Maravi

Be patient with PF government - Muluzi

Be patient with PF government - Muluzi
By Bright Mukwasa
Sun 01 Jan. 2012, 14:00 CAT

ZAMBIANS should be patient with the government of President Michael Sata and give it time to deliver, says former Malawian president Bakili Muluzi. In an interview in Lusaka on Thursday during his two-day visit, Muluzi said Zambia's peaceful election was a mark of democratic progress in the region and the continent.

"I think first of all I want to congratulate them Zambians for the peaceful elections and let's give the new government time," said Muluzi, who ruled Malawi from 1994 to 2004.

"There's no way a government can transform in 90 days, I mean it's not possible. They will have to do a lot of things so Zambians have to be very patient and also to make sure that there's peace and tranquility in the country."

Muluzi said he expected President Sata to deliver on most of his promises as he knew that he had a vision from the days of his opposition campaigns.

He urged President Sata and other African leaders to vigorously fight poverty, which had deprived most of the people a decent life on the continent.

He praised Zambia's election as a beacon of democratic success in the region.

"I think he President Sata has got a vision. I have been following his vision to transform Zambia, to create employment, put money in people's pockets. When I look at Africa and look at the poverty profile it's still very, very high 64 per cent of our people live below poverty line. That's not acceptable we have to do something about it otherwise our people are going to rise against us…because 40 years, 50 years of our independence we have to show something to the people," he said.

"I hear in DRC they have got two governments, that's not what we want to see. Democracy is the essence of justice, rule of law and things like that and I think we must encourage elections where people have spoken and once they have spoken, they have spoken as long as you have not rigged the elections. So these ones Zambian elections I followed them keenly."

Muluzi congratulated Rupiah Banda for conceding defeat and for the smooth transition.

Muluzi also laid wreaths at the graves of the late president Levy Mwanawasa and his predecessor Frederick Chiluba on Thursday and spoke highly of the duo saying he had fond memories of them.

"The wind of change came from Zambia before we started challenging the one party dictatorship in Malawi, as you know we went underground and we used to work closely with president Chiluba.I have very fond memories about him, the contribution he made. We worked very closely even when he became president, I visited Zambia, he visited Malawi. Levy Mwanawasa was my good friend. He also came to Malawi.

He visited me. These are the people I have very high respect for; these are the leaders in Africa who should never be forgotten," said Muluzi.

Muluzi has since returned home.

Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, MICHAEL SATA, PF

posted by MrK @ 5:42 PM