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Banda is deflated and diffused in Milanzi – Sata

Banda is deflated and diffused in Milanzi – Sata
By George Chellah, Christopher Miti in Katete and Kabanda Chulu
Fri 09 Apr. 2010, 04:01 CAT

Sata accompanied by Charles Banda arriving at Kagoro Basic School for the Milanzi by-election nominations in Katete yesterday - Picture by Thomas Nsama

RUPIAH Banda is deflated and diffused in Milanzi Constituency, PF leader Michael Sata yesterday said. And Sata was almost hurt after the vehicle carrying the MMD candidate rammed into the vehicle he was travelling in.

And hundreds of Mufumbwe residents thronged the streets to give a thunderous welcome to UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and his delegation who arrived in the district to support UPND candidate Eliot Kamondo during the filing in of nominations for the Mufumbwe by-elections.

Meanwhile, MMD candidate in Mufumbwe Mulondwe Muzungu said he joined the contest in response to calls from the people.

In an interview after witnessing the filing in of nominations by PF candidate Albert Banda at Kagoro Basic School, Sata said he was impressed with the reception he was accorded in the constituency.

“When they MMD are in Lusaka, they keep telling us that Eastern Province is a no-go area for us but I am surprised with what I have found here. I have been nicely received, the mood of the people is very exciting and impressive,” Sata said.

“We haven't had problems which we had in the last by-election here. Our colleagues the MMD and Rupiah seem to be deflated and diffused here. They have picked a young man who is a petrol attendant in Katete and we have picked our local candidate as well. We are here to show the people of Eastern Province that they can't count on Rupiah Banda for development. So, the choice is really theirs.”

He said the battle for the Milanzi parliamentary seat had been brought right to President Banda's doorstep.

“We will give Rupiah a good run for his money. This is a big test and all things being equal, we want to show Rupiah that things are no longer the same for MMD in Eastern Province,” he said.

Sata said he looked forward to a peaceful campaign.

“I am appealing to the people that there should be no violence or fighting. Please, I am pleading that let these be peaceful and issue-based campaigns,” Sata said.

“The issues are many here. For example, you can see the road that leads to this place Kagoro Basic is in bad state and when you look at the maize fields, they are drying.

“It is clear that my hardworking brothers and sisters here were supposed to have a bumper harvest but due to Rupiah's short-sightedness that will not be so. They are actually telling me that a Sata, Mulungu atipasa mvula, manje Banda atitana fertiliser Sata, God has given us rains but President Banda has not given us fertiliser.”

Earlier, there was commotion at the nomination centre when Sata's convoy arrived at approximately 10:20 hours.

Upon arrival, Sata disembarked from his vehicle and started walking towards the nomination centre as a huge crowd which was chanting PF slogans followed behind.
“We want change! We want change!” shouted the crowd as Sata walked towards the centre with his candidate.

When the police saw the crowd, they tried to block Sata who rebuked them.

“I have been member of parliament for a long time and I know the ECZ regulations,” he said.

“Don't provoke the crowd by blocking them. If your Mangani home affairs minister has sent you to come and rig elections, behave yourselves. Don't provoke the people. They are orderly and they have behaved well. So, don't provoke the situation. Leave me alone. Let me do what I am here for.”

Sata then entered the nominations centre, where he met Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Justice Florence Mumba and ECZ commissioner Judge Essau Chulu whom he greeted before walking out.

And as Sata was in the grounds trying to board his vehicle which was stationed at Kagoro Basic School grounds, the Mitsubishi Pajero registration number ABL 9441 carrying MMD candidate White Banda bypassed his vehicle and headed in the opposite direction escorted by chanting MMD supporters.

After a while, the Pajero reversed suddenly towards Sata as he was getting into its vehicle and hit into the rear part.

The MMD cadres who were trailing the Pajero suddenly dispersed to give room to the vehicle.

The Toyota Land cruiser VX registration number ABV 8824, carrying Sata and Kasama Central PF member of parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba was extensively damaged but all the passengers in the vehicle escaped unhurt.

Sata said the bashing of his vehicle by the MMD justified his recent statement that his life was danger.

Sata asked the police to arrest the driver of the vehicle amidst the fracas from pact sympathizers.

“This is what I have been talking about that they want to eliminate a senior officer,” Sata said.

Sata was accompanied by Mwamba, Chimwemwe member of parliament Willie Nsanda, Munali PF member of parliament Mumbi Phiri and PF chairman for elections, Charles Banda.

The aspiring candidates for Milanzi parliamentary seat are Albert Banda, PF, Musa Banda UNIP and White Banda MMD.

And Hichilema arrived in Mufumbwe in the morning and was met by several residents who surrounded his convoy and started chanting slogans “Pact! Way forward young Obama!

Hichilema disembarked from his car and started shaking hands with some people and walked with them for about two kilometers up to the Civic Centre where nominations took place.

Speaking after filing nominations, Kamondo said he had 95 per cent chances of winning the seat.

“The huge crowds you have seen are familiar with me and what I stand for and they know what I intend to do as their member of parliament,” Kamondo said.

Meanwhile, Muzungu said people wanted him to contest the Mufumbwe seat because they trusted his capacity to deliver.

“I have heard those sentiments that I am a veteran who should leave room for young ones but I am in this contest because people want me,” said Muzungu who was area parliamentarian for eight years until 1991. “It is understandable for a few individuals to say that, but the majority want me back because they know what I can do for them.”

UNIP candidate Stephen Kamwengo said the people of Mufumbwe did not want an old man.

“MMD is history in this area and the real battle is between me Kamwengo and perhaps that candidate for the pact because people do not want an old man and Rupiah Banda did not have reasons to fire Muzungu and hence pushing him into this elections as a way of discarding him like they have done to Chifita in Solwezi,” said Kamwengo.

Lusaka based MMD cadre Bobo threatened violence against journalists especially Cheelo Katambo of Lusaka's Joy FM and Abel Mambwe of The Post if they attempted to photograph him.

Bobo accused the PF-UPND of bringing outsiders into Mufumbwe.

“Nga mwankopa mwebo nkesamiponona. Nshakakonke ba editor benu I will beat you if you photograph me and I will not even follow your editor. Have you seen this pact? It's powerless. They are ferrying people from outside who don't live here Mufumbwe,” Bobo said.

Hichilema was accompanied to Mufumbwe by UPND vice-president Richard Kapita, Mazabuka member of parliament Garry Nkombo and campaign manager Watson Lumba who is also UPND Solwezi Central parliamentarian.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 3:10 PM