Maravi

Rupiah blames C/belt, Lusaka for his defeat

Rupiah blames C/belt, Lusaka for his defeat
By Christopher Miti in Chipata and Thandizo Banda in Sinda
Wed 23 Nov. 2011, 14:00 CAT

FORMER President Rupiah Banda has accused the people of Lusaka and Copperbelt of having caused his defeat by voting overwhelmingly for Michael Sata. Addressing Sinda residents at Sinda market when he stopped over on his way to Chipata on Saturday, Banda thanked the people of Sinda for voting for him.

Banda also advised the MMD members not to allow the PF cadres to grab bicycles that were given to them during the campaigns. He also said time had come for him to sit back and watch over how the Sata-led government will administer the many challenges facing the country.

Banda said that in the three years he had been president of Zambia, he ensured that Zambians had enough food by boosting the agricultural sector by providing adequate inputs.

Banda who said he would soon be retiring from politics observed that many people have risen in the name of succeeding him in the MMD.

He urged the MMD members to scrutinise those that had shown interest to succeed him.

He urged genuine MMD members to stick to the party.

And acting provincial chairperson Ezekiel Mtonga said Banda was in theprovince for the first time after his election defeat.

Mtonga said when news went round that Banda was visiting the province many people lined up in Nyimba, Petauke, Katete and Chipata to see him.

"Since MMD lost the elections there has been a lot of lies, some people were even speculating that he is bed ridden and so on. From what we saw when he came here everybody was convinced that he is quite energetic, he is very strong and he is just the way he has been," Mtonga said.

He thanked the people for voting for MMD in the province and for making sure that the party remained strong in the province.

Mtonga said Banda also showed some elements of displeasure with the behaviour of certain people who were close to him but defected to other parties.

"You know humanbeing characteristics are very funny, somehow yes, he felt betrayed by some members who were very close, some members that he himself supported, members that made this country and Eastern Province in particular to be very close and die hard for RB. But that does not make him change his approach to life, he is just happy and he encouraged us that defecting is part of politics, is part of the game. He wished those that have left the party and castigated him all the best wherever they have gone," Mtonga said.

He said Banda's trip was remarkable because people in the province were very anxious to see him.

Mtonga said Banda's trip was strictly private and that he did not meet anyone at his Bwezani Chasimpha farm.

He dispelled allegations that Banda gave out money to some women clubs that met him at the farm.

Banda who left Chipata yesterday travelled to the province by road for the first time since 2008 when he became president of Zambia.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, COPPERBELT PROVINCE, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:18 PM