Friday, March 29, 2024

Verification of votes begins

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Presiding officers offloading ballot boxes at Lusaka Civic centre during the elections
Presiding officers offloading ballot boxes at Lusaka Civic centre during the elections

Zambia’s electoral commission is today (Thursday) expected to begin verifying votes from last week’s presidential election making it possible for the opposition to challenge the result in court. Main opposition leader Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front party claims the electoral commission rigged the vote for the presidential candidate of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy. Rupiah Banda was sworn in Sunday after the electoral commission declared him winner of the presidential by-election to replace late President Levy Mwanawasa.

Fred Mtesa is a Zambian political analyst. From the capital, Lusaka he tells reporter Peter Clottey that the looming court challenge could strengthen Zambia’s democratic process.

“I think it is an important step in the development of the electoral process in Zambia because it means the aggrieved party has an opportunity to lay their grievances through the legal process,” Mtesa noted.

He said previous presidential candidates have challenged election results after they were defeated.

“In the first place Mr. Sata is not the first losing presidential candidate to challenge the result of a presidential election in Zambia. In 2001, three losing contestants Mr. Mazoka, Christian Tembo and General Godfrey Miyanda petitioned the results of the presidential election, and they went to court. And of course in the end, the Supreme Court of Zambia ruled that the late President Levy Mwanawasa was duly elected as president of the republic of Zambia, although the court said there were anomalies,” he said.

Mtesa said the main opposition leader is not content with the election results.

“For Mr. Sata in 2001 he did not challenge the election results, in 2006 he did complain. And it is understandable given the growing popularity of his party in the urban areas, particularly in Lusaka and the Copper Belt where he swept the votes. I think it is understandable that he feels aggrieved,” Mtesa pointed out.

He said poll observers were unanimous about the credibility of the October 30th presidential by-election.

“The election was held under very difficulty conditions, and the Electoral Commission of Zambia was called upon to prepare at a very short notice. But we had reports from monitors of the Africa Union, the SADC (Southern African Development Community) monitors and also local monitors who adjudged that the election were conducted in a free and fair atmosphere,” he said.

Mtesa said there was a need to allow the electoral process to flourish.

“It is difficult to say what the court would decide and would have to look at the evidence. And I think for now the right thing to do for every observer is to allow the due process of the law to take its course and it would be a test of the Zambia constitution and to see what would happen in the event that the court ruled that the election was fraudulent,” Mtesa noted.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Sata claims the election was marked by discrepancies between vote tallies and the number of voters on registration lists and is ready to challenge the results in court. Under Zambian law, the verification of ballots is required before an aggrieved politician can ask the court to demand all ballots to be recounted.

VOA

206 COMMENTS

  1. i think Sata needs to be realistic here. This case will drag on till the next election and by the time he will think of campaigning, it will be too late for him

  2. To balance things up, ECZ should have engaged a private body to verify the results. Otherwise, nothing tangible will come out. At the end of the day,it will be in favour of the ruling party.

  3. Stop wasting national time ECZ.That institution needs complete overhaul not just changing chairpersons.Let Danny Kalale go back to OP.
    Verification then what if you find that the candidate you declared winner actually lost.

  4. What difference does it make the president is already sworn into office.
    All this was done to block petitions on the working days MMD knew what they were up to.
    Saturday they were having practicese at parliament house before the ECZ finished announcing the resaults and invitation letters sent for sunday ceremony.
    There is no democracy in this country and soon we shall herar the appointment of Florence to a higher position.

  5. Yes please verify those results and burn them in presence of Mr Sata because each time he see’s a truck he thinks its VJ and the Ballots.He is busy telling the owners of that helicopter that the elections where rigged and the decision will be overturn and thats when he will pay the $2.8 million he is owing.

  6. Check with Sata, on his calculator he is leading by 39.5% so far and Nyama soya beans is behind by 17.3%

    Viva H H

  7. #2 – Good question. Can someone advise how the constitution handles that?
    Who runs the country in the meantime? My assumption is either the Chief Justice or the Speaker of the National Assembly. But is this true?
    How do you take away the instruments of power? Is there a sort of ‘ceremony’ to do so?
    Responsible comment please anyone?

  8. wE KNOW THAT EVEN IF ANOMALLIES ARE FOUND THE CHIEF JUSTICE WILL NOT HAVE GUTS TO INALIDATE RB’S ELECTION BUT THE PROCCESS MUST GO ON TO SHOW THE RIGGERS THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE UP TO. AND IF FOUND TRUE RB MUST GO FOR CONFESSION FOR USING GODS WORD IN VAIN BY SWEARING ON THE BIBLE

  9. 2. good question. What will happen to the Chief Justice if its
    proved that Sata won the elections.Be truthful ECZ dont play with
    Zambians we are mature enough.That is just an excercise to justfy
    your rigging.

  10. Let us put on record what transpired on 30th October 2008 election, the truth is, it is not SATA who is aggrieved, equally me the voter. it is important that every sane Zambia must welcome the idea of using the our established court of law to preside on dispute of this nature. Debate sensiblly so that we can learn from one another.

  11. I personally dont think SATA is wrong by petitionong the results. That is why there is a judicial system in place to hear such issues espacially when you are agrieved. Let us not judge him. To me the man (SATA) is a democrat…if he really wanted to cause anarchy he could have. But he has resorted to follow the law other than bloodshed. We are no better than Kenya, Zimbabwe, Congo etc. Let us praise him for this. Mark my words, he is a man of peace and i believe MMD shud not take this for granted. One day things may turn sour….mark my words.

  12. Sometimes i worder what those in authority think about us Zambians.What is the value of the verification if the President has already been sworn in.I was personally disappointed with the ECZ PRM Hakufuna on his comments that the verification exercise was part of the ECZ programme and not as a result of pressure from stake holders who strongly believe that the last election were not held in a peaceful and transparent manner.This only goes to show the levels of manipulation by GRZ in ECZ.These verification are a waste of time and resources,if they were geniune they should have done b4 the declaraton of the President.Lets b serious Zambians

  13. If its found that Sata won, then he will be declared the deemed winner and has to be sworn in as president. i think it happened in the luanshya parliamentary election where the mmd candidate was declared duly elected and the pf candidate jean fimo fimo lost the seat without any elections.
    I believe if the courts are that independent as we are meant to believe by our simple civics that there is separation of powers, the let them do their work without intimidation.

  14. Let them just start campaigning for 2011. Going to court wont help them.It will just frustrate them more because the petition may take 5 years to be heard.

  15. how is it possible that the same chief justice who swore in r.b can handle this petition fairly.dnt u think he will contradict him self?i think nomata wat sata does it will be in favour of MMD,though he(sata) won

  16. The zambian electoral system is whack. I’ve never seen leaders who are so desperate like the MMD where u rush to have the president sworn in a few minutes after the results are announced. its plain simple the election was RIGGED. we’ll see how bad things will be for u MMD cadres who were busy supporting blindly. I can’t wait 2 see u guys cry…

  17. # 26 bro the sentence is correct and i fully concur with you. Each person shud excercise his democratic rights. Cheers Montana

  18. I think In Zambia We should redefine the term “thief”. once this is done we we’ll know how to steal and how much to steal just before you are called a thief.

  19. The best thing the courts can do is to do this as soon as possible. So that, which is the likely thing they will find Rupiah won, Sata will accept all he wants is a recount the result doent matter.It will make Zambia have a good name and will be seen as very democratic. The only fear is if and only if it was found that Sata won, what next do you expect Rupiah to step down? That would be an embarassment even to the international observers that they didnt do the job right as they have already concluded that the election were free and fair.But the likely thing is this case is likely to drag till the next elections.The BEST THING IS DO THE COUNTING GET AN ANSWER BY NEXT WEEK.

  20. take a leaf from the united states elections, free and fair nothing like rigging just a one day elections and the following morning you know already the new president. discouraged to come back home sorry

  21. SATANA is wasting time for Zambians. Why not accept defeat. When you win, there is no rigging, when you loose, there is rigging.
    Sinking bath tub. Yabunda!!

  22. The other thing is if the MMD want to embarrass Sata more the can do some more rigging so that the percentage Banda claims to have won can be more. But that would bring more confusion. If only they were patient about the swearing in.Look at how America does it, even Zimbabwe even though the election were not fre and fair Mugabe practiced some patience.Patience pays.

  23. # 20 you are correct…let us not demonise Cycle Mata. TO me he is more than a democrat. He has by all means avoided anarchy. I know he won these elections. Remember wat happenned in 2006? The rigger played a role in rigging and where is Mwanawasa today? Bloggers let us not undermine the wrath of God. Poweer is sweet but the end is bitter. VJ, Teta, Mbita and Mulongoti will end up badly. These are not true sons of Zambia because they rejoice seing pipo in perpetual poverty. Those that are supporting this current govt have not travelled to see how pipo are suffering. They are confortably blogging in their Mansions and watching DSTV. SATA was and is still a man for the poor.

  24. Ba PF,Three times beaten,Six times shy.am sure the sponsors have seen that they are just wasting money on a product that can not sell.
    VIVA verification

  25. Nothing wrong in recounting. We have to know what happened. If it is found that he lost we will accept it and if not at least we will know that he won and has been treated unfairly. You may be against this today but you never know who will be in Sata’s position tomoro, it could be you or your candidate. VIVA SATA VIVA PABWATO, PF FOR LIFE

  26. Imwe, why don’t we form a committee to help our old man Sata with resources. I pity him so very much, he may end up getting sick or something considering what he has lost. He is quite useful to us in that he provides checks and balance to the government. Without him, this mmd can roast us, believe me. They have developed a thick skin.

  27. #20

    Its not wrong to petition the results, but lets first assist Mr Sata pay for that helicopter before we start enganging expensive lawyers. These lawyers will accept any case to handle even if you went to sue God or Jesus they will take the case for as long as you are willing to pay them. You chaps dont just say PF ..PF contribute money to our leader so that we can liquidate this dabt and start fundtraising for 2011.

  28. It is perfectly in order for any candiddate who feels aggrieved by an election result to seek a re-count or indeed go to court to seek judicial redress. Sata is right on his money. The problem is that we have serious flaws in the electoral law, for instance, there is no time limit by which the Supreme Court should hear and deliver a judgment. What we must advocate for, perhaps through the current constitition making process, is that the court must within 60 days hear and determine all presidential election petions or complaints. The proviso must be that in case of a complaint no one gets sworn in until the disposal of the petition or comlaint.

  29. #12. Sata’s 3rd Wife I will have to look at the constitution and analyse what exactly it says but this is what i think. The President of the rebulic will continue to run the country and law will only apply for him to step down inase he is found to have lost the election.And because it not his fault incase he was found that he lost, i dont think he would actually step down he can only enforce the law on the riggers if found at all. But mostl like it can reach to there.He will do all things possibly to be found the winner.

  30. 29,
    Your last sentence should have read he (SATA) THINKS he had won.

    #23, CHE GUEVARA,

    Konichiwa, i know you have considerable knowledge of the Zambian constitution. Correct me if i’m wrong. A candidate should be sworn in as president not later than 24 hours after being declared winner by whoever makes the declarations. Was RB wrong in being sworn in the day he was declared winner? It appears to be an issue to some people here when they know that Zambia has been running without a president for several months since the sickness and demise of LPM.

  31. God will deal with the riggers.ECZ free yourself by declaring
    the truth.Dont be afraid of People but Fear God who is able to
    destroy both body and soul.Do your work faithfully without fear or
    favour.

  32. IF THEY RIGGED THE ACTUAL ELECTIONS(AS SATA CLAIMS)THEN ITS ALSO POSSIBLE TO RIG THE VERIFICATION AS WELL !SO I THINK ITS JUST A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.ITS BETTER FOR THE OLD MAN TO JUST RETIRE FROM ACTIVE POLITICS AND MAYBE JUST PLAY A ROLE OF AN ADVISOR.MWAKULA BAMUDALA YOU NEED TO REST,GOD WILL STILL RAISE OTHER LEADERS YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE.

  33. Is it sata who has requested for a verification? From the way this article is written it seems the verification has been granted cos. sata asked for it which is misleading. The ecz always carries out a voter verification excercise after the elections and this is just one of their final duty for this 2008 elections and I dont’ think there will be any different outcome. RB has been decleared and sworn in as president period. This excersie will just normalise the rigging if there was any.

  34. #41 my brother failure is not final, if anything you use failure as a stepping stone to higher heights. Do you know how many times the man who made the first bulb failed before succeeding? 99 times but Sata its only 3times. He may not be him to win he maybe laying the foundation for you and me. Wise up man. (Non PF)

  35. ECZ` says they were not pressured by anyone to verify the votes and that the verification was part of the process.

    I think they should do some process re-engeneering. How can they put verification after inauguration? If the verification proved the other cadidate to have won the election would they have the guts to change presidents? I say the verification process is of no use as at now. They should do the verification before inauguration next time. money is being wasted here.

  36. The last two presidents that we have had are a product of corruption look at how LPM came into power also look at how RB has also come into power.We the people are being forced to be ruled by leaders we have rejected.If it was in a country were people are aleast heard for example south africa.Some one cant even dare rig coz they know that they will create chaos in the Country but here even when things are wrong we just pretend as if they are fine when we are hurting.How many people have we seen celebrating Lupiah’s Victory in the streets apart from Ministers and rb

  37. SATA says after verification that is when he is going to apply to the courts. This he has already lined out as step 2. My question is, what is the purpose of verification? Suppose after verication results convince him that he indeed lost, is he going to accept or not, or he will then go to court so that perhaps courts can do magic for him? This is the same man who said even before elections that he would not accept results if he lost. In the same way he is now saying from the verification he will the go to court, already determined that the results of verification dont matter. It is said we must learn from elders, but for Mr Sata youths need to do that with caution.

  38. Hope the issue of voting on Friday and Saturday and the Munali saga will be mentioned. These were on ZNBC and i bet the evidence is there for us to see. Why not just declare the votes from the polling stations which voted on non official polling day be declared null and void? This will be a lesson to ECZ not to brag about the BIOMETRICS which they have no clue about. Why capture finger prints and allot a bar code on the voters card if these will not be used as counter proof for those who may be tempted to use other peoples documents or think of voting twice. I know no two people have one and the same set of finger prints.

  39. #45 and others. You refer to the need to start preparing for 2011. I agree with you that any serious politician looking at contesting the 2011 polls must start the ground work now. However, is Sata the man for 2011 in PF? Are there no young men in the party aged between 35 and 50 to give the party a new energy with Sata as an elder to provide direction, suppiort, advice. The time has come for the next genenration to move in and set the country on a new path towards development.

  40. #50 Biggie Jim, actually the constitution says and i quote article 34 sub 9
    (9) A person elected as President under this Article shall be sworn in and assume office immediately but not later than twenty-four hours
    from the time of declaring the election.
    So you see how tricky the situation is. I dont quite understand if RB was sworn in before counting finished or immediately the last vote for the last constuency was counted. If he was sworn in after the count, its constitutionally okay. But the problem with this article is that once a person assumes the office of president, you cannot place civil or criminal charges when he/she is performing the functions of the office of president and

  41. Is SATA trying to invent Zambia or something like that? Pulizi check the american candidates, one loss is enough. May be the italians and Israeli, but even then two times is enough. But sata has already tried three times. The fourth will simply break his own record. My freind, the sata guy is just power hungry.

  42. #48 Trigo – Good and objective comment. Some blogger hate blindly and ignore the implications on developing confidence in the election system and official. Cofidence will contribute the peaceful status that we all enjoy today but it can only exist through fairness.

  43. verfying of votes was the best idae and not only ECZ members to verify also opposition parties to take part because ECZ members will favor the MMD. the other thing which worries me i swhy Florence is being wicked to the opposition parties?
    please tell her that she will die a mistrius death if she is playing with God’s people. we all wanted change that is why we did not vote for nyama soya (RB)to hell with him and why didn’t you people follow what your chair Danny Kalala said that MMD’s election to be suspended? i saw some sense in him because he also noticed that rigging was there and it was a dirty game whikch MMD is playing. look at the number of people who voted in 2006 and the recent h

  44. contd from #61
    and i quote article 43
    43. (1) Civil proceedings shall not be instituted or continued against the person holding the office of President or performing the functions of that office in respect of which relief is claimed against him in respect of anything done or omitted to be done in his private capacity.
    (2) A person holding the office of President or performing the functions of that office shall not be charged with any criminal offence or be amenable to the criminal jurisdiction of any court in respect of any act done or omitted to be done during his tenure of that office or, as the case may be, during his performance of the functions of that office.

  45. What difference will it make.

    ECZ stop playing with peoples minds. Verify them to make your own allowances.

    Ama Rubish ya ba ECZ

  46. (3) A person who has held, but no longer holds, the office of President shall not be charged with a criminal offence or be amenable to the criminal jurisdiction of any court, in respect of any act done or omitted to be done by him in his personal capacity while he held office of President, unless the National Assembly has, by resolution, determined that such proceedings would not be contrary to the interests of the State.

  47. (4) Where provision is made by law limiting the time within which
    proceedings of any description may be brought against any person, the
    term of any person in the office of President shall not be taken into
    account in calculating any period of time prescribed by that law which determines whether any such proceedings as are mentioned in clause (1)
    and (3) may be brought against the person.

  48. The reason why court demands verification is not for mere ritual; it is to gather evidence in any which can be used to substanciate the claims. Now with the verication exercise at hand SATA must allow in his mind two things; either they find no evidence or they find evidence. If SATA thinks he should still proceed to court after verification even if they get no convincing evidence in favour of his claim, then he may not understand why the constitution demands that verification be the first step.

  49. #12 though I amn not very sure but indeed the CJ assumes power and he (in this case he) will have all the instrutments of power befitting an acting president, meaning he will provide caretaker services to the service, no ceremonies because within 90 days a fresh election has to be called, but going by precedence in 2005 there was a ruling that the seating president was duly elected despite there having been anomalies, Secondly a certain PF MP was recocgnised as a parliamentary winner without recourse to a fresh election, so these will definitely be considerations when looking at this case.

  50. it is sad that some blogers likes of the ‘Njobuv Kazi and Big C’fail to impress and think money is better than peace. Democracy is expensive.

  51. Mccan in America conceeded defeat to Obama within 12 hrs but our very own MAD sata wants to go on as if he won the elections.
    It is only the kaponyas in LSK and CB who wanted free money from him if voted into office who confused him further,let the OLD man retire,he will NEVER rule zambia.

  52. English bloggers, ECZ is preparing themselves for court cases in case the opposition petition ECZ especially chi SATA because of his calculator image builder and he’s mentally ill.
    Take him to Chainama hsp, please.

    Viva H H

  53. #61, CHE GUEVARA,

    Thank you very much for clarifying the issue of how long should it take to be sworn in after being pronounced winner. It is immediately, it should not take more than 24 hours.

    It appears to me that at the moment our greatest enemy is the constitution. Without a good constitution, which always lagg behind in almost all areas.

  54. I thot you go to court expecting either outcome. But if you have already made up your mind that the elections were rigged why go there. I have told you bloggers more than once that SATA is not presidential material. Just compare the way him and HH are going on about the loosing. How can someone in their right frame of mind say Chiluba introduced rigging yet SATA was chiluba’s right hand man and even embraced chiluba in the elections prior to the ones we just held. Then what does that say about SATA. This is typical Kabova behavior. Just saying what suits him at the moment. Now I wonder what kind of people support him. Maybe its true birds of a feather flock together.

  55. It is all progressive Zambians that are aggrieved and not only Sata and the PF. The trend is dangerous and all effort need to be made to stop what happened in 2006 and now in 30 October. Even if RB does not lose his presidency let it be shown that he was not duly elected. But be vigilant during the vote verification to ensure the rigging is not being repeated.

  56. Which polling stations had no Pf polling agents? If they were present to verify and sign the election results on behalf of PF.. then it means vote rigging was a PF inside job…

  57. # 72 KAANJI – Its not about conciding but about perfecting the electrol process to make people concide timely and no one is MAD is he goes to court and presents a petition. You sound friegthend by the verification.

  58. #64 MAMA

    You say ‘we all wanted change…’. We all wanted RB to win. So which is stronger of the two yours or mine. RB is president which ‘which we all wanted’ Talk about one dimension thinking.

  59. I Strongly condemn the engagement of the ECZ in the verification process. The best would be to bring in an independent body to caryout the exeercise.

    I have no confidence in the ECZ, for they will rule in favor of the rulling Party and they will do so simply to protect their Jobs.

    So far The commissioner her self Mumba is fighting for a Big position in the government, now do you think she can do anything against the Government? She actually want to become the next Chief Justice.

  60. Which either way defeat is painful, Sata is like a striker who cant score,The biggst problem of sata thinks he is very popular,let him go for a convention, i can assure you he will come out much stronger. Humility should also be his virtue, Guard his slippery mouth, PF should work on party structures in all towns, i dont know where to find PF if i go to Mtendere, they are invisible. The idea of saying no cards for members is self defeating, it is like going to a football match and saying am supporting itimu ila wina.

    Next time dont use the Post as your Image builders, in this election you were deceitfully projected.

    See u in 2011

  61. I Strongly condemn the engagement of the ECZ in the verification process. The best would be to bring in an independent body to caryout the exeercise.

    I have no confidence in the ECZ, for they will rule in favor of the rulling Party and they will do so simply to protect their Jobs.

    So far The commissioner her self Mumba is fighting for a Big position in the government, now do you think she can do anything against the Government? She actually want to become the next Chief Justice.

    Be careful fellow Zambians, let us not allow these Politicians to play on our minds

  62. How are we going to feel proud and free if the bloggers cant allow a normal process go on coz of your hatred for one Sata. First it was Mazoka then Sata and next it will be HH crying the same way if nothing is done now to give confidence to the whole country.

  63. Somehow its a bad idea when in fact SATA knows that the court can not rule in his favour.History is the best teacher.In our case,DEMOCRACY has always been defeated because the same thing cannot be repeating itself.Let sata try because this is his only last kicks of a dying cobra.

  64. #84,African Potato,

    The problem is not really hatred for SATA. SATA is the problem himself. He made a great mistake in believing the POST, who had lied to him that he had won the elections beyond any reasonable doubt. SATA went to the extent of saying that as long as he is not the winner, then the elections were rigged. He even advised RB to concede defeat. His mind set was totally wrong. I wonder what he would have said if HH had won. I’m sure he would have said the elections were rigged, knowing his obsession with plot 1.

  65. Ba Cycle Mata,twanaka nenu. Three times I’ve just been wasting my vote. Aweee mweee!!! Try fishing and leave presidency to young ones.
    Dont even waste your money petitioning things you know you cant win.

  66. Honestly i agree with #84, something need to be done, otherwise this useless bahaviour will continue for all eternity, as long as there is nobody to clear up the mess

  67. If USA was in Africa , today’s papers would read something like:

    Don’t celebrate yet, McCain tells Obama

    Concede defeat, Obama urges McCain

    20 opposition cadres riot

    McCain Demands Vote Recount

    Elections rigged

    No evidence of manipulation

    The Church declares elections free and fair

    There will be violence if we lose, McCain declares

    Election results for Arizona awaited

    Trucks with suspected ballot papers crosses into USA from Mexico

    McCain is an opportunist – Go back to your farm

    I will not accept results, McCain tells Obama

    WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  68. # 21 watch your Tongue am watching you. You are a car guard in sandton. ukatekela kwisa mwebashi vota. Tukaminaya bangwele

  69. the other issue is why Ba Maureen is refusing the house chosen for by the state and has instead asked the state to book her the entire lodge, plz mwe bantu sure how much is this and for how long.

  70. Number 86 Biggie Jim…Please try to be rational and separate your hatred for The Post from REAL and FUNDAMENTAL issues being raised about our country’s electoral process. SATA or no SATA my brother our beloved country’s democracy needs to be protected if the whole world has to respect us. Political affiliations even when addressing serious national matters will never build the Zambia we all desire. You can blame old Michael for his GENUINE outbursts TODAY but tomorrow its HH or any other candidate who will cry over the same issues. You should actually praise SATA for taking the constitutional route in dealing with the matter. One day ZAMBIA will be on FIRE!

  71. Its pipo like #90 who have given PF a bad name that we are a party of call boys, #21 is expressing his thoughts let it be and grow up and learn to concede and fight another day, we now should plan for 2011 and make sure the rural vote knows whats happening period. Viva PF.

  72. #64. Mama,
    When you say we all wanted change, how many people do you put in your group? You know what, when people in africa had not yet seen other races they thought everyone was a ‘black’ man. The same with whites before they were exposed they thought all people were ‘white’. This is exactly the same with you, all your friends wanted change, but what you dont know is that all my friends did not want that change. You did not vote for RB, but others voted for him and so he won. Those who voted for HH or Miyanda cannot say, ‘we did not vote for RB, how did he win?’ because that means you dont understand democracy, and the meaning of the ballot. Anyway, democracy is not there in PF.

  73. #92

    Are you being rational yourself? You say ‘if the whole world has to respect us’ Halo, the observers represent that ‘world’ and they said all was well. Dont try to force us to look at issues the way you percieve them to be. Wake up.

  74. But sure,the ECZ have again decided to add salt to a wound.
    The Chief Justice is the most corrupt of all the institutions can you people imagine the idiocy he portrays!!!!
    He has the power to calm the situation,by differing the sworing in ceremony alas,he is now licking RBB shame on the fat man!!!
    ECZ sorry for you guys,you cant even walk with your heads up,you are a let down to mother zambia!!!
    Go ahead and enjoy the benefits of rigging but time will catch up with you.

  75. We will start kidnapping the ECZ members one by one, toucher them badly until they confess of the rigging bublically, we have had enough of thier games, they have robed our happiness by forcing people to be ruled by unwanted leaders, they don’t want peace to preveal. They started it, we shall finish it. Wait and see………

  76. You are right my brother # 92 Actually zambia is already on Fire, therefore, we need strong and brave people like Micheal Sata to put this Fire off.

    Although people can’t see the danger, we are in a big mess. The MMD Dominance has reached a very advanced stage such that they feel they are on top of everything for having all the Government matchinery in their disposal.

    we therefore need strong and brave people to overcome this selfich desire encloched in the so called MMD circle.

  77. #98

    Sata’s illusions have persisted in your head. You were seeing an imaginary boat, now it is an imaginary fire. Wake up. You think your lawlessness will benefit you?

  78. #56 No one is celebrating his (RB) victory instead people in Livingstone will be celebrating Obama’s victory on Saturday imagine!!!

  79. #102

    You say ‘No one is celebrating his (RB) victory’ I assure you, I celebrated AND I am still celebrating RB’s win. My whole village is, so your statement holds no water.

  80. Sata should be realistic.This is a waste of money and time.Why cant you learn from John Mcain who accepted the results there and then and offered to work with Obama.The elections are not supposed to be about individuals but about how well the country should be run.No gr4 level individual can be competent enough to run any gvt in thw whole world

  81. All learned and peaceful loving Zambians do not see anything wrong with Mr. Sata and others asking for verification. It just shows the man does not want violence but to follow the rules of the law. If people dont believe that some people may change for the better open your eyes. Watch out for some who look so innocent and you compare the language used in the recent past could throw Zambia in flames. I believe Sata has used maturity in remaining calm while at the same time expressing his views. All have seen that there are no celebrations in the streets except in some people’s bedrooms.
    Laws are meant to be used and followed not just empty pronouncements.

    Viva peace loving Zambians!

  82. # 101, try to open up my brother. For your own information, I am not a PF member nor do I belong to any part, i am actually none partizan.

    So , my intention is to gight for mother Zambia and to eradicate this uncalled for behaviour by the MMD and ECZ.

    Work up brother

  83. I think we have too many kids & immature chaps on this blog.Some of the reasoning being exhibited in many comments makes me feel so sorry for my country.
    Yes,it is truly democratic to contest election results as that way we can know if someone is in power correctly,Sata & HH did well to write to the ECZ which was so overwhelmed during the run up to elections.
    I think it is rather silly for someone to echo Sata’s comments that there could be bloodshed in Zambia because of unproved rigging,#20 Montana,let’s talk responsibly,unnecessary war is the last thing we need,war never ends in africa so better avoid it.

  84. #21 Lupila Ka Nyambe you think you won because your supported MMD sorry mate me and you are still in the same problems you were just used now you will be left to starve. Maybe even me in the PF is doing better than you

  85. 100,the verification process is not about Sata, but atleast let sanity return to our country.Let these useless ECZ stooges be ashamed!!
    We are scared for 2011 since Florence will have more experience in rigging so we better stop her now.

  86. #109

    I have just realised that. I am wasting my energy. However, children are the most susceptable to manipulation which the cobra does very well. Vyamba ba fana ba these days.

  87. #96. Things fall apart
    You think that elections can only be free and fair if Sata wins? Well, even your thinking does not seem to be free and fair. I see some malpractice in your thinking. But I have a dream, a dream that one day you will understand democracy, that one day PF will know the meaning of the ballot both in their party and at national level. A day when Sata will no longer be worshiped but advised, a day for change in PF when the ballot will not be seen to create enermies but to enhance democracy. In that day, PF will say now we are free, free at last to understand what was hidden from our eyes, what a nice thing, what a nice thing it is – the ballot, how wonderful.

  88. #76 Its not Sata who refused to merge it was HH bamudala ba KK told him not to

    #86 Why do you hate Sata kanshi? The other time it will be RB.

  89. SATA and MC CAIN should just form an alliance , add up their votes together ,then divide them in the ratio 100 ; 1. then sata wu have more than a million votes, then au declare him the winner, simple satamatic sorry mathematics

  90. Number 95…What observers are you referring to? Hope its not SADC and EU? I was part of the SADC team that observed the last Zim elections and hope you saw that SADC endorsed the elections. Issues of diplomacy and fierce debates always arise during these meetings before the report is issued. Consequently, even in cases where the government has violated the electoral procedures, a damning report will never be issued by the both SADC and EU. As for the EU….they are imperialists who always monitor elections with the view of protecting their interests. Am only being realistic so you better drop those PF cadre accusations you are trying to peddle. Am much more exposed to these issues.

  91. #103 To tell you the truth go round Zambia, people are not celebrating RB’s victory maybe in your village yes and not my village.

  92. Kwena ine nanaka ukumfwa pali SATA. Sate has been in politics all his life. He has been in all governments. So, what change are people talking about? Wake up my fellow zambians. sata is not got for us. We are even lucky he lost.

  93. CAn anyone post some of the Post story about the US ambassador? I want to see what the guy is saying. Thanks in advance

  94. Thats why there is no progress in that small country because Zambians you let go off so quickly.There is nothing wrong in bringing up the matter if one is not saticified, thats why we have courts. Why should you tell Sata to shut up, let him exercise his rights, if you can’t exercise yours you are the ones who should shut up.

  95. 113,
    To be honest with you, i can never or will i be happy to see that sata is a president,but my thinking is towards the cowards who hold the office of CJ they have too much power to calm and lead us in the right direction but alas,they are the first to lick the backsides of the corruptly elected leaders.
    I have a dream that one Day zambia will be free from election malpractice, i believe we share the same dream,
    Cheer up and see thru things

  96. Number 95…Its a pity that your hatred for SATA or is it your love for MMD has overshadowed your reasoning. You think Zambia is MMD and MMD is YOU. The major pre-occupation of REAL leaders is to leave a thriving democracy when they are out of office. KK bowed to calls for democracy in Zambia. Am sure if you were KK you would have continued with the TYRANNY even at the expense of your country. Put country First Always! What future do you guarantee for your children and relatives with such an electoral process in place? Do you think your safety is guaranted when the ruling elite don’t want to respect the electoral laws? Be arrogant now but don’t forget that Zambia today is a time bomb.

  97. #11,13,14,15 etc. it seems you dont know your rights, anyway I dont blame you, i wouldnt be surprised if someone grabbed your own built house and you ended up keeping quiet. may God deliver you. leave Sata to fight for his rights and our rights.
    Limbi bonse mwafuma kumushi, ifwe fwema urban dwellers we have been affected badly and since we know our rights we give the big man a go ahead to excersize his freeeeeely God given rights. God bless Zambia.

  98. #118 wise rural voter…..tell them!baauze…beeebe…Sata is finished….
    Praise God, the snake lost!
    …the KING COBRA is now just a WORM!…ala nomba ninsokanda fye mukwayi…
    PF…hah hah hah ha he heh heh hoho hoho hooooooooooooooooooooooo!

  99. I wish to thank villagers. The rural vote has recued us from national collapse twice now, first in 2006, and now 2008. I wish someone could reward there wisdom. It appears villagers are more sensitive than Kaponyas in town. Villagers know very well that most of you guys blogging here have capacity to flee and go to work in other countries when our country gets ruined. The majority in rual may not have the papers you guys have to allow them get jobs in SA, USA, UK, etc. They would be the most hit of we have street type of governance. The other people be in fact the first to nash their teeth are the kapanyas in town who have no farm, no garden, but shouting mukwela, mukwela!

  100. They thot MMD was going to rig.But thank God,they even formed an organisation and named it “ANTI-RIGGING ZAMBIA LTD”….
    but they LOST clean.PERIOD.now they want to petition….TIME WASTERS!
    hah hah heh heh he he hoh hoho hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

  101. Sata can never be trusted even i would refuse to merge with him especially if he is on top of me.He was going to use HH to get to plot 1 and dump him thereafter that is the King cobra we have always known and he will never change!He is a thug and forgets wat he said a minute ago.

  102. # 125 fine…thats very TRUE.I also thank them villagers for saving Zambia from a poisonous,lethal,deadly “SNAKE BITE”.

  103. sagem sakala leave your friend(#125) alone…OK.
    maybe u a PF cadre?
    hah hah ha heh hehe hoho ho hoh hooooooooooooooooooo!

  104. #54,

    Yes its true that to fall is not to fail. Failure is not in falling but in failing to raise after falling. Or in other worda: We draw back to make a greater leap forward.

  105. Out of 2,107,545 pipo who voted only 718,359 voted for chi RB Nyama Soya! Honest speaking can you celebrate when majority of the population have rejected you! LABISHI NYAMA SOYA, LABISHI THICK HEADED FACE RB!!!!!

  106. 1. who was in possession of the ballots all this time?
    2. how can the same people who prepared the fisrt report audit
    themselves?
    3. what assurance is there that the ballots will not be tampered
    with as the verification takes place
    4. even if irregularities are found who will report them?

  107. 137,Thats Zed for you!!!
    Too much of nonsense goes on there!!!
    But we are children of the soil and truely God will never forsake his own….truth will forever prevail

  108. hah hah heh heh ho hoh hoh hoho hoooooooooooooooooo!
    Am not celebrating RB’s victory,but am celebrating SATA’s loss!

  109. 136. Anonymous,
    Of the four candidates who stood the most popular is RB followed by SATA, then HH, and finally Miyanda. In term of being unpopular, below are the statistics:
    RB was rejected by 60%
    SATA was rejected by 62%
    HH was rejected by 78%
    Miyanda was rejected by 99%

  110. Sata wants to date the Rwanda’s Nyamulenge over his loss yet wants to rule .Now if those rebels come they will enter through Luapula and Northern where his another strong hold is and kill Bembas .The rebels will never come through Tanzania or Malawi.So sata check it out.

  111. OOOOOOOOHMR PRESIDENT SATA FORGET !NOTHING WILL HAPPEN IN ZED.
    POOR PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THEIR RITES.NOWONDER ZAMBIA WILL NEVER DEVELOP.WE NEED TO EDUCATE FIRST MORE VILLAGERS THEN MAYBE WE CAN SEE SOME CHANGES. 1. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S TAX.2.THEY DON’T EVEN DREAM OF BEING EMPLOYED.NOW,HOW DO U EXPECT THEM TO VOTE OPPOSITION?
    A COUNTRY TO DEVELOP NEEDS MORE EDUCATED PEOPLE.SO FAR ZAMBIA LACKS EDUCATED PEOPLE HENCE HIDDERING DEVELOPMENT.
    LET US GIVE SAME NUMBER OF ECLECTORAL VOTES IN VILLAGES SO THAT ZED CAN MOVE FORWAD.NO ONE LIKES MMD.AMERICANS ARE NOT CRAZY TO DO THAT.THEY KNEW FROM THE BEGGING WHAT TO DO.POPULAR VOTES WILL ALWAY FAVOR SOME TRIBES.

  112. I am very very happy Sata has not been able to make it to the highest office of this land. How on earth could he have started saying the one who will win the presidency in 2008 will have to rule for 5 years even before he was elected? What more things will he have changed to his advantage if he had won?

  113. Imwe bakamushi,finshi mulecita enjoy mu MMD ,abene ama leaders bale
    milila fye pa mitwe.Bukeni, workers pay a lot through paye and you come in town to ask for money which you dont want. You are cheated
    with a packet of sugar and that is all. wake up.

  114. I would like the results remain as they are,but i just don’t understand how the preparer of the work can review themselves.I remember at school i would go thru a Math question and u only realise the funny mistake u made after the teacher marks.My point is there is no way u can mark yo own answer sheet and expect to see the mistakes and even if u saw them, would bring them out?

  115. its seems like some people are so used to poverty and Unemployment that they cnt do without it, no wonder they cnt let go of MMD

  116. I do not hate the POST nor SATA. I differ with them on principle and ideology. The POST fostered a debate that Bemba should be an official language. It was an anrchist issue & i did not agree with its mere mention. The POST, for reasons known to themselves wanted to force Magande down the throat of MMD as a presidential candidate. I did not agree with their strategy. The POST, decampaigned SATA in 2006 telling us that we forget easily if we even consider SATA to be presidential material. In 2008, they campaigned for SATA, meanwhile SATA has remained the same since 2006 except for age and sickness. The POST put pornographic material in their paper. That was wrong.

  117. # 21(Lupila Ka Nyambe. Learn good manners!! RB is not going to give you anything, not even a cent. We are all Zambians. Show maturity like the Americans.
    By the way dont think I’m Sata’s supporter, I did not even vote & I will never vote. I’m just prompted because of your remarks my friend.

  118. Some people on the blog keep on saying why cant Sata concede defeat and keep on giving examples of Mcain.Mcain conceded after 12 hours yes. The same question why dont you ask yourself why didnt RB not concede defeat in the first day or the second day.Mcain didnt have to wait till the last moment like RB.Look at Kaunda in 1991 he conceded defeat before counting finished.See how the Americans are rejoceing about the result.Do you remember the last time Zambians rejoiced like that? it was the 1991 elections when Chiluba won.What Sata is doing to go to the courts its the right thing,to make our electrol process more efficient and to have people’s confidence.

  119. 144. russia moscow,
    You seem to say that people’s rights means voting for SATA. In your view if they dont vote for SATA then they dont know their rights? Anyway it is because of democracy that anybody is contributing on this site, including those who are contributing nothing their contribution is still welcome. I think we need to commend LT for being accomodative to all. Otherwise they would have developed a program that searches for sense in what we say, if it does find it then your contribution is thrown out. But they have embraced all of us; LT thank you!

  120. Why talk about mealie meal price when the majority of the people affected are anti govt,let these people suffer until they die.Just continue giving fertiliser cheaply to villagers so that sata’s cadres can suffer more after all most of them are thieves here in town.What good can come from the kaponyas.

  121. you guys amaze me coz the man takes the right step to have ballot verification you condemn, if there was to demonstrations you were going to condemn, what then do you want the man to do? be realistic and fair with him, armchair critics that’s what you are and no wonder this country cannot develop at all. let us be fair and realistic in our comments after all anyone who is not satisfied can petition and have verification done. if you think democracy is very expensive then try dictatorship, ican assure you it’s very cheap. we need the 50 plus 1 rule so that one can elected by majority.

  122. #152 FINE
    u DON’T SEEM TO UNDESTAND ME.WHAT I’M SAYING IS THE TRUTH.NO WAY VILLGERS CAN DECIDE OUR LIVES PERIOD.

  123. #139 He said that SATA is still primitive and he’s still in the colonial days, dark moments from Chainama Hsp.
    Mr. Donald Booth and his team have recommended that the GRZ should put SATA manager for PF under observations in case he asks the Zed women again to stripe naked with G strings hanging in front of him.

    Viva H H young of intelligence

  124. #155 well said, some of these poeple blogging on here know less about democracy than the kaponyas they are so busy sneering at

  125. If its REALLY true that RB won the polls thru a ballot,let the will of GOD prevail ,but if somebody helped him rig !that means he wont v pride and watever he will be doing wont yield nthing.Can somebody tell how much RB spent on those image builders and a group of stoogies from the weaker opposition parties who leaked his boots.About the 3 planes he hired ,who is paying for that….TAX PAYERS MONEY AGAIIIIN….SHAMUUUUUUU!

  126. When people are confident in the electrol process there will never be this thing of acusing one another for rigging election.Okey in America when George Bush first won the election in 2000 there was a recount do you remember? And there was room to verify not rushing into swearing in, i think we have to look at our constitution(amend) for the sake of transparency.By the way how long did it take chiluba booth 1991 and 1996 before he swore in?
    So far i believe the ECZ are getting better each time they do election, this does not rule out the fact that they have been annomalies in the process, but they are improving.Let see how far this goes!

  127. The lack of knowledge by some people has forced me to feel obliged to comment on the iisue of tax. Some people are saying villagers dont pay tax, what? That is a joke; everyone pays tax in Zambia, without exception. Tax is not just PAYE, we have VAT, exise duty, etc. Whatever you buy has in it VAT and as a consumer you contribute that Tax. Everyone contributes to tax, from the time you are born. If I allocate K300,000 for my baby nappies/diapers clothes etc, each of these items attract VAT, logically this implies the owner of this allocation is paying the tax. This is the same for UNZA students who get allowances, as they buy food they are paying tax, and so does everyone else in the country

  128. #166 villagers have no money therefore they pay no tax. unless Levy’s bicycle tax if they are lucky enough to have one

  129. PF nabashala,just start campaigning for 2011. Such court cases drag on for many years thereby wasting money and time. Advise for Sata: Let your party start grooming a candidate for 2011 and please start pondering to quit politics.

  130. why is mr sata so desperate to enter state house? the man is fighting tooth and nail , even discrediting others in the process.

  131. #162, I couldnt agree with you more on RB’s expenditure with regards the Image builders + the group of stoogies from the weaker opposition parties who leaked his boots (very well put i must say)not to mention the +/- 3 planes hired. Imagine how much of this TAX PAYERS money was spent and what difference such money would make if pumped into UTH (for example)
    It is really shameful…

  132. 158. russia moscow,
    But they know their rights, they may not know your rights but they know theirs. They are not living to serve your interest but theirs. Viva Village power!!!

  133. Is it true RB wants to appoint Vice President from this provisional list?;
    1. Mbita Chitala
    2. Nevers Mumba
    3. Maureen Mwanawasa
    4. Sakwiba Sikota
    5. Tetamashimaba

  134. fellows, stop wasting time discussing things that wont change anything…get back to work and earn bread and butter for your families. Who didnt know that the oposition will loose? If you seriously thought they will win while divided, then check your analysis prowess…its not up to date.

  135. Twachula mu bwatoooooooooooooo muno tuli.
    Are are suffocating or are we drowning?Is this how it is to drown?
    We wish we PFs had stopped thinking petty and voted for HH.
    We are admiring what is going on in the US.
    A young president at 47 yrs. HH is 46.
    There is something wrong with Zambians.
    Ukushenda, backwardness,ignorance and even jelousy.
    These are vices that will keep us underdeveloped.

  136. Not to rain on anyones’ parade. But pray, how much is this exercise costing the tax payer for an outcome that will change nothing, and one whose outcome we will never hear of?

  137. Why cant she stay at palabana or one of her other houses? This is tax payers money which can be used elsewhere e.g schools, hospitals or roads. Ba Maureen naimwe be realistic.

  138. #177 reality check it is probably not going to cost nearly as much as parading a dead body around the whole country

  139. All of you who are just talking against Sata,u hav water in your heads.Sata is a peaceful person if he wanted,he would have incited people to start violence.But the man wants to do it in a legal way. And you are busy barking,who tells you that Sata has support from kaponyas only? If you are stinking dont bring your bad smell to my President{Sata) ubupuba,most of you who make noise here,you wil never be like him. Dull creature!

  140. Sata says rigging was started by Chiluba! Surely as asenior Minister in Chiluba Government Sata played a major role in whatever the schemes were designed. Yet Why should sb of Sata’s status keep such information to himself until after losing 2008 elections! Is this man really Prsidential material!

  141. VJ, myself and our collegues had inflated the votes for Northwestern and Western in order to win the elections.However, since we are already declared winners,nothing will change no matter how hard Satamania fights us. We are already in government.
    For your information; VP is Dr.Mumba Nervous, for Information and broadcasting is VJ and i am Minister of Home Affairs(full cabinet minister now) in the next govt.MMD!!!

  142. Let us just enjoy our peace and let those who think use their brains for thinking not the heart. Remember what we write is a reflection of what we are.

  143. My fellow Zedians this election was a waste of time and alot of money, the money that can be utilised properly and in three years time just when our little economy is proberbly going to be picking up, new elections again. More money to burn and living US all poor again. Tell me what king of a constitution is ours? Elections in three years again! GuyS this is a way in which government officialS steal from US. No more old men with blunt ideas we too can CHANGE the direction in which our Zed should be heading. ”YES WE CAN”!!!!

  144. Please can anyone post the US ambassador’s statements from the Post today I want to check if he is interfering in our internal affairs. Thanks

  145. A message for Mr.Sata!! Please just go home and sleep. Can’t you be a gracious man and accept defeat. The people of Zambia have voted and you lost. Get over it!
    Look at McCain in USA, he graciously accepted defeat and embraced Obama and advised his supporters to work with the new president to ensure a better country for all.
    Mr. Sata, please don’t tear Zambia apart due to your bruised ego. If you care for Zambia you will run an effective opposition to ensure that MMD and Banda are kept in check and are only working toward making Zambia better for all.

  146. Those of you who hold the Holy Bible in your hand and swear by it, even when you know you rigged!! Or you know you’re telling lies, Beware of the wrath of God..! You will die very misreable pipo..
    Am telling you this as a duty…!!

  147. U can call Sata all sorts of names,but look @ the constituency in which RB’s goin 2 be leavin in,Lusaka Central,ni muma yadi,were aba sambilila stay,but still they neva Voted 4 RB..if anyone including RB,VJ,Mulongoti,Mbita Chitala,Tetamashimba,Now think tht they are now Political Heavy Weights.Let Them try 2 contest the Lusaka Central Seat,will tell Scott 2 declare his seat vacant so he cud giv em a shot,I tell u we the learned pipo of Lusaka Central Know were 2 put our Votes,Banda is a President 4 Villagers,abata baishiba nokulemba,cookin Oil,Mealie Meal is there Pride Surely…Ba MMD ur now even fearing and Emabrassed,wen u hav a Funeral in yo Family,U can’t Afford a Bag Of Mealie Meal

  148. Mr Sata has ordered that that all chickens be slaughtered in his
    compound. He alleges that every morning he hears the chickens mocking him ati chweeeeechwe chwechwechwechwe…………

  149. #193. Rikanatti,
    That is very wrong self-misguiding. I stay in one of the places you are talking about, and I have a fair university education. I did not vote for SATA. and many of my coleagues who are all equally well meaning sensed danger to our economy which you could not see. Voting SATA was going to tear the economy of our country down. That is why I salute all Zambians who made wise choice, and for those of you who voted for SATA we still love you the same as those who voted for RB, HH or Miyanda. We are all Zambians, when a bad candidate wins we all suffer, and when a good one wins we all benefit. No citizen wins or loses, only politicians win or lose, not the electorate.

  150. #197,Fine U know tht Lusaka Central constituency is the Prime Area,The Measusing Stick of this Business,I neva got 2 see anyone Celebrate RB’s Victory anywere in Thoz Streets tht i drove Thru,Be Honest 2 yo self # 197…One thing is sure is tht even if Sata verified thoz Vote,found tht he won,Chief Justice won’t Lift a Finger on RB’s coz Probally his Loan Application Form or even his Salary Raise Request will be In RB’s In_tray..and u Think his gonna go against RB’s and Nulify the results,Levy Must be turnin in His Tomb,Wat a Circus State House haz Turned in2..Gud 4 Sata 2 hav Reconcilied wit Levy

  151. Please do not cheat the world. No everyone voted against RB. Though the number of those who voted against are more, but that does not mean he has no support. The majority voting against does not necessary mean they are wise! the minority might also be the brightest

  152. Whats wrong with you guys in Africa? Imwe when you lose, ninshi bufi…… Let Sata contest in the next elections, lwakwe nga alusa again. He has tried 3 times. I think Ba mdala ba Lesa has seen no potential in this man kwena, kale batampa ukulwisha. Oh I love my country, its the most beautiful country in God’s creation.

  153. Sata go and concentrte on other things ifi nafikana fipelwa naLESA.
    Abantu basala icobatemwa nokutweba icho bachitemenwe.Missed it again mwaloba ilyauma,POLE SANA MUZEEE.

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