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VJ mustn’t champion regionalism - Mwale

VJ mustn’t champion regionalism - Mwale
By Chibaula Silwamba
Thu 25 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT

VERNON Mwaanga must not champion tribalism and regionalism for political mileage, a pro-democracy activist has advised.

Commenting on MMD parliamentary chief whip Mwaanga’s statement that an alliance between opposition UPND and ruling MMD would be good because the former could support a candidate from Eastern Province Rupiah Banda in 2011 and that would in future enable the Southern Province to produce a head of state, Michael Mwale said Mwaanga must encourage people to vote for credible leaders and not on the basis of the region where a particular candidate hails from.

“People should look at the credibility and what someone can offer and not looking at the tribe or province where someone comes from,” he said.

Mwale warned that Mwaanga’s approach to political campaigns had a danger of causing ethnic conflicts in Zambia.

“If Zambians will continue to campaign on tribal lines, at the end, it will bring ethic problems and people will be fighting each other that ‘this one is a Bemba, a Nyanja, Tonga…’ and that will cause anarchy,” said Mwale, who is Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) co-ordinator in Luapula Province.

“Vernon Mwaanga should not champion that for political mileage. Let him allow people to choose a leader who they think is credible and can address their aspirations,” said Mwale.

According to yesterday’s Times of Zambia, Mwaanga encouraged a formation of an electoral alliance between the UPND and MMD.

“We have a President from Eastern Province who came in to complete the mandate of his late brother Levy Mwanawasa, but the current President is entitled to his own tenure of office so that thereafter, we include the Southern Province and they can be supported. This idea is attractive,” Mwaanga was quoted by the Times of Zambia as saying.

He said the idea of an alliance between the two parties was overwhelmingly supported by the people of Southern Province as they had realised that it was an opportunity for somebody who hails from there to be head of state.

Mwaanga said after supporting the MMD candidate in next year’s polls, the MMD would gladly support an individual from the Southern Province wishing to contest the presidency.

Labels: MICHAEL MWALE, REGIONALISM, VERNON MWAANGA

posted by MrK @ 5:40 PM