Maravi

Rupiah airs his views on the PACT

Rupiah airs his views on the PACT
By Chibaula Silwamba and George Chellah
Thu 22 July 2010, 04:02 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said he is working on the belief that the PF-UPND pact will not crack.

And Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda said the PF-UPND Pact should come out decisive about its leadership and the way forward.

Responding to questions from journalists in Lusaka after he officially opened Saro Agro Industrial Limited new premises in Lusaka’s industrial area, President Banda said it was up to the leaders of the UPND and PF to sort out their problems.

“If the pact were in MMD I will answer you but the pact are outside the MMD; it’s up to them to sort out the problem,” President Banda said.

Further asked if the cracks in the PF-UPND Pact increased his chances of winning the 2011 presidential elections, President Banda responded: “No! We have been winning with them together; they have always been fighting us. So for me, as president of MMD, I am working on the belief that they will continue together. I don’t want to presume that they will crack; that is up to them. If they do crack, okay. But we always campaign assuming that they are together.”

And commenting on the current political developments in the country, Habasonda said the pact was about the strongest entity, which threatened the MMD dominance.

“And if it cannot rise above its internal problems, it has only three choices: (1) to learn from the Kenyan experience of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) - honestly search their souls, be open to one another and face their strengths and weaknesses as each entity in the pact and get on as a strong opposition movement,” Habasonda said.

“(2) Merge into one political force called United Patriotic Front, sort out its leadership and rally their supporters for a better Zambia or (3) immediately disband so that they do not create false hope among the Zambians. Certainly the last option will give the MMD lots of sleep.”

He said the MMD also needs renewal and forward-looking management of their affairs if citizens were to continue believing in them and the politics of the country.

“Our view is that all our political parties need to take steps back and seriously evaluate their role in ensuring that Zambia evolves into a truly modern working democracy which does not subsist on patronage but practices civility and offers opportunities for all citizens despite political or other affiliation. Right now a casual scan of political parties indicates institutions in crisis,” Habasonda said.

“For the pact, whose birth we welcomed, we believe it is time for them to go for a retreat where they should come out decisive about their leadership and the way forward for their supporters. They need a programme of action, which is clear, starting with internal party electoral processes, to a joint consensus building process, which will culminate into a joint electoral college to choose the pact candidate. These processes must have clearly stipulated dates so that various stakeholders are able to follow the developments and defray anxieties about when a leader will be announced.”

He said from the public sentiments, it was evident that Zambians would love to see the pact sustained.

“As such, there is need for the pact to resolve their differences maturely and keep the hopes and aspirations of the many Zambians who fear that the country could turn into a one party machinery one day again in the absence of serious and organised opposition. The MMD equally needs to demonstrate that they can hold a clean convention now so as to avoid splits at the last minute which may weaken them and dampen peoples’ spirits further,” Habasonda said.

“The shadow boxing by the leadership and threats to dissenting views within the ruling party gives an impression that some of the presidential aspirants may not get to the MMD convention. The party may need to squarely reflect on how the process can pass the democracy test even if their desire is a sole candidate for the convention.”

He said the current political developments in the country were not only worrisome but required serious reflection and deep concern on the future direction of Zambia.

“It cannot be denied that the state of political play is receiving bad signals particularly in relation to political parties and their role to provide future leadership. While the ruling party is celebrating the setbacks to their fiercest opponents - the pact, they are equally rocked with the handling of their own senior NEC national executive committee colleagues over leadership and the pending convention. The other political parties are also uncoordinated separate entities whose agendas are little known to our people,” he said.

He said the political movement in the country was in disarray.

“Clearly this present scenario evokes hopelessness which requires to be addressed now if citizens have to believe in the ability of democracy to respond to the obtaining needs in our society. It is perfectly clear that the country is stuck with difficult political choices before it: a non-cohesive pact which risks cracking at the hour of need, amorphous small political parties that risk being captive of stronger forces, and a monstrous ruling party which risks entrenching its hegemony further over state affairs,” Habasonda said.

“We are of the view that progressive forces must begin to coalesce around real issues and provide true alternative leadership not born out of convenience and political opportunism or politics of ego and machismo, but one anchored on the desire to save and rebuild Zambia from the shackles of mediocrity, lack of strategic planning and from selfish service to the nation.”

He said SACCORD was saddened that the present political processes did not inspire citizens at all.

“There is surely deepening despondency on the political front. Indeed it seems to be a time that those men and women who do not find space either in the pact or the ruling party should reflect critically whether it is these two political centres that are the hope for a better Zambia or it is time to move on and find a new force to deliver Zambia from the current political chaos,” said Habasonda.

“Indeed even if a new force emerges, it requires time to consolidate and this leaves a political stalemate for our people. Whatever fate awaits our people, we hope the best will come out of all these intrigues. Our country deserves a leadership that is ready to take on the challenges of the 21st Century and not one preoccupied with base politics.”

And President Banda, who indicated that he would soon travel to Luena and Chifubu to drum up support for the MMD’s parliamentary candidates, expressed optimism that the party could win the two by-elections.

“I think that we stand a good chance of scooping both of them. Of course we have to work hard, you know how elections are like. Until you win you haven’t won,” President Banda said. “It will be very tight the next 10 days but I am going to go to both of them. I will go to Luena and from Luena I will go to Chifubu Copperbelt.”

President Banda urged the electorate in Luena and Chifubu to be peaceful.
He said he did not expect violence in the two parliamentary by-elections.

“There are just a few people who want to use violence as a means to win elections. I think the majority of Zambian people including yourself want peace. Our democracy is so important, is more important than any individual political party or any leader. So I believe that the Zambian people will rally behind peace,” President Banda said. “Reading what you have been reporting in the papers, it looks like the majority of stakeholders in this country have condemned violence. The churches, the newspapers, the politicians, everyone has condemned violence.”

He said those who think that violence could carry them somewhere were mistaken.

“What the Zambian people want is that we have peaceful elections because that is your chance then to give a fresh mandate to your leaders, whoever it is,” President Banda said.

On the Catholic bishops’ rejection of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) draft constitution, President Banda said his duty would be to try and bring everybody together to have consensus on the constitution making process.

“I have just seen it bishop’s statement this morning yesterday; you know that’s a very important body of people. We just have read what they have said and understand it, what we are seeing in the papers, what you have reported and sometimes you will agree; sometimes you also may misunderstand what they are trying to say,” President Banda said.

“But that’s how national issues are, there is always pulling this side and that but for leadership such as myself, mine is to try and get everybody together and see if we can agree on something which is good for the country.”

Earlier at Saro Agro Industrial Limited, President Banda said the government would continue to emphasise the importance of agriculture to the development of the Zambian economy.

He said the government welcomed any initiatives that would complement its efforts in diversifying the economy from the mining sector.

President Banda commended Saro Agro Industrial Limited for providing wide ranging farming equipment.

“It takes hard work, patience and commitment to build a company such as this just as it requires hard work and patience to build a country,” said President Banda.

Labels: LEE HABASONDE, RUPIAH BANDA, SACCORD

posted by MrK @ 12:05 PM