Maravi

Sata assures nation of problem-free campaign

Sata assures nation of problem-free campaign
By George Chellah, Chibaula Silwamba and Moses Kuwema
Wed 10 Aug. 2011, 14:03 CAT

MICHAEL Sata yesterday assured the nation that PF would conduct its campaigns for next month’s general elections without causing any problems. Addressing his supporters at the Supreme Court after filing in his nomination papers, Sata, who was accompanied by his wife Dr Christine Kaseba and other PF officials, urged the crowd to remain peaceful during the campaigns.

“I wish to thank all of you who have come and more especially the police officers, they were here very early in the morning. They have had no lunch and I am very grateful we have had this programme without any problems,” Sata said.

“I would like to assure you that we are going to carry out a campaign without problems because we know our police officers are working under very difficult conditions and we cannot create anymore problems for them.

“But thank you very much and all of you, you should resist the provocation because there is going to be lots of provocation but those it’s because of poverty that’s why people can come and start troubles.”

There was commotion when Sata arrived at exactly 12:16 hours. The security personnel had a problem ushering Sata and his entourage into the High Court buildings as everybody including court officers struggled for space in order to catch a glimpse of the PF leader.

Sata was later whisked into the Supreme Court buildings to go and meet the Chief Justice. In the Supreme Court building, Sata, with his wife and daughters, took time to shake hands with Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) personnel who looked excited as some of them took photos of their colleagues greeting the opposition leader.

Thereafter, Sata proceeded to privately declare his assets before Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, who is the returning officer for presidential elections, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Justice Irene Mambilima and other ECZ commissioners.

Later, when taking oath, Sata told Chief Justice Sakala, Justice Mambilima, ECZ director Priscilla Isaac, commissioners and other officials from the ECZ and the Judiciary that, “I am very much a Zambian citizen”. Sata said he was born in 1937 in Mpika District.

Sata said his father and mother were Zambians, both born in Mpika District, Northern Province. According to Sata, he obtained the data about his parents’ birth details from Chilonga Catholic Mission.

Justice Sakala later declared Sata’s nomination valid leading to rapturous celebrations from his supporters inside and outside the court premises. Sata expressed happiness about the huge gathering of supporters that came to witness his nominations.

“The change we are fighting for is for them. So they want to come and witness. Change is for them and you,” Sata said.

Hundreds of supporters thronged the Supreme Court grounds to witness Sata’s filing in of nominations. The supporters, clad in PF regalia, sang and danced as they waited for him and when he arrived they burst into cheers as he walked into the Supreme Court to file his nomination.

Earlier, Sylvia Masebo sent the crowd into wild jubilation when she arrived at the High Court to witness Sata’s filing of nominations at exactly 12:08 hours.

Masebo, who came in a convoy of three truckloads of cadres was greeted with shouts of: “Don’t Kubeba! Don’t Kubeba! Sylvia! Sylvia!” Immediate past member of parliament for Munali, Mumbi Phiri received an overwhelming ululation and “don’t kubeba” slogan as she arrived at the Supreme Court grounds. Phiri went round flashing the PF symbol to the jubilant crowd, which positively responded to her gestures.

As Sata emerged from the Supreme Court after filing the nominations, his supporters exultantly cheered him.

After a short address, as his motorcade made its way out, several supporters mobbed his vehicle, chanting: “we want change! We want change!”

The Zambia Police provided tight security for Sata and kept his supporters at bay but allowed them to sing, dance and cheer their leader.

Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana said the High Court and Supreme Court area had been declared a nomination zone and roads leading to the area had been closed to allow free filing.

“The following roads have been closed: Independence from the Cathedral, Chikwa from Addis Ababa roundabout, Government road up to Cabinet Office roundabout and Haile Salasie from 08:00 hours to 18:00 hours from Tuesday 9 August - Friday 12 August. We therefore request road users to use alternative routes to avoid being inconvenienced,” said Siamana.

Among prominent Zambians that witnessed Sata’s filing in of nomination papers were Bob Sichinga, George Mpombo, Gerry Chanda, Eric Chanda, Charles Banda, Sylvia Masebo, Mumba Kapumpa and many others.

Even PF members of parliament that were not re-adopted for their seats like Willie Nsanda, Mumbi Phiri and Mark Mushili attended the joyful event.

And National Revolution Party has withdrawn from the presidential race because it does not want to be part of what it called “vote spoilers”.

Speaking to journalists at the Supreme Court yesterday, NRP president Cosmo Mumba said the other opposition political parties that had filed in their nominations were just wasting the Zambian people's time.

“We have withdrawn our nomination with due respect to the Zambian people's demands for national unity. We are so shocked with the current opposition numbers that have filed in their nominations.

Following our successful meeting with one of the major political parties in this country we have decided that we are withdrawing our candidature and we will announce our next step after our preferred presidential candidate has successfully filed in,” Mumba said.

Mumba said he had information that some of the presidential candidates had been sponsored to contest the elections to split the votes.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, MICHAEL SATA, PF

posted by MrK @ 3:24 PM