corridor disease your animals are suffering from, but you did not vote for me. In 2006, I also came here to ask you to vote for me so that I finish “denkede” but you did not vote for me. Again, I have come back this time appealing to you to vote for me so that we remove the corridor disease that has killed many animals in the district,” he said.

Sata also said he did not go to Southern Province and particularly Monze for campaigns to give people money but to seek for their vote.

“I am not Hakainde Hichilema who we gave the job to privatise Intercontinental Hotel and he made himself chairman, you should be wondering where at 46 years, Hichilema got over 40 billion kwacha,” he said.

Sata also promised civil servants decent accommodation and good conditions of service, adding that he would give free fertiliser to all small-scale farmers to improve on Zambia's food basket.

He said if elected president this Thursday, he would ensure that youths were employed and issues of HIV and AIDS were addressed through the provision of supportive structures to combat the scourge.

Earlier, Sata introduced former MMD NEC member Christine Moonga and her husband who have defected to PF.

He also called on all youths in Monze to sleep outside polling stations on the election day and observe strictly so that votes were not stolen.

"I beg of you all youths to sleep outside polling stations on the day of polls and stop your votes from being stolen,” Sata said.

He said PF would not allow people's votes to be stolen because it was tantamount to stealing people's happiness, dignity, employment and money from their own pockets.

Sata also welcomed UPND members who turned up for his rally in Monze.

And Moonga said Zambia needs a mature and experienced leader like Sata.

"We are not looking at tribe, political affiliation or religion but a leader that God will give us to bring order and discipline in politics and other issues regarding development of the country," she said.

Moonga called on the people of Monze not to vote on tribal grounds but merit, for a leader with integrity, experience and vision for the country.

Labels: CADRES, ELECTIONS, MMD, UPND

posted by MrK @ 10:23 PM