Maravi

(TIMES) RB reaches out

RB reaches out
By JAMES MUYANWA

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has invited the three losing presidential candidates to work with him and help move the country forward as elections should not divide Zambia.

Speaking after being sworn in as Zambia’s fourth Republican president at Parliament grounds in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Banda said the country should be more united now than ever before.

He extended an olive branch to Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata, United Party for National Development (UPND)’s Hakainde Hichilema and Heritage Party (HP) president, Godfrey Miyanda.

“Today, I offer my friendship to Michael Sata, Hakainde Hichilema and Godfrey Miyanda. I do so because it is not my intention to govern a divided nation,” he said, much to the excitement of the audience.

He said elections should not divide the country as all the people were one and there was need to forget about the past and forge ahead for the betterment of the country.

Mr Banda, who punctuated his speech with the phrase ‘I will be president for all Zambians,’ said it did not matter which party one voted for because at the end of the day, “we are all Zambians.”

He hailed his opponents for ensuring that Zambia lived up to her democratic record and paid special tribute to Brigadier-General Miyanda for declaring that the election was free and fair.

Mr Banda called on all the opposition leaders to work with him for the development of the entire country and realise late president Levy Mwanawasa’s vision of liberating the country from the pangs of poverty.

“This election will not divide us. It will unite us all in a common goal. We may be a country of many tribes, of many languages, different religions and of many colours but never forget we are one nation.

“So, to the leaders of the opposition parties I ask you to work with me, for all Zambians,” he said.

He said the same should go with Parliament, and urged parliamentarians to put aside petty squabbles and do what was right for the people of Zambia.

On the just-ended campaigns, Mr Banda described them as having been spirited and enjoyable and praised some media houses for effectively and objectively covering the campaign trails.

“For Zambia’s sake, I will look forward, not back. The campaign is over, what is in the past must remain so,” he said before adding: “I thank those who campaigned for me and even those who campaigned against me.”

Mr Banda expressed gratitude to all the people who voted for him and pledged that he would not let them down.

“You chose my vision and I will not forget that it is you the Zambian people who have placed your trust in me. It is a responsibility not to be taken lightly,” he said.

He said Zambia was a great democracy where the people always decided who should govern them, saying they were the masters as politicians came and went in electoral cycles.

Mr Banda thanked the MMD, ministers and members of Parliament who campaigned for him but declared that there was still more work to be done.
“Now we have much work to do. My Cabinet must be able to deliver the vision as set out by me during these elections,” he said.

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 12:19 AM