Maravi

Rupiah urges candidates to accept poll outcome

Rupiah urges candidates to accept poll outcome
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 13 Sep. 2011, 13:59 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has urged candidates in next week's general election to accept the outcome. Speaking after he received credentials from new Brazilian Ambassador to Zambia Ana Pinto Morales at State House yesterday, President Banda said as a result he would ensure the country held peaceful elections.

"We will ensure that we hold peaceful, fair and transparent elections which our country has long been known for. It is also our desire that all political candidates contesting seats at ward, parliamentary and presidential levels peacefully accept whatever outcomes arise from the elections," President Banda said.

On the economic front, President Banda said there was tremendous potential for trade between Zambia and Brazil.

He said there was therefore need to encourage the private sector in the two countries to explore investment opportunities.

"You may wish to know that Zambia has been implementing legal and regulatory reforms to reduce the cost of doing business in our country. The Brazilian business community is accordingly welcome to visit and identify areas of investment in Zambia," said President Banda.

And receiving credentials from new Ghanaian High Commissioner to Zambia Elizabeth Afua Benneh, President Banda said he admired the leadership of that country's President, Professor John Atta Mills.

"My government is a great admirer of the leadership of His Excellency Prof Atta Mills and the steps he is taking in steering your great country towards new economic horizons, noting particularly the manner in which his government is handling the challenges arising from the very recent discoveries of crude oil.

Zambia is a keen follower of the achievements of Ghana from the times of that great son, the influential Pan-Africanist and first President of Ghana Dr Kwame Nkrumah," said President Banda.

Earlier presenting her credentials, Ambassador Morales said Zambia and Brazil had a lot to exchange in knowledge.

High Commissioner Benneh called for the two countries to critically look at challenges facing them.

"In the light of the current developments on the international scene, it is needless to say that political relations, however good, are not enough to ensure the survival of nations like ours. The debt challenges of developing countries and the serious inequalities in resource allocation and consumption in today's world, enjoin countries like Ghana and Zambia to critically examine how best to improve their lot through mutually beneficial trade and other forms of economic cooperation," said High Commissioner Benneh.

Labels: AMBASSADOR, GHANA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:24 PM