Maravi

Sole candidate ‘means everything’ to me - Rupiah

Sole candidate ‘means everything’ to me - Rupiah
By Ernest Chanda in Kabwe
Thu 07 Apr. 2011, 09:01 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda says he was anxious someone could challenge him at the last minute during the MMD convention. And Vice-President George Kunda says he is not bitter about the party’s decision to abolish the position of vice-president which he had contested.

Responding to questions from journalists after he cast his votes in the remaining 23 national executive committee positions being challenged by various candidates yesterday morning, President Banda said his sole candidature meant everything.

“It his sole candidature means everything. I was anxious you know at the last minute somebody could have turned up and challenged me. You don't know what people are thinking,” President Banda said.

“It was a wonderful feeling that I was unanimously elected as president and unanimously as a candidate for the 2011 election. And if you know where I'm coming from, I had lots of problems the last time I stood after we lost our president. Some colleagues were resistant to my presidency.

But this time it has gone well and I think my colleagues have done well.”

Asked why the MMD, which had traditionally been associated with violence at its conventions, had been relatively peaceful this year, President Banda attributed the turn of events to the banning of alcohol at the event.

He claimed that since the MMD had been preaching peace, they had to set an example by practicing the same at this year’s convention.

“We have been preaching peace and obviously this is leading to the main event the country's general election. As a ruling party we have been preaching peace, and so we must lead by example so that the rest of the Zambians can emulate us,” said President Banda.

“It’s very possible that the banning of beer could have helped maintain peace around here. You know when people are drunk they tend to do unreasonable things. It's not only here, there's also problems in the country; long hours of alcohol all the time everywhere. I think as a people we should consider ways and means of resisting that.”

And Vice-President Kunda who appeared low and did not speak much said he would serve the MMD in other ways.

Vice-President Kunda who was lined up to vote in the first stream together with President Banda, NEC members and Cabinet ministers, did not vote by press time.

“I’m going to contribute to the welfare of the party, so the position of vice-president is not the only position which is available in the party.

So, I will contribute,” said Vice-President Kunda.

Meanwhile, voting started on a low mood following the disqualification of two candidates, Kelvin Sampa and Patrick Musonda who vied for the positions of national youth chairman and chairperson for communications and transport respectively.

Most supporters for the two candidates have since left the convention as a show of displeasure.

While Sampa was still at the convention yesterday and refused to say anything about his disqualification, Musonda had left.

And health minister Kapembwa Simbao who had contested the position of chairperson for health has since withdrawn his candidature.

MMD electoral commission chairperson Christopher Mundia announced Simbao’s withdrawal yesterday, but did not give reasons for the development.

The voting which was kicked off by President Banda at about 11:08 hours went on through the night as each province was allocated an hour within which to vote.

The results will be announced this morning before the convention officially closes.

Labels: DEMOCRACY, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:18 PM