Former Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati has advised opposition political parties to form a coalition ahead of the presidential by election.
Mr Mutati said in a statement released on Saturday that the most ideal way of moving forward under the current circumstances is for the opposition to form a coalition as a pragmatic and realistic way for contesting the presidential by election.
He said the main mandate for the coalition would be to ensure that all the weakness identified in the governance of the country are addressed and ensure a smooth 2016 general elections.
“It is important in this regard to uphold the principle that national interest over rides any personal ambitions and that the scramble for positions in leadership not be the objective or motivation for serving in the coalition,” Mr Mutati said.
He added, “The priority agenda for the transition period between the forthcoming by election and the substantive 2016 elections must address, among others, the passing of the constitution, the Public Order Act, qualifications of the Vice President to be aligned to those of the President, succession and transitional procedures and arrangements, the burden of by elections and addressing the size of cabinet and Deputy Ministers and rationalizing the structures and mandates of cabinet ministers.”
He said any government elected during the by election is expected to continue implementing the developmental agenda for the country to the best of its ability while exercising prudent use and management of public resources.
“It is important to remember that, whatever government does must be done in the interest of, and the benefit of the public and not at their expense.”
Mr Mutati said he is a loyal member of the MMD and respects the party’s constitution which prescribes the procedures and principles upon which leaders are elected including those that will be the torch bearers in the forthcoming by election.
Mr Mutati also commended Zambians for the dignity they have accorded to late President Michael Sata in the manner of their mourning and the peace they have upheld during a trying period.
Mutati would make a good vice president for HH. He would bring in the copperbelt vote and also help increase UPND’s presence in Luapula and Northern provinces. He was actually a good manager when he was at one of the divisions of ZCCM. He was my boss and I respected him and Edward Shamutete and others. Another option is Mr. Red Card Bwalya ( I cannot bring myself to call him father Bwalya as this would be a violation of Scripture). Although not as polished as Mutati, he too would help UPND push some of the copperbelt and Bemba vote that has been so illusive in the past years.
10 dreamers dreaming……
Mutati says what he doesn’t practice.It’s easier said than done.If he respects the MMD Pary Constitution,how much support/respect has he given to the constitutionaly elected Party President- Dr Mumba.Mutati can only deceive the gullible ones.After the loss of his bid to be the MMD Party President,practically,he has done nothing.He has very un helpful to Dr Mumba.Always kept quite,when the Party President was nearly overthrown illegally by Team Kachingwe. No wonder ,he was even removed from being the MMD Opposition leader spokesperson in parliament.
Bo Sipopa,,,didn’t you know Felix was a victim of smear campaign? He was nursing a broken jaw from his ill-wishers who cracked the bedrock of his family, much like what would have happened to ba shi Nono had Sata lived. Don’t be in a hurry to forget
@The Bricklayer-What’s wrong with these UPND species,always they consider everybody and anybody from among the 13+Milliom Zambians as No.2 to HH.The Bible says:”Don’t esteem yourself more than others”-(Philippians 2:3).No wonder this wierd and demonic thinking. Among these queer upnd species has pushed their HH further away from their perceived State House.God does not honour that kind of pride and arrogance.
@The Bricklayer you have the wrong Mr. Mutati. This Mr. Mutati has not the manager you have in mind. That was his brother at Luanshya and Mufulira mine.
@1plus1-That’s why I said,only gullible ones,will believe what Mutati is saying.Otherwise,that’s your Mutati for you.Smear campaign against him for what ?Remember he campaigned for himself as the best MMD President,but those who know him,they rejected him.Only you maybe and the like gullible minded voted for him.
People! Mutati is not campaigning instead what he has come up with is a brilliant solution.What we saw under PF was how broken our laws and systems are.Thats what Zambia needs now -leaders to help fix our systems.This has to be a joint effort.No one opposition party is popular enough to win the elections convincingly.They need to team up and between 2015-2016 fix the mess PF highlighted.Note PF didn’t necessarily create the mess they just showed how deficient our laws and systems are.In 2016 the opposition can then slug it out under the new constitution.Now is the time to think of Zambia and person ambitions and egos.
last sentence should read Now is the time to think of Zambia and NOT personal ambitions or egos
Very clever way of campaigning for MMD presidency – he’s has said a lot without really saying it!!!!!
Mr E Mutati who was ZCCM Manager has never been a politician. He was a manager for Mufulira Division. I worked for ZCCM Mufulira Division and this is not the face I know to be Emmanuel Mutati. I am not sure they are related as well, because I don’t know a lot about Felix Mutati although I know about Mr Mutati the ZCCM manager at one time.
iwe bricklayer, amatafwali yali kutoba umutwe te? Uyo Mutati tali ku ZCCM, ali ku Zesco – wila bepa ifyo tawishibe!! Mu leke “Feli” ale tombauka no munankwe mugala!
I stand corrected (though I am really sitting down as I type). Yes I got the two guys confused. My Boss was E. Mutati not Felix Mutati. I thought he had entered politics, but I guess not. I withdraw my statement, becuase I really don’t know this Felix Mutati guy.
Bo Sipopa and like-minded….
Colleagues, are you the only Zambians who are not aware that Zambians are very gullible when it comes to choosing leaders? The results of bye-elections held so far, and especially the Zambezi West, Mufumbwe and Mangango ones stand out! The loss of Presidential bid by the late Anderson Mazoka on the Copperbelt, especially in Ndola where he was well known was hard to explain. And Mazoka had an advantage which HH does not have. Mazoka spoke Bemba very well. Tribal inclination still plays a big role in voting especially in the Northern part of Zambia where non-bemba speakers have always performed badly. However, this is not the case in other parts of Zambia where, it appears, bemba-speakers have been accepted. I am talking about bemba-SPEAKERS.
just support UPND Period!!! even without that united opposition structure you can support UPND
FELIX MUTATI IS NOT THE SAME MUTATI OF ZCCM, BUT THEY ARE BROTHERS. COMING TO WHAT MOST OF YOU ARE SAYING THAT FELIX WILL MAKE A GOOD VEEP TO HH. AM SURE THIS IS IN YOUR BRAIN. HH CAN NOT MAKE A GOOD PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA.
For once we hear wise words and indeed what should be the focus for the new Govt. PF will not do any of the outlined priorities and Zambia does not have the luxury to risk another PF Govt. opposition, heed the advise and unite.
UPND is more than ready to form a government. Somebody dreamed Mutati to be vice-president to HH, no ways, UPND has so many better vice-presidents. The lowest HH can go is to take Nawakwi has vice-president or Prime Minister.
indeed some wise words there, but the problem in Zambia is anyone
who speaks some form or kind of english wants to president,,, please
people its one president at a time,, we cant have president kambwili, president Lungu, president GBM, President, president HH, president miles Sampa.. President etc at the same time.
@?Nostradamus
Clearly you have over-rated HH. Who do you think he is? You say: “The lowest HH can go is to take Nawakwi has vice-president or Prime Minister.” This is very disgusting and very disrespectful of Nawakwi. Many people have complained about how uncouth Tongas can be. I can see why.
Kapoli…
Kindly interpret. What are you saying or are you addressing your own tribes mates?
EDITH IS BETTER THAN HH WETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, SHE HAS ALL WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PRESIDENT. HH THINKS HE IS A BETTER LEADER THAN NEVERS MUMBA, MIYANDA, AND CHIPIMO. NEE I DONT THINK SO. HOW DO YOU COMPARE A SATANIST TO CHILDREN OF GOD,
Yes bwana Mutati…one opposition,one Zambia and in the process the PF will be buried along with its divisive founder.
I speak with facts .we are not overrating HH.HH got 568,000 votes half of what mr sata got to win the 2011 election.Do you think this is a simple thing?HH has earned his place a political house hold name in Zambia.If you are disputing andurrate him to your own peril.He is a serious threat to PF .That’s the reason why PF is held in the succession battle.They have no one they can say he can bit HH with easy.With Sata out of his way HH stands to gain his vote portfolio .with Banda not standing HH will increase his votes in Northwestern ,central and eastern province were they respect him than Mumba.KaBIMBA WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO HELP PF RIG ELECTIONS IN SOUTHERN,WESTERN,NORTHWESTERN,CENTARL,lUSAKA AND PARTS OF CB.
@?Sido Mark
All we want is to see HH win this bye-election. He has no reason not to. Unfortunately, he is too much of a straight-jacket politician. He seems to lack charisma and humor. His runs dry and dull campaigns. The recent losses in Mangango and Zambezi West were traumatizing. How much of HH is really there that we can count on?
Correction: “He runs dry and dull campaigns.” Not His…
That is the only way to go for Zambia because Zambia is a multiparty democracy and not a one party dictatorship!! Kenyans did this as well to avoid one party becoming too powerful!! Do it for our people and for development!! No personal ambitions should rise above the upliftment of our people! Well said Mutati!
@Bricklayer, the Mutati who worked at ZCCM as a Manager is elder brother to Felix.
On point Mutati was at Zesco,the only reason he has been quiet is because of the corruption involving his house which was built for him by some crook.Sata knew about it ,now that he is no more,Mutati can come out of hiding .
The only party which is people driven is MMD, others have family tag.
Well said Pio….
And if Zambia wanted to progress democracy, after the dictator we have put to rest, it should not hesitate or be ashamed of looking back to MMD. After all, the Hynas that were in it for their bellies have long gone…
For sure if Mutati joins the UPND then we know there will be an added advantage to the serious party. However for now this is too late. Let him just join after all Mutati knows the MMD is long gone. Let him not waste time or else he will be part of the forgotten MMD. Ba Mutati can you ask some of your colleagues and sell the idea of joining the MMD and offer the support. Come February you will be holding a big Ministerial position for the goodness of the Zambian People.
@?Oreilly
You are UPND and arrogant. UPNDs happen to be arrogant all the time. It is in-born. I don’t mind if your HH wins this up-coming by-election. But I do mind if all you are capable of doing is boast and boast and get punctured all the time.
There is substance in what Mutati has suggested. UPND have always been in a hurry to take-over power and rule. But that reality has eluded them time and again. one major reason is that UPND is perceived as a tribal party. Unfortunately, that is true.
What Zambia needs are political parties that are none-tribal. We all need to come to grips with this reality – Tongas and Bembas included. The sooner this gets done the better. Because of your arrogance, you are failing to appreciate Mutati’s proposal.
MMD and PF tagged UPND as a tribal party when pf was more tribal in nature and character. HH is the most suitable candidate to run Zambia into this period and 2016. We have been meeting as families and friends to scrutinize whom we can vote for and HH has our votes. Pf was a UNIP turn coat and that is why KK used to refer to it as “our party”. So MMD and Pf are closed in the last 50 years era leaving room for other parties to rule.
The fact that PF is tribal does not negate the fact that UPND is also tribal. It is. If people are going to reject PF in the up-coming by-election, it will be largely due to the fact that it has proved to be too tribal. Ironically, UPND, also a tribal party, wants to be afforded access to the throne on a tribal ticket. Are you not crazy?
Felix Mutati is the best candidate for President apart from Nevers Mumba, just listen to his words of wisdom, and you can see that he is not power hungry judging from his advice to the opposition. Most Zambians would have no problem voting for this man, I know that UPND supporters wouldn’t want to admit this but they know. He is far much better than HH, more objective in his approach to politics, he is issue based and does not engage in name calling. This is the kind of leader we need.
Mutati a good vice president to HH? No it should be the other way round.
Can you ride in the bucket of your car and let someone else drive it for you? It is counter intuitive, don’t you see? HH has a party. Mutati does not! Think.
That is why you are easily cheated, go and find out what felix did @ Zesco.Then you will understand the mutati you are talking about.Easily swirled by this cheap talk.That is what happens when you become too tribal inclined!!!
How can HH be the most suitable when he has never won any election or worked in government? Mind you Lungu has acted before as president. why shud we go for a learner driver when there is an experienced one
can we have LUNGU’s cv PLEASE!!!! YAPPINGS AND RANTINGS WONT DO…WHY IS LUNGU’s CV HIDDEN??? LETS SEE IT OTHERWISE VOTING FOR CHIMWELA WONT DO…”ATI BECAUSE NDIYE BANASIILA BA SATA”..YAK
Ba kayula you pipo never to amaze – with your “HH hast worked in govt” – wasn’t Sata said to be the most experienced president and wasn’t RB in govt before: what good did that do?
A learner driver obeys all the road signs and traffic lights carefully whilst the experienced drunkard driver obeys no law and cannot tell amber from red light. Police make more money from drunkards through traffic related penalties
The opposition can never be united, there are too many of them with many, many selfish interests, disjointed manifestos and low caliber leadership. Forget about the opposition for this one baba. Go PF!
The approach taken by Mutati Felix is the best for Zambia. Look at the issues he has mentioned its the issues the country is grumbling with. The economy management, the constitution making to remove the grey areas and economic development as one country.
Mutati is my man, focused leadership, selfless, intelligent and honest. He just needs a platform to market his ideas, MMD open your eyes and see you have an angel within your selves. Zambia you need a leader, Mutati is the Man of our time.
@Jameson Kaliza-Mutati is playing to the simple minds.He doesn’t mean what he’s saying.For 3 years,he has remained silent when Nevers has been inconvenienced by Kaingu and Group,because he thought,Sata will appoint him.And he also feared to be investigated for corruption about his CHAMB TRANSPORT Co.with those blue- headed-horse trucks.
How do you compare HH to Mutati honestly ? Mutati is far better in every right angle you can look at.
Mutati better that’s your opinion .Let him stand as independent tabakanya lets see how many votes he will gate.Leave UPND alone HH has sustained to these level that’s why UPND is appealing.UPND will show this year ba doubting Thomas that HH is the man.You were saying sata cant win a lone he did it.why can,t HH win.Mwila twikata mumenso HH is the reason why PF will fall like Goliati .HH is our david.VIVA flight 2015HH.
I don’t know why some people over rate Mutati, the man is not a team player. Those who know him from afar think he is a saint, for us who know him well, we reserve our comments. We agree with Mutale Nalumango, let’s do a proper back ground check and scrutiny of these characters. All of a sudden, his voice can now be heard. The man has not even said a word in the past not even helping his party. Suddenly his voice is there now, smelling coffee Ka.
Mutati is right the only way to remove PF is opposition working together during this by-election. Nawakwi has disappointed me because of her comments. It shows that she is not ready to work with others. Perhaps she is bought by PF who knows. MMD would be better with Mutati than pastor Mumba. HH can not win without support of MMD. Please can opposition unite and work together.
You are blatantly ignoring what Nawakwi and her FDD have gone through in the past. That is the reason you are failing to appreciate her stance on political alliances. In the past, big parties have sought alliances with small parties merely so they can have a free ride to the presidency. Such alliances have only been single event episodes. They have never survived past election. That is deceptive and fraudulent. Political alliances must be made to last for ever. If you want to count on me today, I must be able to count on you tomorrow. That is how things are supposed to go. Period.
Don’t unite under one front as opposition to remove PF and it ends there. Unite under one front to come and defeat poverty. For me, don’t show me your plan to defeat PF. I want both plans, one will be strategic poverty reduction plan, in business we call it recovery plan, of course due to the mess created by PF and then also show me your unity plan under one umbrella, structures and so on. If you want to unite to remove PF only and without any future forecast plan of how you hope to achieve together, then forget. Can I have the two plans urgently, I want to make a descision. If I don’t see it in a weeks time, I would rather go for HH who has a good economic background. I was buying mealie meal at 30 Kwacha three years ago and I now have to spend 3 times as much. No ways
Mutatu has no design for us 99% of Zambians, and cut that line of talk to save space, air and time.
indeed some wise words there, but the problem in Zambia is anyone
who speaks some form or kind of english wants to president,,, please
people its one president at a time,, we cant have president kambwili, president Lungu, president GBM, President, president HH, president miles Sampa.. President etc at the same time.
….united opposition is the wish for most people who are opposed to the PF governance…but is it practical under the circumstance..??…it is very easy for any-one to sing about it but should go further to advise/propose how the united structure should be and should be done…how should Nevers, HH, Nawakwi, Chipimo etc unite..??..to go for a convention to choose a candidate or meet as heads of opposition parties and choose one candidate among themselves..??…please advise.
For me, the above speech is a stale news. It looks a brilliant idea because it has come from a prominent person, meanwhile it is in every mind of people who want PF out… …all they are looking forward is for some-one to come up with a splendid idea on how to bring about this unification….
Well said Mutati. Your capabilities supersede those of all other cronies in the opposition. Let thre be a united opposition front to try to wrestle power from PF. But it will still be a case of a one year old toddler trying to snatch a monkey steak from a muscular 36 year old giant. How impossible? The forthcoming bye-election is a smooth walkover for PF. This has even been acknowledged internationally. The China Central Television has just run a feature story on Sata’s legacy and what came out was that PF in whatever situation it is now will carry the day after the bye-election because of economic growth and sympathy vote for the man Sata Zambians generally adored. As for the mirriad opposition parties in Zambia, only MMD has been mentioned as a front runner opposition party.
It ought to be the solution.
Unfortunately the manner of response by UPND supporters on this posting, gives a clear indication why it would not work! Such a coalition would lead to greater discord in our gov’t. There would be disputes greater than PF has had, which would then lead to citizen unrest as they punt for their party.
Zambian politicians are too self occupied, to consider sacrificing their personal ambitions for the good of the country and it’s citizens.
Admit it dear Zambia, ONE PARTY STATE was better for unity and discipline. This multi-party lark has lead to a break in what was good governance. The conduct of opposition parties is shocking. There is a general failure to provide balance and checks. Opposition parties are disruptive by negative personal…
Opposition parties are disruptive by negative personal campaigning.
CCTV has characterised all the opposition political parties apart from MMD as fringe parties. In other words fringe parties are insignificant. This brings me now to question the morality of UPND quakers for them to continue wallowing in a dreamland of rulling Zambia in January 2015. If they have any iota of morality and uprightness left to them, let them just fold up and rally behind MMD under the able leadership of Dr. Nevers Sakwila Mumba or Felix Mutati, umwana wamfumu.
The suggestion by Mutati is well intentioned but it is a pipe dream which will never happen. That’s the problem with Zambian politicians they leave in utopia make believe, like not accepting that our late President was terminally ill when it was plain for all to see. Mutati should just join the bandwagon and challenge that fake pastor president of his party to be the Presidential candidate for the Mwadia Mweka Daddy (MMD). Sanity will only come to this country through the enactment of a people driven(not an animal driven) constitution. Before that happens its free for all!
No blogger should attempt to mislead people of who can rule Zambia and who cannot. The voters will decide. Don’t cheat. Haven’t you cheated enough?
What warped thinking is this? You don’t get together as an opposition because there is a bye election. You get together because you have something in common, Mutati is misleading all those whose thinking is challenged, if you have something in common to advance the country, please do get together. Not because there is a bye election, you chaps
Warped thinking it might be. But that is exactly what the Opposition needs to be 100% sure that PF is given a red card now and not later.
Mutati continues to mislead weak souls
Where has Mutati been all this time? this is not the kind of politicians we need who only appear when there seems to be an opportunity somewhere. In any case, this Mutati guy is corrupt, what continues to save him is that he was never caught, in short there was weak evidence
Not really, it has just been swept under the carpet, just lift it & you shall find!!
If you knew you were weak as opposition, you should have united then, even harmonizing your programs. When elections come you are busy panicking and pretending you can work together
Elo marriage of convenience yalishupa. It works as though you just met in a pub. What Mutati is advocating, in English it is called desperation.
You fail to organize your parties all this time. Elections come, the simple formula is let’s work together, no homework done all this time. You have been chimbwi no plan all this time just to emerge as chimbwi with a plan because elections have come. And that plan is let’s work together, no well thought plan of working together and delivery plan. Oh what simple minds!
I concur with Hon Felix, if anything that is what Zambia needs and here is my though who should constitute the A team to work with HH
HH
Felix Mutatiti
Given Lubinda
Edgar Lungu
Ngandu Mangande
Rev Gen Ronny Shikapwasha
Muhabi Lungu
Charles Milupi
Sebstian Kopulandi
Nkandu Luo
Edith Nawakwi
Dora Siliya
Inonge Wina
Inonge Lewanika
Gen Brian Chituwo
Frank Bwalya
Kapinga Mpande
GBM
Katele Kalumba
Wilbur Simusa
Jack Mwiimbu
Lucky Mulusa
Simbao
Patrick Chisanga
Maureen Mwanawasa
Dr Kaseba
Elias Chpimo Jnr
There is substance in Mutati’s suggestion. However, a united opposition must not be a make-shift affair. It must be a permanent structure. MMD has such an ideal structure, if only the owners would be willing to put it on auction.
MMD’s problem is leadership. UPND, on the other hand, has an image problem. The two are the main opposition parties. A union between them would form a formidable opposition party.
The smaller parties would then decided to join either PF or the MMD/UPND alliance. Zambia’s political landscape would thus have changed for good.
PF appear more mature, politically. They seem to sense their vulnerability. MMD are more realistic and down to earth. UPND are too conceited. They are too self-assured. For all, the future appears porous and gloomy.