(STICKY) Mbita opts for Sata

Mbita opts for Sata
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 26 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT

Dr Mbita Chitala has endorsed the opposition Patriotic Front and its leader Michael Sata as the best alternative government for the people of Zambia. Dr Chitala, who was President Rupiah Banda’s campaign manager in the 2008 presidential elections, said the PF had the best development programme that could address the country’s problems as expressed in the party’s manifesto.

“Examining political work already accomplished, together with the vision as reflected in a manifesto, the PF and president Michael Sata have provided us with a sure way of our country starting afresh and getting rid for good this man-made disaster. It is immensely gratifying that the people have a choice,” Dr Chitala said.

“While the people do not yet know the programmes of other political parties, one good choice is to support the Patriotic Front and president Michael Sata whose manifesto has been published and has undertaken to establish a committee of experts to review the recommendations of all previous Constitutional Review Commissions and draft a constitution that will be submitted to a referendum and if accepted by the people, to be enacted as our fundamental law within 90 days of taking office.”

He stated that the PF had committed itself to resolving serious issues such as the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 and to providing a people’s constitution.

“This is a patriotic undertaking and that is why all former pact sympathisers such as Col. Panji Kaunda, consultants such as Bob Sichinga, MMD members such as Hon George Mpombo have endorsed Mr. Michael Sata and the Patriotic Front,” Dr Chitala said.

“This is the best chance to have a progressive party that has committed itself to providing us with a multi-party constitution that will address such issues as devolution of power which is the main grievance of the Barotse question and the need to do away with the one party state infrastructure that has prevented our democracy from blooming and blossoming into a real democracy.”

Dr Chitala stated that although some people could not see it, the time for change had come.

He stated that Zambians had a historical duty to re-dedicate themselves to ideals that advanced the nation to peace, prosperity and happiness for all.

Dr Chitala stated that the PF manifesto provided Zambians an opportunity to see development in many areas.

“Of the political party manifestos that have been published, only the Patriotic Front manifesto addresses the issue of poverty eradication meaningfully.

President Sata and the PF have undertaken to invest massively in the social sector as well as in public works, agriculture, housing development, mineral development, industry and so on. The manifesto promises to review the mining policy so that Zambians benefit from their God-given wasting asset of copper, cobalt and gemstones,” he stated.

“The manifesto promises the lowering of taxes- PAYE and zero rating for VAT purposes of essential commodities such as transport, food, medicines, education, agricultural inputs, the increasing of salaries to public servants, the prompt payment of all pensioners, the construction of more than two million houses, the development of one major project per province to create more than one million employment opportunities in the first three years, abolish nuisance taxes such as user fees in hospitals and levies in schools, commit itself to affirmative action, institute media reforms to be in line with democratic needs and so on. The annual GDP growth rates are expected to exceed 10 per cent and our country’s GDP will more than treble. These yearnings are attainable and they will be achieved by the PF supported by the people’s coalition.”

Dr Chitala stated that it was inevitable to remove the MMD from power so that the country was saved from further misery.

“It is therefore necessary to implore all the people, the people in Mbala, Mpulungu, Senga Hill, Isoka, Nakonde , to the people of Western Province and other provinces that clamour for devolution and desire to settle the Barotse question, to the progressives in the MMD, UPND, ADD, NAREP, FDD and all other political parties that want change from this corrupt disaster, to students that want free education and guaranteed job opportunities, to the sick people that desire not to be denied assistance for lack of money, to the pensioners that want to be paid their pensions promptly, to all workers and peasants that want to improve their conditions, to the intellectuals that desire excellence instead of patronage and nepotism, to all citizens that want a united and peaceful Zambia, ‘the Hour for Change has come again’,” stated Dr Chitala.