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MMD’s abuse of media is part of rigging - Masheke

MMD’s abuse of media is part of rigging - Masheke
By Patson Chilemba
Wed 03 Aug. 2011, 13:59 CAT

GENERAL Malimba Masheke has asked President Rupiah Banda to conduct elections fairly because his government’s abuse of the public media is tantamount to rigging. In an interview, Gen Masheke said he was dissatisfied with the coverage of political players by the state-owned but government-controlled Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail.

“At the moment, the public media is exclusively MMD media when, in fact, it is people’s media, which should include what the other political parties that are not in government have got to say,” Gen Masheke said.

Gen Masheke, who was the last prime minister in Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s administration and commander of the Zambia Defence Forces, said President Banda’s government should not think that it had the monopoly of wisdom on the running of the country’s affairs.

He said UNIP felt the same way in 1991 but was removed by the MMD, which had now governed the country for 20 years.

“They should allow fair elections to go on. Misuse or abuse of media, which government is doing now is actually part of rigging because this country is too large. Private media may not reach all corners of Zambia but public media does so,” Gen Masheke said.

And Gen Masheke said it was clear that PF leader Michael Sata had the momentum above the rest heading into the elections.

He said PF was attracting more crowds, with many people joining the party than any other.

“But in an election, anything is possible. But this is my feeling. There may be still other people who will be coming on the surface, but at the moment, contenders are three and I would put PF above the rest,” said Gen Masheke. “This is what it is. People, when they crowd around somebody, they are having hope. Maybe he is creating hope in them… it’s like the act of osmosis, the strong liquid will attract the weak ones. It is because PF appears strong, many are going there and they have hope that on what is on the surface, PF will give them hope.”

Labels: MALIMBA MASHEKE, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 7:54 PM