Maravi

Banda is a winnable candidate, says Teta

Banda is a winnable candidate, says Teta
Written by Maluba Jere
Sunday, June 07, 2009 3:46:54 PM

MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba yesterday said President Rupiah Banda is a winnable candidate for the next presidential elections. Commenting on MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba's statement that the party needs to adopt a winnable candidate at the party's national convention in view of the political pact between the PF and UPND, Tetamashimba said it was clear Kalumba was implying that President Banda was not a winnable candidate because he also had intentions of contesting the party presidency.

“From the statement in your lead story today [yesterday], the national secretary's statement, it is clear he is implying that President Banda is not a winnable candidate,” Tetamashimba said. “I may be wrong but that statement was made in view of the pact between the PF and UPND, I know that Katele is a candidate himself but for us we still say that President Banda is a winnable candidate.”

Commenting on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the PF and UPND ahead of the 2011 elections, Kalumba said the MMD was not threatened by the pact.

However, he said MMD members needed to maintain unity and remain focused.

Tetamashimba also said the pact between the PF and UPND would not work because those at the helm were two greedy people who both wanted to be presidents.

He said the two parties also had different ideologies and urged MMD members not to be distracted by the pact saying it was nothing.

“It won't work because you have two greedy people and each one wants to be president,” he said. “The UPND is trying to look at the issue of a running mate so that if it fails, Mr Hichilema can take over.”

Tetamashimba said the MMD would devise a system that would make sure the PF and UPND lost the next elections. He said the pact was just meant to hoodwink people.

“I would just appeal to our members not to think the pact is going anywhere. As MMD we are not afraid,” said Tetamashimba. “They cannot make a win, so actually we are not scared.”

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, KATELE KALUMBA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:50 PM