Kabimba discusses failed PF-UPND pact
By Moses Kuwema
Mon 02 Jan. 2012, 13:58 CAT
WYNTER Kabimba says he had a lot of misgivings about the PF winning elections in a pact with UPND because the latter was in it for competition. In an interview, Kabimba who is PF secretary general, said the PF would not have won the September 20 elections had the pact with the UPND been sustained.
"It was clear from the beginning that the UPND had come into the pact in bad faith. It was clear from the beginning that the UPND had come into the pact not to add to the strength of PF but to weaken PF and that grudge weakening of PF was beginning to emerge during the period of the pact because the competition then had shifted from being a competition between UPND and PF vis-à-vis MMD. It became an internal competition between UPND and PF so we spent a lot of time now trying to size each other up. Which group was more intelligent? Which group had more educated people? Which group had richer people than the other? So those became the issues," he revealed.
Kabimba said a person could be very rich financially but a poor politician if he could not inspire the people, because inspiring people was about character and personality.
He said the PF paid a lot of money to a Kenyan company to help them carry out the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) during the September 20 general elections.
Kabimba said in order to employ the PVT, they had to engage a company from Kenya, which he did not name.
"As you may know, this PVT was a very contentious issue. The government was against it, the MMD was against it so we had to find a way of making sure we have our PVT system in place. I can disclose now that in order to do that, we had to employ a company from Kenya, which had experience in this PVT," he said.
Kabimba said the company worked with the national strategy and campaign committee of the party and a lot of money was paid to it.
"We paid a lot of money but now we realise that it was a lot of investment," he said.
Kabimba said because of the PVT, the PF knew of their victory on Thursday September 22.
"We were able between Wednesday September 21 and Thursday 22 to collect results from more than 80 per cent of the polling stations way ahead of Electoral Commission of Zambia. By Thursday lunch hour on the 22nd, when ECZ had results for 116 constituencies, we had, through our PVT system, results for 137 constituencies. You can see the difference. ECZ had results for 116 which they posted on their website. Our compiling centre had results for 137 constituencies so we had 13 constituencies to go. We sat down and looked at the voter registration and the figures in the 13 constituencies and we realised even if MMD got a 100 per cent in all the constituencies which was not possible, they would still not overtake us because at that stage, our results were 1, 132,000 against MMD's 912,000," he said.
Kabimba said at this stage, he even went to brief President Michael Sata that the PF had won the election but that he did not believe him.
"Of course, he did not believe me at that stage because we had lost elections in the past, so that is the progression of the many challenges we had," he said.
Kabimba also said the satellite phones that they got helped them get results from far-flung areas where there was no mobile phone network coverage.
"Our objective was to collect results from the polling stations so that before results are tampered with, we know what the results are, so it did not matter to us what happens at the tallying centre, what happens at Mulungushi because we already had results collected from the polling station as soon as they were cast and as soon as they were announced," he said.
Kabimba further said the PF had realised that they had been going into elections without planning and usually mistook the huge rallies that President Sata used to address as being synonymous with the number of votes that PF would get.
"This time around we decided we were not going to judge our popularity and the votes through rallies. We were actually going to do a scientific approach. A committee was set up and this committee had to plan for elections, generally as a principle. And we studied the pattern of voting or the pattern of how these results were spread out amongst the political parties. We also dealt with permutations. We had to do some permutations of these results, and we also had to study the concentration of voters. Where were the voters concentrated? What was the demography of the voters? We followed the registration of voters very closely. We tried to find out which group of people had registered more than the other? Was it the men, the adult youths, was it the women?" Kabimba explained.
Labels: PF-UPND, UPND, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Sata extols his pact with the people
By George Chellah
Sat 02 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT
MICHAEL Sata yesterday extolled his pact with the people, saying it was producing results. During a programme on Yatsani Radio yesterday, Sata, who was asked to comment on the PF-UPND pact, said he had not received any official communication from UPND president Hakainde Hichilema on the matter.
“I heard stories or gossip of the leader of UPND saying he has pulled out of the Pact. We have been waiting for communication which we have not received. I am mature enough. I am an old man, I am not a baby,” Sata said.
“I don't react to gossip because as far as I am concerned, the Pact with the people is very intact because if there was no Pact with the people we could not have defeated the constitutional amendment in Parliament.”
He said the Pact with the people is there.
“It's the feelings of the people and we leaders, which form a bigger Pact; not with individuals because individuals are influenced by a number of things which makes them say what they want to say,” Sata said.
“But I have avoided talking about it because our brother Hichilema has had no courtesy of communicating with us to say what offence we have done or what wrong we have done or what we have not done or what we have overdone.
“So until such a time when we have this communication we regard the matter as dead and continue with our Pact with the people and the Pact with the people is producing results.”
Asked about Vice-President George Kunda's revelations that the UPND wanted a coalition government with the MMD, Sata responded: “UPND is a registered political party.
UPND has its own national management committee and the fact that we had some loose association did not bind them that they stop thinking and stop going the way they want to go. If UPND wants to make a shortcut, get in government through coalition government, why not?”
He said as Republican Vice-President and Minister of Justice, Kunda needed to have a certain amount of confidentiality.
“They discussed, he enticed them UPND to pull out from our relationship. He offered them things they said 'implement', he refused to implement so now again he is embarrassing them so we have to be very very careful with some of the leaders,” he said.
On the failed constitution bill, Sata said his critics labelled the PF as prophets of doom.
“People have passed a vote of no confidence in the government. The whole MMD government has been impeached,” Sata said. “We gave the yellow card first Mr Speaker wanted to rig and say the machines are not working. You see the will of God can't be tampered with by a human even if you are wearing a wig.”
He said Zambia needed a constitution which would protect its people.
Sata said Vice-President Kunda would have to account for the money spent on the National Constitution Conference (NCC).
Asked about the government's position that the parallel vote tabulation was criminal, Sata answered: “I fail to understand who gave George Kunda a practicing licence. He has never told us what law. They are intimidating us. We have been using this PVT. If they want they can throw all of us in prison.”
Sata said the MMD would be reduced after the national convention, which has been slated for Kabwe next week.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA, PF-UPND
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COMMENT -
" Someone was telling me that ‘You know Colonel the government is refusing to collect taxes from mines because the biggest suppliers are government officials. The biggest contracts are given to government officials, so they can’t ruffle the mine owners’. "Panji reveals his dealings with HH
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 27 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT
COLONEL Panji Kaunda reveals his experiences, encounters and political dealings with UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, saying "people must know".
In an interview on Wednesday, Col Panji – who had teamed up with former diplomat George Zulu – to bring together the PF and UPND ahead of the 2008 presidential election, reveals that Hichilema had told them that several people approached and persuaded him to be Sata’s vice-president because they did not want a Tonga to be Republican president.
Col Panji said although he has never told anybody about the details of their meeting with Hichilema in the run-up to the 2008 elections, he felt it was necessary that the nation knows about what transpired instead of covering the truth and coming out as angels.
He was explaining the crumble of the PF-UPND pact and allegations that he is broke hence his endorsement of Sata’s candidacy ahead of this year’s election. He said since 2001, he had been involved in efforts aimed at promoting opposition unity in a bid to wrestle power from the MMD.
“I want to, through you, inform the nation that since I gave my support to PF and Mr Sata during this year’s election, there is so much talk and innuendoes both from the UPND hierarchy and some government officials,” Col Panji said. “I can say that since 2001, I have worked very hard with some of my colleagues to try and get opposition parties to work together each time there is an election.”
He said by 2008, he had left UNIP and supported UPND. In the same year president Levy Mwanawasa died.
“I was with my colleagues in UPND and I explained to them my fears that, ‘we cannot win this election in Eastern Province. Let us go and talk to our friends in PF’. That was before they even started talking about their Pact,” Col Panji said.“We said, ‘let us see if we can work together and sell our idea to our headquarters to make a coalition government.’ My colleagues went to see the chairman of PF in Eastern Province, Mr Solomon Mbuzi and they discussed. All of us agreed that it was a good idea. But who was going to tell the presidents. I volunteered, ‘I know both Mr Hakainde and Mr Sata, let me go to Lusaka and explain what you the people here on the ground want.’ I jumped on a bus, I came here and the same evening I made an appointment to see president Hakainde and I went to meet him in the presence of Mr Richard Kapita, his vice-president. I said, ‘Mr president I am here as a messenger of the people in Eastern province. We don’t think that we can win the Province, so we think that it will be a good idea that we team up with PF and we recommend that PF takes the presidency, UPND the vicepresidency’. The first time I met him in his office; this was my message to him from the people of Chipata; ‘you become the vice president, PF takes the presidency.’ Kapita was there. So we discussed. They said, ‘we have been trying to meet our colleaguesin PF but we were unable to meet.’ I said, ‘can I offer the services of the old man, my father Dr Kaunda. Maybe he can bring the two of you together?’ They said, ‘yes, you can.’
“I enlisted the services of my friend George Zulu that ‘you go and tell ba Sata’ then I will tell the old man. I told the old man Dr Kaunda that, ‘old man we have a snake in our necks, we need an old man to pull it out before we are bitten.’ So he agreed to meet the two of them. When the day came for the appointment, I think HH came first. They went into the old man’s office, they talked and they came out. When Sata came, they went again into the old man’s office. They talked and came out. Then the old man came to us where we were in the sitting room. He said,’ young men, this is your problem. If you want this thing to work, it must come from the bottom of your hearts’.
“There was Mr Hakainde and his vice-president Kapita, Mr Sata and his vice-president Guy Scott, George Zulu and myself. This was at Dr Kaunda’s residence. I was privileged to chair that meeting. I said,‘gentlemen, you know what we have come here for’.
“Before we could discuss, I said, ‘since all of us meaning Sata and Hichilema have filed in our nominations, one must drop down.’ They said, ‘that is not a problem. Once we agree who is going to lead this group, withdrawing is not an issue.’ So I told Mr Sata that, ‘if you are president, what would you do to your colleagues in UPND?’
“In his own way, Mr Sata said, ‘I will give the young man the vice-presidency and since he knows mathematics very well I will also give him the Ministry of Finance and I will ask him to give me 20 districts of his choice which we can give him, 10 or 12 ministerial posts and other posts like in diplomatic missions abroad. That is what we can give.’
“Then I came to HH. I said, ‘you heard what Mr. Sata has said. What do you say?’ Then HH told us, ‘suppose it was the other way round.’ On hearing that, Mr Sata got up and said, ‘Guy Scott, let us go! Kaunda, you stay with your meeting.’
HH said: ‘you see Colonel, how can I work with a person like this? Even when we form government he might behave the same way.’
There were journalists that took photographs of Mr Sata leaving Dr Kaunda’s residence and when people saw the story in The Post the following day, colleagues of us who had read the story called us, me and George Zulu, saying ‘what you are doing is a good thing, continue to bring them together’.
“So I called George Zulu that this is what people are saying, ‘what do we do? Let us go and see him again.’ So we enlisted the help of Honourable Levy Ngoma, the MP for Sinda. But then we said, ‘if we go the three of us, all us Easterners, it will seem as if we are trying to gang up against the Southerners. Let us find somebody from within UPND preferably from the Southern Province’. We called two MPs. I can’t mention their names because I don’t have their permission to mention them. They came and we told them that ‘this is the problem we have, can you come with us to see the president?’ They said, ‘if both of us were to go, they won’t like that because we are not in good books with the president HH.’ Then we said, ‘give us somebody within the party who is the confidante of the president so that we can go with him for this mission’.
“They gave us the name. We called that gentleman, and lucky enough he came. We explained to him what our mission was and he agreed to come with us. We all jumped into the vehicles and we went to the residence of president Hakainde. We found him there, he was having a meeting with other members of the UPND leadership and when they left, he remained with a few others and we went to the table on his verandah. George Zulu said, ‘Look Sir, we have come here because we love you. We think you have got a role to play in this nation and hear us. We have come here, I think you should reconsider the offer that was made by the people of Zambia that you become vice-president so that you can become the vice-president.’
“Then Mr Hakainde said, ‘when you were coming here, did you think of me to be president of Zambia?’ George said, ‘no Sir, we didn’t. The whole way was for you to be vice-president.’ Then Mr Hakainde said, ‘Yes, I know, because I am Tonga, you guys don’t want me to be president.Everybody who is calling in is saying that I must be vice- president.Do you think us Tongas cannot be presidents? Even Ng’andu Magande, that was why he was not made MMD president because he is Tonga. Late Mazoka’s victory was stolen from him because he was Tonga’.
“Then I said, ‘No Mr president, Andy Mazoka was Tonga, the people of Zambia voted for him in large numbers. You, when you were UDA president you were Tonga, we voted for you. It’s not about being Tonga. We are saying that if you go in as individual parties, you will lose.’ Then Mr Hakainde said: ‘Do you guys support Sata? Do you think he is normal?’
“I am revealing this because I want people to know what went on in those meetings; I don’t want to cover things as if we are angels, it’s not right. People must know.
Mr Hakainde said: ‘Do you think he is normal? You can’t trust him.’
Then I told him that, ‘Sir, if you are unable to work with Sata as an individual, can you give us Mr Kapita your vice-president to stand in for you while you stay in the background?’
Then Mr Hakainde said, ‘Yes, I will give you Kapita but then I will resign and when I resign UPND is gone. I am UPND; UPND is me. Even if you come with AK 47s, I will be the last Tonga standing here. I know I am going to stand; I know I am going to lose. But I will make sure Sata does not win.’
“That is how the meeting ended. So we left.
Immediately after I told George Zulu that ‘George, thank God our president is not the president of this country. With this attitude he is a wrong person to be in State House. This is the last time I am going to be here.’And I haven’t seen Mr Hakainde from that time until today. That was just a few weeks before the 2008 presidential by-elections.
“I have never told this story to anybody but it must be told. Time past on; I was invited by the UPND to stand to be the vice-president for the party, they were looking for somebody from the east to be vice-president for UPND, but I told my colleagues in Eastern Province that, ‘No, I am in the party. There are many people who have been in the party longer than me. I support the party but I don’t think I can take up that position.’
“After some time, when we heard that the UPND and PF had come together as a Pact, I asked George Zulu, ‘What has changed from that day when we were told those words and today? This thing is not going to work because it’s not genuine. Something is not right.’ Now we have been proved right. I told my president from the word go that ‘You must be vice-president’. When our party, the UPND, left the Pact, I still believe that Mr Sata and PF need to be supported.
Those saying I have changed my mind over night are wrong. From the first day I approached Mr Hakainde that we must join with PF as partners, I told him there and then that, ‘you be the vice-president’ and we gave various reasons why he should be vice-president. The nation should not be surprised that I am joining PF. I am not joining with ulterior motives. I can sit back and do nothing but that is not the answer.
“So coming to the Pact Forum, I would like to respond. Long before we heard that the UPND had left the thing, you could tell from the press that they were going to be falling apart. So I asked my colleagues.
First we approached UNIP, we talked to the provincial chairman Mr Jonas Sakala that as a province let us play a role in saving the Pact.Supposing we say as a province we will support Mr Sata. I didn’t hide my preferences. As the province, we support PF in this general election for the presidency. At our level in the province, at ward level, parliamentary level we sit down in each constituency, each ward we choose the best person regardless of the party, who we are going to support against the MMD. We agreed.
I went to the UPND chairperson. I was with George Zulu at the time. He didn’t commit himself there and then; he said he wanted to consult his colleagues. So we left. We met the PF man, Lucas Phiri. He couldn’t refuse because we were supporting his party. I made a statement to the press that ‘this is what we are doing’.
In my belief, the pact is not between PF and UPND; if it were so, Hakainde and Mr Sata would have come together over a cup of tea,saying, ‘Let us form unity thing’.
We called it Eastern Province Pact Forum and our idea was that from every district we get three officials from each political party; the provincial chairman, women chairperson and youth chairperson. So from three parties, we were going to get nine delegates from each district to come to Chipata for the convention to discuss how we were going to progress.
“As time went by, our colleagues in Copperbelt must have read this article and they thought it was a good idea. They went faster than us and mobilised themselves into the Copperbelt Pact Forum with the same ideas of the people to own the pact. It’s not a PF/UPND pact, it’s the people who own the pact.
“So they formed this forum in the Copperbelt. Last week on Sunday, I got a call; I didn’t know these young men from Adam and Eve, they said, ‘You are Colonel Kaunda?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ They said, ‘We read your article on the Pact. We are launching ours here. Can you come and be our guest?’ I said, ‘Yes, that is what we want.’
“So when we went on Friday last week, it was the first time I was meeting these young men and women in my life. But I must it is very encouraging. If that is the future of this country, we have the hope.
“These young men have come together to try and save this country. We had a meeting at Jubilee Hall last Saturday. First, we went to Radio Icengelo. We were well received by the callers.When we went for the meeting, people from Solwezi, Luanshya, Chingola, Kafulafuta, Ndola and everywhere were all there. We didn’t write them letters but they all came. We had over 1,024 people who registered in the attendance book but there were many more who didn’t register. We told them that ‘this is not our meeting, it’s your meeting, you will tell us the way forward for this pact. We will write the notes down and at the end we will write all the resolutions which you will have told us and we will find space in the print and electronic media to tell the Zambian people and their leaders that we the people of Copperbelt this is what we want’.
“People came from UPND, PF, UNIP and MMD. It’s not me doing it. It’s the people who want to work together. People want unity. Since Mr Hakainde and UPND have left, we have been left with the PF in the house so let us support Mr Sata because people want unity. They want change. The only way change can come is if the MMD is removed out from power. The MMD cannot change what we are saying now. The people said, ‘let us change the Constitution.’ We agreed that 50 per cent plus one must be put in place. We also discussed that in Parliament, the party that is going to win must have majority, 50 per cent plus one in Parliament. This will give even smaller parties a chance to be in
Parliament because it will be difficult for one party to have 50 per cent plus one. So that party that wins the presidency with the majority will need to have majority in Parliament so they will have to seek help from other parties. In my view this is where I see the role of UPND coming into play because no matter how much they work harder,it will be almost impossible for the UPND to form government on their own.
“I am likening them to the Liberal Party in the UK. The Liberal Party has always been a number three party. In this country, unless something happens, it will always be MMD, PF and UPND. When there is a hang Parliament, the UPND can play a role. By bringing them together with PF, we are paving the way for them to go into government. If they don’t do this and change the constitution to allow this to happen, then other parties will not have chance to be in government. The minority party in Parliament will form government. In view of this 50 per cent plus one, the Cabinet ministers must come from outside Parliament.
“Although others are saying we are doing this because we are broke, we want jobs, I am proud of my brokenness. I am very proud. I walk the streets with my head up because I am not a thief like them. My father did not steal money and give it to his children. The little we have, the little we eat is from our sweat. No matter what they say about us, it will not work. Where I have come from are humble beginnings. We didn’t have earthly things. We walked, I am walking today. We wore tubudula shorts, we wear tubudula today. I cannot be bought like them. They have paid all these cadres to say all sorts of things about us. I was reading Lusaka Times online last night, I laughed about what they say.
No amount of money will buy us, not even positions in the government.
“If I wanted money, Hakainde has more money than PF, I could have said… In fact, long back he gave me a bull, which I did accept but I didn’t collect because I was going to compromise myself to him. My stance is not for sale. If I owe money, it’s between me and my banker and not Vice-President George Kunda and his henchmen. For amai madam Dora Siliya, each time she sees my name in the press she gets itchy. I can assure her, she will be itchy for the rest of this campaign.
“The people of Zambia gave us the judgment to go ahead with this programme to ensure that this government is out of power.
In this country the rich will live while the poor will die. If you have a bit of money, you go to fee-paying ward in UTH or Kitwe General Hospital, you have to pay K250,000 for the bed alone. Then you pay for the medicines. How many of us can afford that? No wonder we are broke. The people are dying in this country. Our leaders and their children are living a very lavish life. It’s not fair and the Zambian people must rise up no matter what the cost is. We shall do it. I am happy it’s the young people pushing this movement and not us the old.
“Last night I passed in Matero township in Lusaka, see the poverty that is there.This campaign, whether they like it or not, we shall continue with it.We will go to North Western, Southern, Western and all provinces. People are calling us to go to their provinces. People are listening, they want change. There is poverty among the riches.
Someone was telling me that ‘You know Colonel the government is refusing to collect taxes from mines because the biggest suppliers are government officials. The biggest contracts are given to government officials, so they can’t ruffle the mine owners’. So they can call us names but the struggle continues until victory is given to the Zambian people.
“I am a member of UPND, I joined freely. Are they going to come with a gun and say, ‘Colonel we want you out of UPND.’ No! They will make their statements but my heart is still with UPND because I know that UPND, in few years from now will have a role to play in this country.
If I was a NEC member, they could say ‘we have removed you’ but as an ordinary member they cannot do that. They have got no power to do that. Are they UPND going to remove all the people, who are members of UPND, that come to our meetings because I am not alone. In some of these provinces, organisers are UPND members.
“In any case, those people UPND leaders don’t own us; they don’t own our freedom to choose. We put them in those positions to guide us but if their guidance is being misguided, we have the right to say, ‘No, this is not right! They can do what they want but they can’t take me to court. I belong to UPND until I die. I will support Sata but I am still a member of UPND, there is nothing they can do about it. Nothing!
The trend we are seeing, especially in towns here, UPND members are in support of working together with the PF. I see on the ground; whether it’s the same countrywide, I cannot tell because I have only been to the Copperbelt. In Eastern Province and here in Lusaka, they are saying, ‘Let us work together’. We have to change the government. We have to work hard to liberate our country. Those who would like to join hands and work with us or support our efforts can contact me on my mobile: 0977648485 or email: panjikaunda007@yahoo.com."
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PANJI KAUNDA, PF, PF-UPND, UPND, WINDFALL TAX
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HH lying - Lubinda
By Patson Chilemba
Mon 21 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT
GIVEN Lubinda says Hakainde Hichilema is lying on the reasons for the break-up of the PF-UPND pact. Reacting to UPND president Hichilema's claim that the PF-UPND pact collapsed because the PF wanted to implement homosexuality, Lubinda said the issue of homosexuality had never been a subject of discussion in the collapsed pact.
Lubinda, who is PF chairman for local government, said Hichilema should be sincere with the reasons for the pact break-up, instead of contradicting himself. Lubinda said Sata had never advocated homosexuality.
“Only the truth shall set him free. To claim that homosexuality is what interfered in our relationship is to be insincere to say the least. Only the truth will set them free. If you tell a lie you have to continue to lie. And when you tell too many lies, you are caught up in a web of your own lies,” Lubinda said.
“That is why I am encouraging Hichilema to speak the truth. Can they be consistent with what they are saying because it is not correct for them to come out with all these reasons, because they are jumping from one argument to another, like they were saying not too long ago that they didn't want to discuss issues of sharing positions, they wanted first to discuss the socio-economic programme for Zambia.”
Lubinda wondered how Hichilema could claim that the PF had discussed homosexuality when they were accused of not willing to discuss the socio-economic programme.
“That issue came long after the UPND member Professor Clive Chirwa letter. So it is not correct to claim that the break-up is to do with homosexuality. As a member of the central committee of PF, I have authority to state clearly that the matter has never been a subject of discussion,” Lubinda said.
“And being close to president Sata and having attended several meetings with him and donors, I want to state categorically that he's been very consistent on saying the subject of homosexuality is provided for in the statute books of Zambia and it only requires people to implement the law in entirety on the issue.”
Lubinda said the MMD was the common enemy and therefore it did not add any value for the UPND to start attacking the PF.
“Like in a marriage after a divorce, it is only people of low character who go out and start insulting the former partners and calling them names,” said Lubinda. “If they indeed have come to the unfortunate decision that this pact won't work, then let them have the honour of leaving it to history rather than continuing attacking each other.”
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF-UPND
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Col Panji endorses Sata for President
By Misheck Wangwe
Sat 19 Mar. 2011, 04:02 CAT
COLONEL Panji Kaunda yesterday said that although he is a UPND member, he will support Michael Sata and the PF in this year's elections.
Speaking on Radio Phoenix's Let the People Talk programme, Col Panji said the situation on the ground was showing that PF leader Sata had a greater chance of winning the elections than UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema. He said he would campaign for Sata in this year's elections despite being a UPND member because he was being realistic.
Col Panji said it would be difficult to uproot the MMD government from power if the opposition did not unite in supporting Sata who is more popular.
He said Sata was a mature leader who could lead the country to prosperity.
“We should not attach emotions and political affiliations. Let's rise above party lines, put our interests aside and support Sata. The way things are on the ground is that Sata is more popular,” Col Panji said.
“My mathematics show that he (Sata) may fall short of some votes. That's why it will be important for the people who are saying they are neutral to vote for him so that he can have the required numbers.”
Col Panji said he knew that the PF-UPND pact would not work because it was driven by the people while its leaders failed to agree on who could lead the Pact.
He said the most contentious issue in the Pact was nothing but the presidency but that Sata would have led the Pact. Col Panji said all well-meaning Zambians should rally behind Sata with or without the Pact. He said Sata's age did not take away anything from him but made him to become a wise leader. He said Zambians should change government this year because President Rupiah Banda had failed the country.
He said President Banda lost it the time he started associating himself with corrupt people like former president Frederick Chiluba who plundered national resources.
“The day he embraced Chiluba is the day I lost confidence in him. I drew the line between Rupiah Banda and I the time he embraced corruption and thieves,” Col Panji said. “That's why we need to unite if we are to uproot the MMD from power because they have the machinery and it is a fact that the ruling party tampers with elections.”
Col Panji said the opposition parties had continued to lose elections because they split votes.
“I believe in my principles and we are not doing this for our own benefit but for the future of the country and our children. What happened in 2008 when the votes were split should not be repeated because Zambians want change,” he said.
And responding to one of the callers who accused him of supporting Sata because he wanted a ministerial position, Col Panji said he was not interested in any position.
He said time for him to be in government or to become a parliamentarian had passed. Col Panji said he was interested in securing the future of the country.
And commenting on the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), Col Panji said the exercise was about enhancing transparency in the electoral process.
He said PVT was important because it was clear that government had a tendency of manipulating votes.
"We know that the MMD would do anything to retain power. That's why we need PVT for transparency," said Col Panji.
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, PANJI KAUNDA, PF, PF-UPND, UPND
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With or without Pact, we’re going to win - Lubinda
By Patson Chilemba
Fri 18 Mar. 2011, 11:10 CAT
GIVEN Lubinda says he is very confident that with or without the Pact, PF will win this year's general election. Lubinda, who is now PF chairperson for local government and housing, said he was confident that party leader Michael Sata and PF would win this year's elections.
“I am very confident that a combination of Michael Sata and myself in Kabwata Constituency will deliver Michael Sata even better than he had in 2006 and 2008. And obviously I, too, will get much better votes than I got in 2006. There is no question about it,” Lubinda said.
“I have always said that the Pact was a very safe way of winning. That does not mean that without it we cannot win, no. It was just a safety measure to make sure you don't have too many competitors. Now, with or without the Pact, I am confident both at national level for president Michael Sata and for myself in Kabwata Constituency. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever.”
Lubinda said when he stood on the UPND ticket in 2001, he defeated his closest rival Major Richard Kachingwe by a mere 300 votes. He said when he stood on the PF ticket in 2006, he overwhelmingly defeated his closest rival by close to 40,000 votes.
On President Rupiah Banda's move to change the law so that he could qualify for payment before three years in office, Lubinda said President Banda would not manage to stay in office for three years since the elections would be held before November, 2011.
He said President Banda was preparing for his exit.
Lubinda said President Banda had the trappings of a tyrant because he thought he was a law unto himself. He said time had come for Zambia to emulate Scandinavian countries where some laws could only take effect after a new parliament was in place.
Lubinda said those in President Banda's regime had no public shame because they could go with impunity to Parliament to implement a law to suit one person.
On President Banda's fears over the parallel voter tabulation (PVT), Lubinda said the Electoral Code of Conduct was very clear in regulation 14 which allowed the media to announce election results that were declared by the returning officer.
Lubinda said the code also allowed for updating the people on the progress of counting votes.
“It's only tyrants who think that way,” said Lubinda.
On the systematic take over of council institutions by MMD cadres in Lusaka, Lubinda said what was happening was a replica of events when President Banda and MMD Lusaka Province chairman William Banda reigned as governors.
He said it was the same President Banda who instructed ZANAMA to take over the operations of some markets on the Copperbelt in complete disregard of the Markets’ Act.
Lubinda said it was not surprising that William Banda was now demanding to be paid K1 million by MMD structures at Intercity Bus Terminus because he had failed to outlive the UNIP mentality.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, PF, PF-UPND
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Picking up pieces from broken down PF/UPND Pact
By Dr. Mulenga Kaela
15th March 2011
Picking up pieces from broken down PF/UPND PactOn this very space last year, I did make a comment that – if PF/UPND pact stayed the course, the probability of them toughing out MMD from government was good. But I had my doubts concerning the pact’s survivability up to the elections time. That is, I suspected that the union would meltdown way before the elections. It has.
Why is this discussion important? It is because of the belief many people have – that given a change in government, perhaps our resources would be managed in a better way. Knowing that people are interested in generating wealth from which every Zambian would benefit rather than as is now – when a few souls are enjoying at the expense of many thousands who are worse off. If we continue on the same path we are on, the pre-independence colonial Zambia will be re-born.
Speaking on Diaspora Voice last weekend – Prof Clive Chirwa from UK, who is in the closed circuit of UPND/PF matters, pronounced the pact’s death. Chirwa said that in spite of his efforts to try and save it, the pact has now completely failed to achieve its goals. Michael Sata’s denial changes nothing.
Chirwa attributes these complications primarily due to the selfishness and desire of both King Cobra and Hakaimbe Hichilema (HH) to become president of Zambia. Apparently none of them could reach a workable compromise. The two leaders he said – “were diametrically opposite”. That is shameful because people have been counting on them to deliver a fresh look at solving things. Naturally Rupiah Banda’s MMD is celebrating.
In the meantime, the desire for change amongst ordinary Zambian people remains quite high. Although the need for change has not yet peaked to the proportions of Tunisia/Egyptian fever – one should not undermine the sensitivity of the situation. Zambians in general tend to prefer swimming with the devil they know – until there comes a time when they’re categorical for a new government. They did so in 1991 when they ushered in MMD from UNIP. One cannot take people for granted, especially when poverty begins to bite.
Shortage of food and long ques drove Kaunda out of power. Today the yawning gap between the “haves” in Zambia and the “down-trodden” ordinary Hamaundus and Jeres might be the spark that could trigger discontent. Moreover, the high incidence of corruption amongst officials, coupled with the inability of the present MMD government to listen to the people – may boil by the time elections are conducted. Currently, MMD is surviving because the opposition has failed to excite people.
Therefore, as I judge things, although the winning equation seems for now to have tilted back in favour of MMD – PF/UPND still have a chance. Provided of course, they strategize and organize well.
The work at hand
Although I describe the situation as being lucid and the fact that PF/UPND pact is now dead – there are a number of things which the two major opposition parties ought to grasp, do or implement, if they want to pick up the pieces and give it another shot.
First of all, they need to understand as to why RB’s MMD fiercely opposed first, the 50% majoritarian rule of winning by a 50 + 1% and then also blocked the holding of a referendum on it before elections. Why? Yes, it is because with a simple majority rule and in a situation where PF/UPND are working separately – with also many smaller parties around such as FDD, NAREP, UNIP, ULP, ZED, ZRP, Heritage Party and others – splitting the vote works in favour of MMD. So I don’t understand why HH, who is younger with more opportunities to stand as a president later, could not compromise on the question of the pact’s presidential candidacy.
In theory, even PF has also a chance to win on a simple majority. But in practice, that is a tall order. Matters become even more complicated because – though Michael Sata is known to be a pragmatist, but he is deemed weak as a strategist.
As an illustration, in 2001, when Andy Mazoka had the best chance to beat Levy Mwanawasa on this very simple majority rule – he fumbled by adopting a “be a Tonga first” formula. This bad strategy cost him the presidency. He would have easily beaten Mwanawasa had he listened to the advice we (me and those who were with him at school in Kasama) gave him. All he needed was to involve the Kasama/Mungwi Secondary School boys, front and centre in his campaign. That would have given his candidacy a desirable national appeal. Armed with his Bemba speaking skills, he could have used that language to spike his campaign tours and win more votes on C/Belt, in Luapula and Northern Provinces.
By the same token, today since we know that both Sata and HH lack the national character – Chipata to Mongu and Livingstone to Mbala – the strategy they ought to use is the “reverse”, aka segmentation. That is, one should concentrate the resources and effort in areas where each party is most popular. Spreading resources thinly, across Zambia by fielding candidates every where – especially when you are faced with incumbency, is not wise. Therefore if both Sata and HH fail, the first group to blame will be the backroom boys. For they should be aware that – every politician has to be polished by his/her operatives. Even KK relied on his young Turks, behind the scene people who worked 24/7 to implement his ‘bigger picture’ vision.
In my opinion, the better method today would be to have UPND concentrate on Southern Province where – if they organize effectively, it stands a good chance to shut MMD out. So can PF block MMD in Lusaka province, C/Belt, Luapula and N Provinces. And since we know that RB would sweep E Province – one should avoid wasting time there. This approach would leave only W Provinve, NW Province and Central Provinces as mixed battle ground, where each major party has an equal chance to win some and lose some. If by the end of the day the combined opposition MPs form the majority – they would then begin to influence things.
Although I am not sure about the provisions of forming a coalition government in Zambia – but this scenario at least would make it possible to hold whoever is in government accountable. And the chances of government getting away with bad decisions would be minimal.
Another chance open to the opposition, would be to consider building bridges and coalitions with: – Church groups, civil society in general, university and college students – the youth, labor unions, women and peasant farmers. For example, Churches and civil society have been vocal when it comes to the constitution amendments referendum, Chiluba’s acquittal and now the Mongu shootings. This tactic worked well for MMD in 1991.
The inability to reach these groups would be a clear symptom that the opposition is not ready to rule Zambia. And since elections will happen way before September, 2011 (as announced by president Banda), PF & UPND had better double up in organizing. This is a monumental task.
When it comes to fighting corruption – the opposition has also got a couple of arsenals they can use. First, would be to recognize that the donors of economic aid hate corruption because it drains money from their tax payers destined for poor Zambians, So, they were not amused when RB’s government removed the anti-corruption clause from our statutes. One can earn votes by simply campaigning on Levy’s anti-corruption legacy.
In addition to these issues I have outlined above – as Prof Chirwa himself told his radio audience, the tax policies adopted by MMD especially the elimination of windfall tax at a time when copper prices are at an all time high of $10,000/MT is sad. It is now when Zambia should capitalize on maximizing revenues from exhaustible assets like copper. A campaign theme crafted on this “lost opportunity” could earn votes. The instant flow of information on internet means that Zambians know what is going on. Why not tap into that?
Some observations
Unless the opposition political parties in Zambia – more specifically PF & UPND can retool and revise their own strategies, the win for MMD in the forth coming presidential and parliamentary elections is fait accompli. The political parties’ Manifestos must be translated into simpler, sound bite messages. People are looking for issue themes to support. You can’t rely on them reading the Manifestos.
And that MMD win is within grasp has been accentuated by the collapse of PF/UPND pact. Splitting of votes among half a dozen opposition groups could solidify a simple majority formula in favour of MMD. In addition, Michael Sata’s “democracy deficiency”, i.e. the failure of PF to conduct intra-party elections, also affirms peoples’ belief that Sata is dictatorial. This feeling will persist until when Sata secures a clear mandate from his party’s national convention. There is also the perception and label given to him by KK – that he is not “presidential material”, also work against him.
Therefore, if PF wants to form the next government – it is contingent upon its backroom boys, researchers and strategists – to not only polish their leader’s image but to compose a winnable message. If it was in North America or UK, a number of public relations gurus are be available for hire. In 2009, when Banda discovered that he had image problems, I am told he sought help. I am not sure if Sata would go for this. He would probably dismiss it as gimmickry from the West, and out of touch Diasporans. Yet we know that even in Zambia things have changed.
Another obstacle which also perhaps handicaps PFs strategists – is the suspicion that Sata truly believes in miracles and fate. He believes that, just as Senegal’s Abdoulaye Wade eventually became a president after so many attempts, and as it has also happened to other veteran African opposition leaders in Sierra Leone and elsewhere – he too will become president. In other words, Sata is convinced that his chance to be president of Zambia is written in his destiny book. That thinking by itself is a hindrance because by becoming rigid and unimaginative, that impedes strategizing.
One other draw back working against the opposition – is the fact that institutions – ECZ, Judiciary, Police, etc., assigned with the responsibility to ensure that laws and the rules of a fair game are upheld and enforced, are either dysfunctional or partial (taking sides). In such a case the task of replacing a sitting government is daunting. But this is the more reason why the opposition should de-campaign against the ruling party.
For example, cadres and noise makers like William Banda in Lusaka and others like him on C/Belt go unpunished even though they trespass the public space. As time draws closer to the elections, I am sure MMD will recruit many more of such hooligans. Shouldn’t this be a good issue to present to Zambians? Therefore whether PF and UPND have the capacity to match this challenge remains doubtful. With his many years as MMD’s general secretary, one would have thought that Sata is familiar with these dirty tactics. Apparently not! To win an election in Zambia, it appears as if the services of these ‘Kaponyas’ is essential. That’s odd!
And finally, because of incumbency, MMD will also have plenty of resources at their disposal. This is in addition to their access to other resources offered by external supporters and raw materials exploiters such as China and foreign mining companies. I don’t see signs from either PF or UPND to cultivate friendly relations with foreign governments or bodies. Do they have diplomats in that party?
Therefore, assuming that my analysis is not completely off – unless PF and its close associates, the UPND can re-think their strategies and act quickly – the political battle for attaining Plot #1 is already lost. There I have said it!!
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, PF-UPND
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Zambia: PF-UPND Pact breakup is selfish and retrogressive
11th March 2011
By Zumani Katasefa
upnd flag2 300x215 Zambia: PF UPND Pact breakup is selfish and retrogressiveMost Zambians spoken to in the streets of Kitwe by UKZAMBIANS have expressed sadness over the breaking up of the PF-UPND pact saying that the move would see the MMD winning the elections this year.
“No doubt the MMD is going to win the elections again, the move to break the Pact is selfish and retrogressive,” said Nancy Nampungwe.
And Fr Bwalya regretted the breaking up of the UPND-PF Pact saying describing the move as a sad one adding that many Zambians had the hope in the pact.
In a telephone interview today (Friday) Fr Bwalya also said the PVT is a good system that would ensure credibility in this year’s general elections.
The refusal to accept the Parallel Voter Tabulation system (PVT) system would endanger security in Zambia, controversial Zambian catholic priest Fr Frank Bwalya has said.
“That is a good system, I am in support of that, if government rejects that then that would endanger the security of this country,” said the Roman Catholic priest.
Meanwhile Fr. Bwalya has dispelled rumours that he at one point wanted to marry Josephine Mulenga of Kitwe’s Buchi Township before he went for priesthood.
“That is not true, you know that am a priest how I would do that. That is not true,” /ENDS
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, PF-UPND, UPND
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Col Panji, others consult on Pact
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Mon 28 Feb. 2011, 04:01 CAT
Col Panji Kaunda yesterday disclosed that stakeholders in Eastern Province will this week be consulting on the candidate they will support for this year’s presidential election to ensure that the MMD is kicked out of office.
In an interview, Col Panji, who is organising chairman for the Eastern Province Pact Forum, said people in the area would not allow the Pact to die because it was their initiative. He said the PF-UPND pact was born out of the people’s will and not because of Michael Sata or Hakainde Hichilema’s wish.
“We will not allow the Pact to die because it doesn’t belong to Sata or HH,” Col Panji said. “For this reason, as a province, we have embarked on consultations with all stakeholders who will include churches, NGOs and all political parties on who to support to represent us in this year’s election. We hope this process can be completed in the next ten days.”
Col Panji said to conclude the consultations, the organising committee would put together a day’s conference in Chipata, where all stakeholders from the province would be represented.
“We have picked on Chipata because of its centrality. People from all districts in the province will find it easier to travel to Chipata,” Col Panji said. “At the end of the conference, there will be resolutions.
This is very important for us because this conference will resolve as to which candidate we will rally behind in this year’s presidential election. We hope other provinces can emulate what we are doing. To us, this decision is our 50+1%. It is the surest way of getting rid of the MMD. As a province, we are saying we shall not allow any individual’s interest to spoil our opportunity to remove the MMD from power. And in doing what we are doing, we have risen above party interests or affilliations. We are considering national interest first.”
Labels: 50 PERCENT PLUS 1, PANJI KAUNDA, PF-UPND
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PF accepts Chirwa’s proposals on Pact
By George Chellah
Fri 18 Feb. 2011, 04:02 CAT
PF has accepted UPND chairperson for international relations Professor Clive Chirwa’s proposals over the pact. Addressing journalists at the PF secretariat yesterday, PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba, who was flanked by vice-president Dr Guy Scott and national chairperson Inonge Wina, assured the public that the Pact was still in existence.
“In June 2010, the PF and UPND celebrated the first anniversary of the establishment of the PF/UPND pact. Since then there has been a great deal of anxiety and concern amongst PF and UPND members and the general public regarding the impetus of the Pact,” Kabimba said.
“We continue to receive queries from members of the press as to whether or not the Pact is still in existence. I would like to take this opportunity today on behalf of the PF to inform the public that the pact between the PF and UPND is still alive and viable as an alternative government to the MMD during this year’s tripartite elections.”
Kabimba said the PF had received from UPND fundamental proposals regarding the Pact.
“These proposals, which were received through the UPND chairman for international relations Professor Clive Chirwa are as follows: (i) that the two political parties should design and agree on a common manifesto or social and economic development agenda in government, (ii) that the two parties share constituencies with the PF taking 60 per cent of the parliamentary seats and the UPND 40 per cent of the seats,” Kabimba said.
“(iii) that Mr Michael Sata be the Pact presidential candidate in the 2011 presidential and general elections and Mr Hichilema to be the vice-president in government, (iv) that the Cabinet portfolios be shared with PF taking 60 per cent and UPND 40 per cent, (v) that these proposals should be embodied in a document to be signed by the two leaders at a ceremony to be witnessed by NGOs, the Church and other concerned stakeholders.
“In our desire to ensure that the Pact makes progress and in order to show our commitment to the PF/UPND pact, we hereby accept these proposals within the working time frame attached to them. I have accordingly written to the UPND secretary general. Let me take this opportunity once again to thank all of you for your unwavering support which you have so far rendered to the Pact since June 2009.”
And in his letter dated January 16, 2011 to UPND secretary general Winstone Chibwe, Kabimba stated: “Dear Sir, Re: UPND proposals. I am in receipt of the UPND proposals through Professor Clive Chirwa, chairman for international relations dated 15th February 2011, a copy of which I have enclosed herewith for your easy reference. In order for the Pact to make progress we hereby accept the proposals for our JNC meeting which we should convene soonest to complete the details thereof.”
Labels: CLIVE CHIRWA, PF, PF-UPND, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Mangani and Kapijimpanga
Mon 31 Jan. 2011, 03:59 CAT
When people think only of themselves and their own particular political party or group, there is a danger of division and disunity in the nation. We need to understand what multiparty politics is really about or else we will end up using it as a device to weaken our people by setting one humble section of our population against others.
Without a clear appreciation of what multiparty politics means, we will continue to divide our people into petty political parties that bring no guidance to the nation. We will be dividing the ignorant and misleading people into factions supporting unscrupulous and greedy politicians.
Multiparty politics is not about division, disunity and hatred in the nation. It is about unity in diversity; it is about competition to serve and not a fight for survival. And in conformity with our belief in the unity of our people, we should not pay exaggerated attention to accidental differences within our multiparty political dispensation. Why should one hate his brother or sister, his neighbour simply because he or she belongs to a different political party? Why shouldn’t two people who belong to different political parties be friends?
Why can’t they share a meal or meet for a drink and discuss politics or other issues of mutual concern? It is not hatred alone which is contrary to the laws of charity but also indifference to the welfare of our neighbour. We have to treat everybody irrespective of their political affiliation as our fellow citizens, as our neighbours; “For you are all one in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 3:28).
We all need to work together regardless of our political ideas and affiliations. We have one country to live in and develop. We are one country, one nation, one people who are supposed to be marching together into the future. It is not the individuals that matter, but the collective. This is the time to come together and develop our country.
We don’t need to belong to one political party just as religious people don’t need to belong to one church, congregation or denomination. It should be the desire of our people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that should drive our politicians' decisions and actions.
As we have stated before, this country will not be good for any of us to live in if it is not good for all of us to live in. Our politics should not be about hatred but love. No one can develop this country of ours – a country of more than 755,000 square kilometers with not less than 73 tribes – on hatred, on disunity based on political affiliations. Our people should not vote for anyone whose heart is full of hatred but for one who is best qualified to bring about the kind of Zambia they hope to live in.
Multiparty politics is about working with others who belong to different political parties. And to work with one’s political competitor, one must talk to him or dialogue with him so that he becomes one’s partner. Most of us are Zambians by nature and we belong to our political parties by choice. We must work unceasingly to lift this nation to a higher destiny, to a new plateau of compassion.
Let us try in a new time and in a new way to restore the politics of love in our country. Let us teach ourselves and others that politics should be an expression of a desire to contribute to the happiness of a community rather than of a need to divide people into hostile and irreconcilable groups. Let the winners of elections in our country be the best of us, in the moral, civic, and political sense, regardless of their political affiliations.
We are all free human beings, Zambians, and those in politics, public servants, and members of their political parties, in that order. This being the case, why shouldn’t politicians from different political parties talk to each other, keep each other’s company, eat and drink with one another?
Our politicians should learn to put the unity of our people first. They should put it ahead of any divisive partisanship. And in these times, as in times before, it is true that a house divided against itself by the spirit of faction, of political party, of tribe, of region, of religion, of race, is a house that cannot stand. So, we ask all our politicians, whatever their personal interests or concern, to guard against divisiveness and all its ugly consequences. We must always be mindful of this one thing, whatever the trials and the tests ahead.
We say this because the ultimate strength of our country will always lie in our unity, and unity in diversity for that matter, unity across our different political parties and individual politicians.
Given what we have said, why should someone be so worried about Lameck Mangani and Judith Kapijimpanga having a meal or a drink together at some hotel in broad daylight simply because the two belong to different political parties?
In a multiparty political system, in a plural political system, we live with the conviction that through open exchange of ideas and opinions, truth will eventually win out over falsehood, the values of others will be better understood, areas of compromise more clearly defined, the path of progress opened. And the greater the volume of such exchanges, the better.
We need more meetings of that nature among our politicians. And such meetings should not be restricted by political parties in any way. Moreover, in a multiparty political dispensation, there is need for a loyal position. And this means, in essence, that all sides in a multiparty political system share a common commitment to its basic values. Political competitors don’t necessarily have to like each other, but they must learn to live, interact and work with each other and acknowledge that each has a legitimate and important role to play.
And no matter who wins an election, both sides have to agree to co-operate in solving the common problems of society. We say this because in a multiparty dispensation worth the name, the opposition continues to participate in public life with the knowledge that its role is essential. The opposition is loyal not to the specific policies of government, but to the fundamental legitimacy of the state, and to the multiparty political process itself.
By talking to each other, by sharing a meal or a drink with each other, politicians with differences learn how to argue peaceably, how to pursue their goals in a friendly manner and ultimately, how to live in a world of political diversity.
Our politicians should learn to pay attention to uniting and working with other citizens who differ with them. They have come together from every corner of the country and should be good at uniting in their work not only with those who hold the same views as them but also with those who hold different views. It is imperative to overcome anything that impairs this co-operation among our politicians and their political parties.
Clearly, there is nothing wrong Lameck did for him to be nailed to the cross. In trying to fix Lameck, the MMD leadership will just cause more problems for itself.
Labels: JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, LAMECK MANGANI, MMD, PF-UPND
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Opposition needs to unite, insists Sata
By Masuzyo Chakwe and Florence Bupe
Sat 22 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
MICHEAL Sata has insisted that the opposition needs to unite against President Rupiah Banda and the MMD.
Reacting to FDD leader Edith Nawakwi, who asked the PF leader to first tell Zambians what was happening in the pact before he could appeal to other parties, Sata said it was important for Zambians to unite.
National Revolution Party (NRP) president Cozmo Mumba said the invitation from Sata was welcome and should be embraced by all opposition political parties.
"In 2008, we made a serious mistake by endorsing Rupiah Banda's candidature. I was one of the political party leaders who declared to support him in the 2008 general elections but I have now realised that the endorsement of Rupiah Banda has greatly damaged this nation," he said.
Mumba said a lot of injury had been caused to the country during President Banda's reign, with vices like violence on the rise.
"We have seen a lot of damage to the country's development process. Violence and bad governance are the order of the day," Mumba said. "We need a change of government to redeem this country."
Mumba said there was need to convene an indaba for all political parties to strategise on ways of ousting the MMD from power.
He said factors such as who would lead the opposition were secondary, stressing that the core purpose should be the redemption of Zambia from the grip of the ruling MMD.
"We urgently need to have an indaba to map the way forward for this year's general elections. I will soon be meeting Sata so that we discuss the possibility of working together as an opposition force," said Mumba.
Sata last weekend said there was need for unity among the country's opposition.
But Nawakwi said Sata should state what the agenda was for unity so that people could understand where this was coming from.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, MICHAEL SATA, PF-UPND
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Lies against Sata, PF won’t work - Inonge
By Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Fri 31 Dec. 2010, 04:02 CAT
LIES and mudslinging against Michael Sata and the PF will not save Rupiah Banda from a humiliating defeat in Western Province next year, says Inonge Wina.
In an interview, Wina who is PF national chairperson said the confusion emanating from the Western Province was as a result of the under development due to several unfulfilled promises made prior to the 2006 and the 2008 presidential elections.
Wina said PF had done serious work in Western Province and that the general outlook of the party was far much better than in the past.
She said politics of mudslinging Sata with lies in some regions was long gone because people in all regions had realised that the opposition leader was a poor peoples’ man.
“PF will really rise from the ashes in Western Province. You see, people have a notion that people in Western Province don’t like PF but wait for next year, the results will tell you a different story. We will definitely state our position in the province, because you know previously the MMD had mounted a very obnoxious campaign against PF leader Mr Sata portraying him as a bad person but later people realised that the MMD feasted on their votes because much of the area is rural but we have moved and all the districts are giving us very good indications,” Wina said.
She said MMD officials themselves confirmed early this year that the area was underdeveloped because the MMD did not fulfill its electoral promises.
She said people swallowed the MMD propaganda but they had now vomited and President Rupiah Banda was feeling the heat of their vomit.
Wina said the Levy Mwanawasa factor played a big role in the voting pattern in 2008 but that people were seeing a complete shift from the vigorous corruption fight that the late president put up to the current tolerance of corrupt elements under President Banda’s regime.
Labels: INONGE WINA, MICHAEL SATA, PF-UPND, WESTERN PROVINCE
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HH questions MMD’s desire for Pact
Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 13:34
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has thwarted moves by the ruling MMD to haul his party into an alliance saying those calling for an MMD-UPND Pact are wasting time. Mr. Hichilema said his party has never had discussions with the MMD for a formation of a Pact and wondered why senior government officials were insisting on calls for a Pact that would never take place.
“There is no such talks with the MMD, those claims that chiefs in Southern Province are calling for a formation of a Pact are lies. It is cheap propaganda and it should be condemned with the contempt it deserves. This only shows that the UPND is an attractive party. But there is nothing like that,” he said.
Mr. Hakainde said the only job his party had was to strengthen the alliance with the PF.
“What the Zambian people want is a Pact between the PF and UPND so that the MMD can be taken out of power, and the only thing that is important now is to work on this Pact,” he said.
Yesterday ZANIS reported that Southern Province Minister Elijah Muchima reaffirmed the ruling MMD’s call for a Pact with the UPND.
Speaking when he officiated at the Mwemba Area Development Association (MADA) day in Sinazongwe District in Kanchindu area, yesterday, Mr. Muchima said the ruling party’s doors was open for the opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema to enter into a pact..
Mr. Muchima advised the UPND leader to reconsider his party ‘s position in the pact with the Patriotic Front (PF) saying Mr. Hakainde’s should instead partner and work with the ruling party to bring development to all parts of the country.
The provincial minister insisted that there was no way Southern province could remain in opposition, since independence, instead of developing the nation.
He urged the gathering that Southern Province should change the way of doing politics to ensure that they join the rest of the country in embracing development instead of focusing on tribal politics.
“Hakainde should join MMD because the intention is good and develop our area. Sata chased the Anderson Mazoka from MMD and now today you want to join Sata who chased our loved man.”
“Politics should not divide us let us work as one. Let us support each other so that next time they will also support you,” Mr. Muchima said.
Speaking at the same function, Mwemba Area Development Association (MADA) day organizer Ngande Mwanajiti said Sinazongwe people should not continue to remain in opposition.
Mr.Mwanajiti said meaningful development could not be attained if people in Southern Province remain in opposition.
“Unless we take are rightful role in issues of development. Exclusion is a social evil. It becomes impossible and unacceptable for any person and individual to argue that you continue doing wrong,” Mwanajiti said.
Meanwhile Centre for Policy and Dialogue (CPD) has warned that the reputation of UPND would be ruined should the opposition party decide to go into an alliance with the MMD.
CPD executive director Neo Simutanyi said Mr. Hichilema risks losing his credibility if he defies all he has stood for all along and decide to form an alliance with the MMD.
Dr Simutanyi however said it was very critical for Mr. Hichilema not to ignore the sentiments coming from southern province because his party does not control the entire southern region.
He advised that the best thing to do was to go to Southern Province to investigate who was really behind the claims of a looming UPND-MMD alliance.
He told Qfm that the MMD would gladly work with the UPND but that the opposition party would have more to lose than gain in such an alliance.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, DR NEO SIMUTANYI, MMD, PF-UPND
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UPND-MMD Alliance: How Workable?
By Daimone Siulapwa
Sunday, December 12, 2010, 8:32
SO, the United Party for National Development (UPND) is willing to go to bed with the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD). Interesting!
Just for the record, the UPND is in a Pact with the Patriotic Front (PF). Some analysts believe the only way the MMD can be defeated is for the opposition to go as a united front. So far, that strategy seems to be working, at least in so far as the by-elections are concerned. Where the opposition has been able to field one candidate, they seem to perform much better than was the case when they used to stand against each other.
What is not working though is the way forward going into next year’s general elections. While the choice of candidates to field in the Parliamentary elections may be easy for them to sort-out, the one bigger one to do with the President seems to be a tough one to crack.
Some believe that people holding the notion of waiting until the end is a better option, are misplaced and that option is likely to cause splits at the last minute. You do not want to lose focus and be embroiled in chaos at a time when you should really be set. Therefore, the earlier these guys sort that one out, the better for all of them, for they will be able to explain the decision to their members, who by the time it is election time, would have gotten used to the choice of the candidate picked.
But as we all seem to know, the two are not willing to cede their positions. On their part, the PF believes they have the right to the Presidency of the pact because they are the biggest party, based on the election results of 2006 and 2008. On the other hand, the UPND thinking seems to be that it is time for a Southerner to be President. But also, there are some elements in the UPND who do not like PF leader Michael Sata’s management style and they loath at the idea of him leading them.
Understandable, for the UPND, at least under Anderson Mazoka, he was believed t have brought an efficient management style to the political front. Anyhow, with Sata seemingly being favoured as the Pact presidency by PF vice president Guy Scot, and a leading tabloid, the UPND seems to be re-strategizing. Talk therefore of them being in discussions for some form of alliance with the MMD is not far-fetched.
For those that have been watching the political platform for a long-time, these revelations should not come as complete surprise. Vernon Mwaanga, like him or hate him but nonetheless canny politician did some time back claim that the people of southern province prefer an alliance between the MMD and the UPND than that of the PF and the latter. At this point, and if Vernon Mwaanga has to be believed, the discussions are really at grassroots, and if that be indeed the case, then the PF and indeed the UPND top leadership should take note.
One of the weak points of the PF-UPND Pact is that it lacked the backing of the general membership. It was simply imposed on the membership, the reason why the likes of Robbie Chizyuka, the UPND Namwala member of Parliament, are on a different wavelength.
Still, UPND Mps have been quick to deny that the party has opened discussions with the MMD to explore possibilities of an alliance ahead of the 2011 elections. In a joint statement, the MPs said the story is untrue and malicious. Kalomo MP Request Muntanga, instead accused The Post of being instrumental in advising the PF that it does not need an alliance with the UPND. Well, that is a story on its own, and perhaps a digression.
What Mr Muntanga and his colleagues do not realize is that it is not everyone in the UPND who favours an alliance with the PF. There maybe many Robbie Chizyukas but are only too afraid to come out in the open for fear of victmisation. Now these are the people that could possibly be talking to the MMD for a possible alliance.
This alliance may not need the support of the UPND high command. Their strategy would be to resign en mass and surprise the UPND leadership possibly with weeks or months to go before the election. Already, it is known that some PF MPs led by Dr Peter Machungwa will do so.
If that was to happen, and if these people have been having discussions at grassroots level, then the likes of Mr Muntanga should not dismiss the story as highly malicious. If anything, it is time for them to get back to work, and by that, it means they need to go and ask their general membership on the way forward. What is it that the membership want, an alliance with the PF or the MMD? That should not be difficult to do at a convention.
Well, everyone knows that the PF and UPND are really like cat and mouse in their manifestos. The PF seems to favour a more socialist approach to the economic management of the country while the UPND is more pro-business. The UPND also appears to be more robust and efficient in general management than the PF.
On the other hand, the MMD is more closer to the UPND in management style and also economic policy. It is against that background that the likes of VJ seem to be saying an alliance between the UPND and the MMD is more natural. In fact, a lot of people agree but do not want to admit it.
Anyhow, should the UPND and MMD enter into an alliance, it is almost certain to win. That will almost mean continuity with only a few changes to accommodate the UPND wishes.
Now that is not important as the question, is that what the country really needs? The stage is set for rational debate!
Labels: MMD, PF-UPND, UPND
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Edward Mumbi was never trusted-Sata
Sunday, December 5, 2010, 19:38
Patriotic front leader Michael Sata has disclosed that the patriotic front has never trusted their former secretary general Edward Mumbi.
Mr. Sata tells QFM in an interview that the PF is not surprised with Mumbi's action as he is known to be a dishonest individual. Mr. Sata says it is funny that Mumbi is busy showing president Rupiah Banda that he is weakening the PF when in the actual sense he is strengthening the party.
He notes that the MMD will soon realize that Mr. Mumbi is not what he is portraying himself and will not want anything to do with him.
[Qfm]
Labels: EDWARD MUMBI, MICHAEL SATA, PF, PF-UPND, UPND
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Hichilema will regret declining Pact offer when it’s late—Mumbi
Monday, December 6, 2010, 8:20
FORMER opposition Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Edward Mumbi has said United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema will only realise the reality of the UPND-MMD alliance talks when he is left alone in the party.
And the MMD in Southern Province has urged the UPND national leadership to accept the wishes of the members at the grassroots to go into a pact with the ruling party.
Mr Mumbi said it was imperative that Mr Hichilema carried out thorough investigations to get the feelings and the mood of his party membership at lower organs regarding the alliance with the ruling MMD before refuting the statements in the media or else, he would wake up to a rude shock to find that he was a lone president.
Mr Mumbi was reacting to a statement in the media where Mr Hichilema had allegedly denied that his party was in talks to enter into an alliance with the MMD.
But Mr Hichilema said he could not respond to Mr Mumbi because he did not deserve his response.
“Mr Mumbi does not deserve my response, so I can’t respond to his statement,” Mr Hichilema said.
Denying the statement by MMD parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga that there were talks for an alliance between the UPND and MMD, Mr Hichilema said the announcement was a lie, saying all UPND MPs signed the letters to state the position that they were not for the idea of the alliance between the MMD and UPND.
But in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mumbi said media reports that UPND was engaged in talks with MMD at a lower level were true and Mr Hichilema should not brush them aside.
[Times of Zambia]
Labels: EDWARD MUMBI, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF, PF-UPND, UPND
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MMD, UPND in alliance talks
By George Chellah and Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 23 Nov. 2010, 04:02 CAT
THE UPND and MMD have opened discussions to explore possibilities of an alliance ahead of the 2011 elections. But UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma has accused the MMD of circulating false rumours about the alliance. Highly placed sources within the UPND disclosed that the two political parties had already opened a line of communication.
“Currently there is a very secret window of talks that has been opened between ourselves and the MMD. Only a selected few are supposed to be involved in these talks to avoid leakages,” the source said.
The source revealed that the proposal for an alliance had the backing of most UPND parliamentarians.
“After it became apparent that there was serious mistrust in the pact with PF and that some of our senior members still had problems accepting the possibility of having Mr Michael Sata as a pact candidate, a good number of our members of parliament started considering the option of going to the MMD,” the source said.
“They were considering defecting to the MMD so that they are adopted on an MMD ticket next year. But the MMD advised them that they were not keen to get them using that method. The MMD said if they have to work with them, these MPs have to come with the entire party and not as individuals. The MMD were uncomfortable that if these MPs come as individuals without the party’s blessings, they might end up losing their seats in Southern Province even if adopted to stand on the MMD ticket.”
The sources said the MMD preferred to deal with the UPND as a party and not just renegades.
“In fact, the first message that was sent to the MMD by a very senior UPND official after the initial meeting was that ‘we will think about it though we don’t want to appear to be desperate over this matter’,” the source said.
“And I can confirm that a number of our MPs are interested in this proposal. There are only two or so that might have difficulties buying into this idea and these are Douglas Syakalima and Gary Nkombo. The plan is to convince everybody before serious talks commence.”
However, the sources said an alliance with the MMD would leave the UPND disgraced as the people would not respect and forgive the party.
The sources said although there were challenges in the pact between the UPND and PF, an alliance with the MMD should never be an option.
“Probably some chiefs have finally prevailed on HH because last time when President Banda visited chief Mwanachingwala’s palace, he held a closed-door meeting with chiefs from Southern Province and the chiefs told him they were tired of being in the opposition,” the source said.
“They also told the President they wanted Southern Province as well to produce a Republican president. They even complained that currently there was no MP from Southern Province in Cabinet. But President Banda told them that Southern Province has to deliver first for him to appoint someone from there as minister.”
But Kakoma said there was no way the UPND could go into an alliance with the MMD because it was a corrupt regime.
“That is a false story. This rumour has been circulating for some time. About two or three months ago, our party president Hakainde Hichilema held a press briefing to dispel that rumour. There is no such thing taking place,” said Kakoma, who is also UPND Zambezi West parliamentarian.
“But the MMD has been circulating that story that they want to go into an alliance with UPND and VJ MMD parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga has himself been touring Southern Province to try to convince the chiefs and so on that they are for an alliance between the UPND and MMD.”
He said the UPND had nothing in common with the MMD.
Kakoma said the MMD was not interested in the Zambian people and had not tackled unemployment, poverty and other vices in the country.
“We are not interested basically because we cannot go into an alliance with a corrupt regime. We are fighting corruption, which the MMD is busy entrenching. So we can’t go into an alliance with people who want to rule through corruption,” said Kakoma.Labels: CHARLES KAKOMA, PF, PF-UPND, POLITICS, UPND
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Sata is 2011 PACT candidate – PF
Friday, November 5, 2010, 10:53
THE Patriotic Front (PF) in Lusaka has declared that its president Michael Sata will stand as presidential candidate on the PF-UPND pact ticket in next year’s general elections.
But UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said anybody within the pact is free to make choices of who they deem fit to stand as pact presidential candidate in next year’s elections.
PF Lusaka Province chairperson Paul Moonga said in an interview yesterday in Lusaka that the decision is non-negotiable, and that those who feel that Mr Sata is a wrong person to lead the pact are free to go their own way.
“We expected UPND to campaign for us in Mpulungu as we vigorously campaigned for them in Chilanga. Mr Sata told me personally that I had to ensure that UPND wins that seat, which they did,” he said.Mr Moonga accused UPND of being insincere, and said even after winning the Chilanga parliamentary by-election, it has not gone back to PF to thank its partner for helping it scoop the seat.
He said PF campaigned alone in Mpulungu, and there was no sign of the pact as the UPND concentrated on campaigning in Chilanga where they had fielded a candidate.
“We expected UPND to campaign for us in Mpulungu as we vigorously campaigned for them in Chilanga. Mr Sata told me personally that I had to ensure that UPND wins that seat, which they did,” he said.
Mr Moonga said all the wards in Chilanga are his party’s strongholds and that there is no way UPND would have won the seat without the help of PF.
He said it is wrong for UPND members to continue claiming popularity when it is obvious that PF has far more members than UPND, and can win the general elections on its own.
‘Our president, Mr Hichilema, held a briefing a day after the results where he thanked both PF and UPND for the job well-done. The statement by Mr Moonga, therefore, that we have not shown gratitude for their help is baseless,” he said.
Mr Kakoma, however, denied that his party did not show gratitude to PF for the efforts it put into ensuring a victory for UPND
He said shortly after the Chilanga victory, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema held a press briefing where he thanked everyone who had made it possible for the UPND candidate Cosmas Moono to win the seat.
‘Our president, Mr Hichilema, held a briefing a day after the results where he thanked both PF and UPND for the job well-done. The statement by Mr Moonga, therefore, that we have not shown gratitude for their help is baseless,” he said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Labels: CHARLES KAKOMA, MICHAEL SATA, PAUL MOONGA, PF-UPND
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Ililonga quits UPND over Pact squabbles
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Wed 13 Oct. 2010, 03:59 CAT
MUYUNDA Ililonga has quit the United Party for National Development (UPND), citing the squabbles between PF and UPND. And Ililonga has said the PF-UPND pact had frustrated its own chances of winning the general elections next year.
Ililonga, who was the UPND candidate in the recent Luena parliamentary by-election, in a statement indicated that recent developments in the PF-UPND pact had “painfully made him to realise that there was more shame than honour in belonging to a bickering opposition grouping”.
He said it was regrettable that the Pact, which was the only way of the opposition getting into power, had been frustrated by individuals with selfish interests in the Pact.
Ililonga said it was distressing that the Pact had frustrated its chances of winning the elections next year because it was clear that neither PF nor UPND could win the elections single-handedly. He said the Pact was a charade doomed to fail.
Ililonga said the acrimony displayed during the adoption of the Chilanga parliamentary candidate would become a permanent feature in the PF-UPND pact relations whenever the opportunity to adopt a candidate arises.
“If there is anything that the pact had managed to achieve is to deepen competition rather than cooperation between the two parties,” he said.
Ililonga said the Consumers International had endorsed his stay at the Zambia Consumers Association (ZACA) and had already gone back to the association as executive secretary.
He said the Consumers International had extended his stay at ZACA for the next 12 months.
Ililonga said he would concentrate on pursuing career opportunities outside partisan politics.
“I extend sincere gratitude to the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema for according me the rare opportunity to contest the Luena parliamentary elections on the UPND ticket. I also thank the voters of Luena who supported me during the elections,” Ililonga said.
But UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma expressed disappointment with Ililonga’s decision, saying he needed to believe in the party and the Pact.
“We have not yet received his resignation letter but if that’s what he has done, then it’s very unfortunate because his reasons are misplaced. The Pact is intact and those squabbles are normal in every alliance,” Kakoma said.
He said there was need for PF-UPND pact members to learn to find ways of addressing their concerns instead of rushing for decisions.
Kakoma claimed that contrary to Ililonga’s claims, the Pact was still formidable in the political arena and had a great future.
Last week, UPND Kalulushi district chairman Lieutenant John Mwape resigned from the party, also citing the problems between PF and UPND.
Lt Mwape stated that he had resigned from UPND because the opposition had continued to play to the gallery over the Pact and there was no sincerity from either party.
He stated that it was disheartening that people in the Pact were not being sincere and were failing to practice democratic norms and were disregarding the wishes of the electorate.
He stated that the PF-UPND pact lacked discipline and seriousness.
Labels: MUYUNDA ILILONGA, PF-UPND, UPND
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