Rupiah appeals for peaceful campaigns

Rupiah appeals for peaceful campaigns
By Sandra Lombe in Livingstone
Fri 18 Feb. 2011, 04:01 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda says the MMD will be blamed if there is no peace in the country during this year’s elections. Speaking at Livingstone International Airport upon arrival yesterday to officially open the nutrition consultative forum at Zambezi Sun Hotel, President Banda said the nation had entrusted the MMD with peace, hence the need to maintain it.

President Banda said there was need to allow delegates to elect leaders of their choice at the forthcoming MMD convention scheduled for April.
He said the convention should not divide the party.

“Let’s do it campaigns in a decent manner. Let’s not insult each other. Let’s ensure we come out of the convention more united,” President Banda said.
He said democracy should be allowed to prevail.

President Banda said the MMD needed to work hard to ensure that it had more members.

“The elections are around the corner and we are going to require the zeal and appetite to campaign,” he said.

President Banda said he would camp in Livingstone during the Southern Province campaigns ahead of the tripartite elections.

President Banda said the campaigns this year would be interesting.

And Southern Province MMD chairman Edgar Keembe said the party would not attract people if it were not united.

Keembe said unity was the only thing that could take the party ahead.
He said the party did not want hired people to destabilise the nation.

He also said the people of Southern Province wanted to work with the MMD.

“If there is anything that the people of Southern Province dread, it’s cobras. Anything associated with the cobras, abash! We will ensure that MMD goes through,” said Keembe.