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Lusaka UPND trustee quits, backs Sata

Lusaka UPND trustee quits, backs Sata
By Kombe Chimpinde
Mon 02 May 2011, 19:00 CAT

LUSAKA Province UPND trustee Mwenya Chama has endorsed Michael Sata as the best presidential candidate in this year’s election, saying the PF leader is the only person who can bulldoze MMD out of government.

And Colonel Panji Kaunda has said change has come whether MMD likes it or not. Chama who has since resigned his position to join the People’s Pact cited tribalism in UPND as one of the reasons why the party could not progress.

“I have of late been deeply disappointed by tribal sentiments and prejudice some UPND leaders harbour. Suffice to say, being a Bemba and aspiring for the Kafue parliamentary seat has raised a lot of suspicions in some UPND members who have openly questioned what a Bemba was doing in UPND,” Chama said.

“I remain convinced that the majority of our people in Kafue continue to be inspired by the deep-rooted tradition in our culture of ubuntu that honours and respects others regardless of geographical, biological and historical accidents.

And yet I cannot deny the fact that there are some leaders in UPND, who in their hearts and minds, harbour anti-human sentiments such as tribalism.”

Chama who is aspiring for the Kafue parliamentary seat said he had resolved to join the People’s Pact because there is no individual politician in Zambia at the moment with more experience in the art of governance than Sata.

“Mr Michael Sata, he has saved both UNIP and MMD governments at different levels before forming the Patriotic Front and therefore understands the dynamics of politics better than any other active politician today,” Chama said.

“Sata is like a Mazembe that this country needs to wrestle power from MMD and provide a platform for us the young generation to take over and propel this country to greater heights.”

And receiving Chama during a press briefing at Kafue High Way Lodge, Col Panji who was from a campaign trail in Western Province said the mood in the province and other provinces that were MMD strongholds was signaling change.

“I can tell you without fear or favour, that change has come. Who thought the people of Western Province would fill a hall to attend pact meetings, with other people standing outside? That is an MMD stronghold,” Col Panji said.

“I have been privileged to go to Eastern, Northern, Western and Southern provinces, It’s the same thing.”

Col Panji said that he was shocked by the zeal of the people of Western Province to change government.

“The support for PF leader Michael Sata, the leader whom the People’s Pact have agreed on is overwhelming. We had a programme even on Radio Liseli and I can tell you that 90 per cent of the calls were in support of the Mr Sata,” Col Panji said.

He said support for Sata, an idea that originated from Eastern Province, had been embraced in almost all provinces.

“This is why I am saying that change has come, whether MMD likes it or not and this time this change must be meaningful,” Col Panji said.

He reiterated that it was only Sata who could deliver meaningful change as he was the best candidate.

“He is one of the most pragmatic politicians Zambia has. Those being driven by selfish motives will realise that nothing will defeat time,” Col Panji said.

He said that Zambians were coming to the realisation that Zambia could not develop if citizens incline to ethnic afflictions.

“We need to rise above regional and tribal politics. We must work together. We can’t defeat the seating president unless we put our votes together,” said Col Panji.

Labels: MICHAEL SATA, PANJI KAUNDA, PF, TRIBALISM, UPND, WESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 12:33 AM