UNIP dismisses MMD's claim of taking over Eastern Province
By Allan Mulenga
Sat 14 Sep. 2013, 14:00 CAT
MMD's celebration in Eastern Province is short-lived, says UNIP provincial chairperson Donald Sakala. In an interview yesterday, Sakala said MMD's recent victory in by-elections did not reflect a true picture of the people's position in the province.
"It is not true that MMD has taken over support in Eastern Province. If you remember very well when we lost the elections in 1991, what MMD is going through is what UNIP went through also. In the first years, UNIP was very strong in Eastern Province," he said.
"The only problem is that the policies of the PF are what have made other political parties to be winning these elections. These seats, like the Mkaika seat was for the MMD, that is what they must know. They can only boast if the seat was for another political party and they have won it. But they are just retaining their seats that belong to them. David Phiri was MMD; you're aware about that."
Sakala said UNIP would soon reclaim its popularity in the area.
"Eastern Province traditionally has been for UNIP and this is why we are working very hard to reclaim our province here. What is happening is temporary as far as I am concerned. We are working very hard to reclaim Eastern Province," he said.
Sakala said UNIP's sound policies had made it remain relevant to the people of Eastern Province.
"We are the only political party that has existed and still continues participating in all by-elections. It is not easy; give MMD another five years from now. It is too early for them to be talking about popularity in Eastern Province. They have been in the opposition for less than two years; meanwhile UNIP has been in the opposition from 1991. This will tell you that UNIP is strong because if we were not strong, we would not reach as far as we have reached now. UNIP was going to disband a long time ago, but we are still there. We are in the process of re-building the party. One day we are going to take over leadership of the country," said Sakala.
Recently, MMD president Nevers Mumba claimed that his party's recent victory in Mkaika Constituency by-election was enough proof that the party had penetrated the area.
Labels: DONALD SAKALA, EASTERN PROVINCE, MMD, UNIP
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UNIP vows to get Milanzi seat
By Sandra Lombe
Sat 17 Apr. 2010, 03:40 CAT
UNIP has said it will ensure that no other political party gets the Milanzi seat. In an interview, Eastern Province chairman Donald Sakala said the Milanzi seat was as good as theirs because they had a good candidate.
Sakala said as long as MMD did not use underhand methods, UNIP would win the Milanzi by-election. He said UNIP was the people’s favourite party.
“Our focus as a party now is on the Milanzi by-elections. UNIP has more councillors than any other party in Milanzi - there are nine UNIP councillors and the 10th one is independent. The party is on the ground. As long as the MMD avoids underhand methods and forming clubs especially in by-election areas, we have a high chance of winning,” he said.
He said UNIP was aware that the MMD was allegedly giving out money to the old people to entice them to vote.
“But now the mood in the country has changed, people want change of government and that is a good sign for us in the opposition. In Milanzi, we are working very hard to ensure that we get the seat. We have a good candidate Musa Banda. For two years he has been there and preparing for the 2011 elections. He was already on the ground preparing for 2011, he is not a new candidate,” he said.
“We are not working with any other party on the province, we want to ensure that no other party penetrates.”
Sakala said there was only one UNIP and there was now peace in the party as the ‘rebels’ had left.
“It’s very quiet nowadays. We are re-organising the party. We will have a congress before the 2011 elections,” said Sakala.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, DONALD SAKALA, UNIP
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E/Province UNIP chair accuses MMD of using underhand methods in by-elections
By Christopher Miti in Katete
Mon 22 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT
EASTERN Province UNIP chairperson Donald Sakala has charged that the MMD uses underhand methods to win by-elections. But Katete district MMD chairperson Alfred Kasasule Phiri said the MMD was determined to defend the Milanzi seat. In an interview last Friday, Sakala said Milanzi would remain a UNIP stronghold.
“Milanzi has been for UNIP ever since, and this much MMD knows. Our late member of parliament Chosani Njobvu did very well in Milanzi and people had liked both him and the party. MMD won the last by-election not because it’s popular but it’s because MMD used underhand methods to entice the voters,” Sakala said.
“I will give you an example of the last by-election where we found that MMD is using government wings to entice voters in Milanzi, they were giving out money to elderly people which should not be the case.”
Sakala warned the MMD against hoodwinking people by giving them money during the election time.
“We are warning MMD that this trend to bribe people should not continue in this by-election. UNIP is very much ready and I want to assure you that we are getting this seat because in Milanzi we have ten wards and out of ten wards UNIP is in control of nine wards and the tenth ward, there is an independent councilor, meaning that UNIP is on the ground,” Sakala said.
He said the people of Milanzi would not be cheated any longer by the MMD.
Sakala claimed that there was no pact in Milanzi.
“We are going to give the people of Milanzi a formidable candidate. This time around we don't want to make a mistake, we want the people of Milanzi to choose their own representative. We are not going to impose a candidate. As UNIP we have a constitution that we follow, already we have got eight candidates who have applied so we are calling for a primary election,” Sakala said.
But Phiri who predicted that the by-election would be free and fair said the MMD would defend the seat.
“We know that Milanzi had been a stronghold of UNIP but as MMD we got that seat through a by-election and we are confident that we are going to defend it. I am assuring the people that this by-election will be peaceful and we are defending it,” Phiri said.
He said about ten people had applied for adoption in Milanzi.
“According to what is obtaining on the ground White Banda is among the leading contenders for adoption. Among those that have applied are former provincial UNIP chairperson Ahmed Randera, Ezekiel Ngoma, Zebron Banda, a certain lady, Agness ...who works at the Eastern Province permanent secretary's office,” Phiri said.
Phiri said there was a slim chance that new members could be considered for the Milanzi seat.
Labels: ALFRED KASASULE PHIRI, BY-ELECTIONS, DONALD SAKALA, EASTERN PROVINCE, MMD, UNIP
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I'm firmly anchored in UNIP leadership, says Tilyenji
By Mutuna Chanda and Agness Changala
Sunday May 04, 2008 [04:00]
UNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda said that he is firmly anchored in the leadership of the party. Meanwhile, UNIP acting Eastern Province chairman Donald Sakala has said the party is in full control of Milanzi Constituency. Dismissing calls for his removal as non-existent, Tilyenji in an interview during the week said he was at peace within the party.
“When I was out of the country, there was an attack on the party headquarters but those who organised that attack are not members of the party. We heard names of former members of the party like Muhabi Lungu and General Malimba Masheke.
We also heard of some FDD (Forum for Democracy and Development) official who went to the police station to try and have some of the people who were locked up by the police for that attack. So those are not members of the party,” Tilyenji said.
Tilyenji said he had not heard any calls from UNIP members for him to step down.
Tilyenji said the processes leading to the party’s congress were underway and that by next year its leadership would have been chosen.
“The call for congress comes from the central committee,” Tilyenji said. “What will happen is that first the sections will have to elect their leadership followed by branches, wards, constituencies, districts and provinces.
When we get to that stage the national youth league will have to be prepared then the women’s league. So those are steps we are taking and only after we have taken those steps will we have congress. By next year we will have had congress.”
There has been growing discontent in UNIP over the Tilyenji Kaunda led executive including complaints that the leadership had stayed beyond their party’s constitutional mandate hence calls for congress to elect new leaders.
And Sakala in an interview on Friday vowed that UNIP would retain the Milanzi seat which fell vacant following the death of area member of parliament Chosani Njobvu.
Sakala said nothing would stop UNIP from retaining the seat.
“Milanzi Constituency has 10 wards and UNIP has nine councillors and the other one is an independent, meaning that we are in control of the constituency,” he said.
Sakala said this time the party would not allow the MMD to distribute relief maize and other items in the constituency like they did in Kapoche.
He charged that the MMD had even started grading roads and buying voters cards because they were facing difficulties to penetrate in the area.
Sakala said members from the ruling party were found giving K60,000 to over 500 people at Dolie Basic School in Eastern Province.
he also said the MMD had continued to use GRZ vehicles for campaigns.
“They are using vehicles for campaigns and they remove the number plates,” he said.
Sakala further said if MMD continued with their dirty tricks, then they would have themselves to blame because the people of Milanzi would not tolerate it anymore.
UNIP has adopted its Eastern Province chairperson, Ahmed Randera, as its candidate for the Milanzi by-election in Katete district.
The ruling MMD has received nine applications from people who want to contest the seat on its ticket but has not announced its candidate for next month’s election.
Other parties that have indicated willingness to participate in the by-election include the Patriotic Front and All People’s Congress Party.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set June 26 as the date for the Milanzi Constituency parliamentary by-elections.
Labels: DONALD SAKALA, ECZ, TILYENJI KAUNDA, UNIP
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