President Mwanawasa is happy with the peaceful manner in which the campaigns ahead of this Thursday’s Milanzi parliamentary by-election are being conducted.
President Mwanawasa observed that the ongoing campaigns are in line with the Southern Africa Development Community, SADC, principles on ‘free and fair elections.’
Dr. Mwanawasa said this on arrival at Katete Prisons Service grounds this afternoon.
The president stated that all the political parties participating in the by-election have been availed ease access to the media for selling their manifestos.
He is particularly happy that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is running programmes on two local radio stations where all the candidates have been given the opportunity to reach out to the electorate.
He said the ECZ media programmes would enable the electorate in Milanzi make informed decisions as they cast the vote on June 26.
He said political parties in Zambia have the freedom to hold rallies and sell their messages without being intimidated or harassed.
Dr Mwanawasa said he was privileged to preside over peaceful and democratic country which is free to hold free and fair elections without any ‘cantankerous’ misbehavior.
“I feel privileged to preside over a country which is peaceful, democratic and is free to hold free and fair elections without any cantankerous misbehavior,” President Mwanawasa said.
He boasted that Zambia is the best country in terms of promoting ideal democratic environment in the Southern Africa region.
He therefore appealed to the electorates to vote for MMD candidate, Reuben Banda, in this week by-election to help sustain peace, which the MMD is promoting.
Dr. Mwanawasa pointed out that development can only prevail where peace exists.
He urged the electorate to ignore parties basing campaigns on character assassination and false promises.
Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa has warned of stern action against government officers segregating people in the relief food distribution in country.
He observed that the hunger situation in the country has not spared eastern province stating that government will distribute relief food to affected areas in the province.
President Mwanawasa is in Katete to drum support for MMD candidate Mr. Banda.
The Milanzi constituency seat fell vacant last year after the death of Dr Chosani Njovu of the United National Independence Party, UNIP.
Political parties contesting the party include the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), Patriotic Front (PF), United National Independence Party (UNIP),United Party for National Development (UPND) and the All People’s Congress party (APC).
ZANIS/ENDS/SJK/HN/LNN/MK/ENDS
What about that free food you gave out to people of Milanzi? Has the Task Force done anything about it?
This is a cheap jab by Levy at Mugabe
I concur with #2.
Levy is just indirectly dissing Mugabe.
I, too, agree with all of you. While elections in Zambia can be termed free and fair, there is more that needs to be, like not distributing food during campaigns. Such actions rob people of the free exercise of their voting right. Kanshi ba Levy mwiyumfwa, pantu abantu benu already balionaula “FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS”.
This conceipt of free and fair elections does not exist anywhere in the world. Let that sink in your heads guys. What’s prevailing in Zambia is not very bad. Those of you taking it for granted should jump on a bus and travel south to Zimbabwe or north to the DRC. You may also wish to ask Gore of the Democratic Party in the USA. Then you’ll know why Levy feels priviledged to preside over a country that is democratic. Keep up the good work Levy.
Please, Mr President try to let independent observers give an account of the election process in Zambia instead of misleading Citizens and sending messages that aim at certain individuals.
Our friends need help and credible help can only go out if it is done in humility. People will only take us seriously if we conduct ourselves in a humble manner.
Thanks though for maintaining peace in Zed. Atleast we are free to do stuff.
Yesterday’s Sunday Post article on pastor Dan Pule’s marriage made some shocking revelations – at least to most of the people who saw and read about his ‘repentance’. Furthermore, his ‘remorseful’ apologies were made in the glare of publicity for the whole world to see.
It is now very clear that Dunamis Christian Church founder pastor Pule has been, and is still taking his flock for granted. I find it very difficult to understand the elders who condone and even sanction such nauseating deeds by a man who proclaims to be a man of God.
People will begin to doubt the integrity of the entire congregation. Surely, even if this man really owns the land which houses the church, he does not ow
Mwanawasa is joking. isnt ecz the same entity that put him there in the 1st place? can he honestly say that election was free & fair ? that is hilarious. all zambians already know what’s going on in milanzi… and it involves mealie meal for our sons/daughters, chitengas for our grandmothers/mothers, chibuku for our uncles/selves & brown envelopes for pastors/big guys. that’s how elections are conducted and won in SADC. sure, we might not be beating or killing each other (like zim & kenya) but that is not the measure by which to say something is free and fair. perhaps LPM meant to say “freer” and “fairer” but stealing is stealing at the end of the day. it’s all relative, just ask al gore.
and anyway – take a close look at the photo accompanying this story. actually you don’t even have to look closely it’s so obvious — check out the new MMD materials accompanying those smiles. they may laugh all the way to the polling station and then vote UNIP. i mean, remember this is eastern province, there can be a surprise there that can shock muwelewele (but not anybody else).
not necessarily on topic, but #7 your name is cracking me up. i cant even type properly. thanks.
MMD has proved to be the only Zambian People’s party. It has the privilege to rule with people’s mandate beyond 2015.All other parties must be left in their state of disrepair and titular role to legitimize our democracy.I wish a solid victory to Zambians and their MMD party in Milanzi and Southern province.
INTERESTING POLITICAL QUOTES
“We are not going to give up our country for a mere X on a ballot. How can a ball point pen fight with a gun?’”
“the Losers’ Club—We can defeat them one and all.”
‘Operation Makavhoterapapi’, or ‘Where did you put your vote?’
Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai is under no threat at all from Zimbabweans and he should cast away these delusions … Zimbabwe is a peaceful country and this will remain so.
If an election can be held in Iraq, surely it can also be held in Zimbabwe
It is just an MDC media agenda that is calculated at hoodwinking Zanu-PF supporters into believing that there will be no elections. But, of course, they are fooling themselves as the party’s supporters are going to vote on 27 June.
We, at the same time, ask the Dutch embassy, if indeed he is there, to tell him to go home and enjoy [his] sleep and nothing will happen to him
If an election can be held in Iraq, surely it can also be held in Zimbabwe
# 10 Democracy exists only when there is a fair political environment for all parties. Taking advantage of the “hunger levels” in milanzi by the MMD is being undemocratic. We dont even have to look up to america to learn what democracy is because US is also undemocratic. We can infact do better. I beleive Zambia can be an example to whole world. Please encourage “multipartizm” and fair play for all because this is the only way people will make reasonable choices.
the above comment is for # 11
Not cutting into your discussion, let me say ….
There can never be genuine democracy under soft power be it circumstantial or engineered.Feed the people so that they can enhance their thinking ability to vote rationally.Get out to vote is done in different ways.Providing food and logistics are some of the many responsible democratic leadership roles that consolidates democracy. Such serve reduce voting apathy because they serve as significant trade offs against the time voters could be somewhere working for food.In the USA democracy,party central organs have the mandate to organize effective “get out to vote” command centers beside many support services to candidates like financial support.
Such services reduce voting apathy because they serve as significant trade offs against the time voters could be somewhere working for food.You cannot consolidate democracy with people who are hungry. You want voters to que up the usual long hours on empty stomach and return to the homes with the same challenges?
#2 & 3 and its working!
Too early to comment by Dr. LPM Sc.Let the ECZ to comment on this issue or independent observers.
Thank you all in Milanzi for trying your best by respecting each other, it is just a representative you are looking for who can deliver, so why do you need to fight each other.
Vima ngwenu muzimayi!!
Milanzi being a rural area is where MMD do well, they have been dishing out cooking oil and mealie meal. No other party has does that, no wonder Levy if happy with the way they have been conducted. Even in urban areas when they give out food they still loose. MMD’s dimished mandate is in rural areas.
For the first time in Zambian history, we departed from the usual announcement of election results “as when available” in the middle of results. This raised suspicions since earlier results had indicated PF leading but our elections were “free and fair!”
Milanzi dwellers kutemwa umusheto bachimbwi.
Whilst the elections in Milanzi were not perfectly free and fair we still have reason to be proud as Zambians because we are far more civilised than most of our neighbours(perhaps Botswana is the best).We are surely an example to many african countries.Coutries like Uganda,Nigeria etc have never known peace in its totality.It goes without saying that you are all great people and am proud of you.