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People will revolt if poll is rigged, Sondashi warns

People will revolt if poll is rigged, Sondashi warns
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 26 Feb. 2011, 04:01 CAT

RUPIAH Banda should expect an uprising if this year’s election is rigged, says Forum for Democratic Initiatives president Dr Ludwig Sondashi.

Commenting on President Banda’s remarks that the press should help not push Zambians to emulate the pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt, Libya and parts of the Middle East, Dr Sondashi said President Banda’s conduct and those in government was unimpressive when it came to holding of a free and fair elections.

“If these elections are rigged and people clearly see that he has lost, is clinging to power; he should expect what happened in Egypt to happen,” he said.

Dr Sondashi said he was advocating change because President Banda embraced corruption and had failed to perform. He said the government forced judge Florence Mumba to resign as Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson because she was credible and could not be manipulated.

“I think that justice Mumba was better than the person he is replacing her with. When it comes to her handling the electoral office, Mumba is more firm than the one he is replacing her with,” Dr Sondashi said.

He said President Banda’s government was working to frustrate his businesses. Dr Sondashi also alleged that suspected intelligence officers broke into his office recently and stole documents.

He said he was not working to remove President Banda through unlawful means, but lawful ones. Dr Sondashi said he was better than President Banda who assumed the presidency through the backdoor.

Commenting on the events in Egypt, where Hosni Mubarak was forced out of office by pro-democracy demonstrators, and now Libya, where demonstrators want Muammar Gaddafi out of office, President Banda described the developments as sad.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, LUDWIG SONDASHI

posted by MrK @ 11:59 AM