Maravi

Inonge urges MMD to own up and stop violence

Inonge urges MMD to own up and stop violence
By Misheck Wangwe
Tue 05 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT

Inonge Wina has urged the MMD leadership to own up and stop MMD violence. And Wina says President Rupiah Banda is scared of losing elections to PF, which is why he is now accusing the opposition of pushing for a coalition government.

In an interview yesterday, Wina - who is Patriotic Front (PF) national chairperson - said President Banda’s behaviour and the discriminative manner he was condemning violence did not befit the character of a statesman. She was reacting to President Banda’s remarks in Chongwe last Saturday that the opposition was perpetrating violence because they wanted the international community to recommend a coalition government after the elections.

Wina said President Banda must stop accusing the opposition of perpetrating violence but should instead deal with the MMD cadres who had continued to attack innocent people in markets and at bus stations.

She said it was unacceptable for President Banda to even think of a coalition government after the elections when Zambians expected him to put in place measures that would guarantee free and fair elections.

“The President must learn to behave as a statesman. The prayer of many Zambians is that President Banda will show leadership and condemn the violent behaviour of his own cadres,” Wina said “President Banda should not blame the opposition because Zambians have seen that it is the MMD causing violence.”

Wina said Zambia deserved a popular and legitimate government after the elections hence the need for President Banda to show patriotism to the country by promoting peace building in the electoral process. She said the politics of tyranny that President Banda was exhibiting would not help him retain government power.

She said the gimmick of the MMD was to instill fear in the electorate by causing violence so that people do not actively participate in the electoral process.

Wina said Zambia was capable of holding free and fair elections if President Banda demonstrated true commitment towards a peaceful electoral process.

“We don't even need the international community to tell us about the need for peace building ahead of the elections and no well-meaning Zambian is interested in disputed elections. Zambia is a democracy and we need a favourable atmosphere that would enable the country to hold credible, free and fair elections,” Wina said.

During the commissioning of mobile hospitals in Chongwe on Saturday President Banda said the opposition was perpetrating violence because they wanted a coalition government with the MMD.

Labels: INONGE WINA, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE

posted by MrK @ 5:11 AM