Maravi

Sata energetic for 2nd term, says Inonge Wina

Sata energetic for 2nd term, says Inonge Wina
By Ernest Chanda and Moses Kuwema
Sun 28 Oct. 2012, 13:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata is still very energetic to run for a second term of office, says Patriotic Front national chairperson Inonge Wina. And Vice-President Guy Scott says infighting in the PF has resulted from the lack of a serious opposition to challenge them.

Meanwhile, chief Mphuka of Luangwa district says traditional leaders are opposed to infighting in the PF. Tourism and arts minister Sylvia Masebo last week warned party officials in Livingstone against infighting over the presidency because President Sata would stand in 2016.

Wina said there was no need for party members to start fighting for the presidency when President Sata had not indicated that he would not stand. Asked in if President still had the energy to run for another term of office, Wina responded in the affirmative.

"Why not? We've seen some presidents in Japan who have continued in their presidency up to the age of 88, 89. We have seen former president Abdoulaye Wadi in Senegal and he was still pushing on even in old age. So long God gives President Sata some energy to continue I think he will continue," she said.

"For now he is very energetic and when he feels tired he will say so and the whole country will be told. So, to start speculating at this early hour is a bit too early because we have been in government only for a year. And we have not yet even seen the results of our party's work and we are just starting to implement our own programmes in government. So, the issues of retirement and not standing I think are premature at this time."

Wina said as a party leadership, they had delayed to comment on the matter because it was irrelevant.

She said there were no senior party members fighting to take over from President Sata in 2016.

"We were very surprised to see these stories everyday coming out in the newspapers. There are no senior party members who are fighting to be president in 2016. In any case the President has not declared that he's not standing, so why should people fight over such an issue?" asked Wina.

Addressing party officials at Livingstone Lodge on Thursday, Masebo, who is PF elections chairperson, said she would not allow a situation that would destabilise the party.

"Infighting is destroying us. Who said President Sata is not standing in 2016? He is standing. It is only God who can decide that he shall not stand. Even me as MP member of parliament, I have plans for 2016. How would I feel if I hear that someone is campaigning for 2016? We don't want to hear that people are campaigning for presidency. If you are campaigning for an individual, then you are against the President," said Masebo.

And reacting to the same, PF secretary general and justice minister Wynter Kabimba said President Sata should not be derailed by people campaigning for the presidency.

He said when the time comes, PF members will make a decision on who succeeds President Sata based on national and party interest.
Meanwhile, Wina is hopeful that campaigns in the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election would be peaceful.

"If violence is started by the ruling party that might be followed by counter-violence from other parties. So, we definitely do not want our party cadres to be involved in any fracas. So, we look forward to a very clean campaign in Mufumbwe and we pray that things go well. The winner will be congratulated by all of us," said Wina.

And speaking when he paid a courtesy call on senior chieftainess Nkomesha of the Soli people at her palace ahead of Chakwela Makumbi traditional ceremony yesterday, Vice-President Scott said infighting was common whenever people were too many with no one to challenge them.

He was saying this in response to chieftainess Nkomeshya who asked him how Parliament was.

"It's going on well but there is infighting," Dr Scott said, as chief Mphuka chipped in and said, "that is what we do not want."

But Vice-President Scott responded: "Well but when you are too many of you and there is no one challenging you, you start fighting amongst yourselves."
Meanwhile, Vice-President Scott said the MMD wants to embarrass the government by not passing the 2013 budget.

"Some people don't want to pass the budget, they want to embarrass us, but if you have no budget what are you going to spend?" asked Vice-President Scott.
But chieftainess Nkomeshya said whoever did not want to pass the budget was not embarrassing the government but killing the Zambians.

MMD president Nevers Mumba recently declared that the former ruling party would frustrate the 2013 budget during debate stage in Parliament to ensure that it is not approved.

Labels: CHIEF MPHUKA, GUY SCOTT, INONGE WINA, MICHAEL SATA, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA

posted by MrK @ 11:01 PM