Maravi

Mutati cautions Rupiah against favouritism

Mutati cautions Rupiah against favouritism
By Ernest Chanda and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Wed 14 Dec. 2011, 13:59 CAT

FELIX Mutati has cautioned Rupiah Banda against favouring a particular candidate. And Mutati yesterday revealed that he would have stood in 2008 but decided to pass on the ‘ball' to Banda. In an interview yesterday, Mutati who is Lunte MMD member of parliament and one of the party's presidential aspirants, said he had unsolicited support within MMD and that decency would prevail over choosing of the party president.

According to MMD sources, former president Banda is backing Pastor Nevers Mumba for the MMD presidency.

Mutati said although Banda had a right to choose whom to support, the decision that he took would have an impact on the party's unity.

"First of all decency is going to prevail, and the people's wish is going to prevail. I think we have reached a nexus as a party where if we have to rejuvenate, let the people decide what they want to do. I don't see that we are at a position where a single person can impose anything on the members. The decision that he Banda takes will have an impact on the unity of the party. And what is important critically is to avoid a perception of leaning to one side or the other for the purpose of unity. He will need to come out publicly and say my position is as follows," Mutati said.

"So, if that is known publicly then we can fight a proper battle. But for as long as it's not out in the public, yes I hear it from the media; he has not spoken about it to me. But in all fairness for all of us who are contenders, he needs to place himself above as a helicopter giving people a fair and equal chance. And that is what is demanded of party leadership, particularly when it's moving from one person to the next so that whoever is the person that emerges, he can be able to work with him; because if you lean on one and that doesn't succeed another one emerges, it becomes difficult for you to be able to work with that person."

Asked how much support he had within the party, Mutati said he had plenty of it.

He said unlike some of his competitors who solicited for support, his was voluntary, especially from the lower organs of the party.

"I think my sincere barometer of the support is that the bulk of it is emanating from the various districts and the provinces. It's the people that are calling and saying ‘give us a chance to elect you as party president to lead us'. And these are people who are seated in their own local areas, far from being influenced from the center. The youth are calling on me to stand, so you can see that it's unsolicited support," he said.

"What I've done is not to go and ask them that I want, what has happened is that they have asked me that please we want you. And because it's a voluntary process where I'm not going to the district officials and say I am Mutati, I want to stand, it's real support. But if I solicit for support, that may not be real. But I'm getting it in the reverse where people are actually calling and saying we think you have got what it takes."

Asked if he had consulted Banda before deciding to contest the party presidency, Mutati answered in the affirmative.

He said the two had been talking about the issue since 2008.

"We have been talking starting from 2008 on the issues of presidency. You recall in 2008 there were issues that ‘Mutati wants to stand', and upon consultation it was felt that, that time was not ripe for me to be able to stand as party president. So I passed the ball and said no I'm going to support RB for the presidency because I think the timing wasn't right; and I'll wait for 2011," Mutati said.

"Come 2011, we had to do consultations. The general party membership felt that maybe RB needed to be given another chance to lead. And all of us who may have had ambitions said maybe 2011 still wasn't the right time. Come now 2011, we failed the election and he has indicated that he is retiring, the space is open. I have consulted with him and he says he has no difficulties, just like I consulted with him in 2008 and 2011 that I want to offer myself to the people of Zambia."

He said his party was facing immense challenges that needed a strong and focused leadership.

On the convention, which party members were demanding, Mutati said that was the MMD's constitutional way of electing a president.

Asked if the party had money to organise a convention, Mutati said the party was still popular to be helped financially by its supporters.

"So my position still remains that we need a convention however that is structured because then we'll be seen to be listening to the people. There's the issue obviously of funding; I think we are not so disliked as a party to fail to raise some money," said Mutati.

"We may not be able to raise the volumes that we used to raise because we were in government, but I think we still have some levels of sympathy out there in the public. If we all worked together, we should be able to raise some of the money. We can even ask some of our members who are coming to the convention to be able to foot some of that expense so that we are able to come into the convention."

About a week ago, MMD sources revealed that Banda was favouring and canvassing for votes for Pastor Mumba - a former Republican vice-president and Zambia's out-going High Commissioner to Canada.

The sources said Banda was more comfortable with Pastor Mumba because of his charisma and religious appeal, than Mutati, who is also articulate on most economic issues.

The sources said Banda felt that Pastor Mumba could more easily take on President Sata than Mutati would.

Among others vying for the MMD presidency are Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane and Moses Muteteka.

Recently though, Mutati has been accused of infidelity, an allegation he dismisses as "bulls**t".

Mutati said he was aware of political machinations being drawn against him by some MMD officials that were against his bid to contest the party presidency.

Labels: FELIX MUTATI, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:35 PM