President Rupiah Banda has assured the nation that he will stand firm to protect and defend the constitution from any interferences.
President Banda said he would also ensure peace and stability prevails in country.
Mr. Banda said no amount of pressure from the opposition political parties will make him stand out of his principles of ensuring that the three organs of government, the judiciary, legislature and Executive, were free from unnecessary interferences.
He said this when he addressed a rally at Kyawama market to drum u support for the MMD candidate Albert Chifita for the Solwezi central parliamentary by-elections set for November 19th 2009.
Mr. Banda said he will abide by his promise to save the people of Zambia royalty and reach the goal of developing the country thereby making it a better place to live in.
He called on every Zambian to regard the MMD as a national party that can look into their welfare regardless of their political affiliation, race or tribe, saying he was ready to work for the citizens so that he testifies about his leadership’s good works in 2011.
Mr. Banda emphasized that he will not allow any diversionist in the country, who are trying to practice regional or tribal politics, saying government will deal firmly with all those perpetrating riotous behavior in the country.
He therefore asked the people of Solwezi central constituency to give back the seat to the MMD in the forthcoming by-election, saying it is the only patriotic and democratic party that is reedy to take Zambia to greater heights.
Mr. Banda said he was counting on the people of Solwezi to give the party Albert Chifita as the area Member of Parliament (MP) because he was the right man to vote for.
“It does not make sense for you people of Solwezi central constituency to waste your vote on a PF/UPND pact candidate who has no means to develop the area,” Mr. Banda said.
Solwezi central constituency parliamentary by-election has been set for November 19th 2009 being also contested by UPND/PF pact candidate Watson Lumba, Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA) Muhammad Kalele and Independent, Thomas Kafula.
The seat fell vacant following the death of area MP Benny Tetamashimba.
ZANIS
LT please audit your English properly: “Mr. Banda said he will abide by his promise to save the people of Zambia royalty and reach the goal of developing the country…”
I think the word “royalty” should be replaced by “loyally” – the statement would make more sense then.
# 1. Naiwe naufilwa! Its “edit” not “audit”
#2 Jooste very good. I thought “edit” but wrote “audit”, thanks for the correction…nobody’s perfect.
As for our president, defending the constitution is the least he can do. Its not that he is doing the nation a favour, it is his obligation. The people expect him to do a lot more for Zambia than that.
#3 Okay ba Nine Chale. Twaumfwa! However, it is only right that he emphasises this point of upholding the constitution, unlike what is prevalent in certain parties, that you and I are aware of (but will not mention them), whereby for almost a decade now, there has been a continued abrogation of their very own party constitution. It shoulld frighten you as a democrat, that if they cant uphold these meagre constitutions in their very own “homes”, how safe are we at national level?
I can wait for 2011 to rid of this one once and for all. PF/UPND lets go!!!
#4 What is really important is to talk about it, and actually act…yes its being 10years and we have all experienced the ‘continued abrogation’ of ‘certain parties’ (to borrow your words)…yet its okay for us to mention that FTJ did the same for ten years, the percentage of his team was very much Luapula and Northern fellows…can we not learn from this unfortunate way of government..and now State House is eastside, i pray my friends from the east dont shift to wako ni wako-we have to learn from the past evil and begin to be one again….i know i was young doing KK’s time but i do remember WE WERE ZAMBIANS first (i think)….then Lozi, Nsenga, God help us, all people…i pray the President really upholds the constitution…nothing short of that is taking us back to the stone age. i…
Which constitution are you promising to protect, “Alaa bee”, ala uli chipunsyafye.
I dont think we should always look for faults. There is nothing wrong but indeed everthing right with a Presdent promising to uphold the constitution. Come , that is his job and seen he is campaihning he has to tell the electorate what he is offering. If Obama, Kabila, Brown, Kibaki etc said this would you see everything wrong
I dont think he means what he says. maybe infuture, some of us are failing to draw a line between the judicially and the executive. RB is always giving reasons on why FTJ is not suppose to face the law. If the judicially says FTJ is free, let it be so. The moment executive starts to justify, that for seven years FTJ was called a thief, that what has been spent is more than what he is alleged to have pocked,
members of the public become suspicious.
The people of Solwezi would be making a mistake by voting for MMD candidate Albert Chifita. what has he done for them despite having served as DC. let us be serious the cold and copper is being mined from there but what benefits are pipo getting apart from being employed in lower grades. How many pipo have become millioners as a result of employment? MMD has lost direction, twenty five pipo perished in road traffic accidents in Northen Province in a space of 48hrs. Meantime the Head of State did not bother to go to Kasama but there he goes to Libya. Solwezi should signal the begining of kicking out the MMD.
Rupiah is a changed man…….talk sense and we will support u!!!
#10 ..I agree with you 100 %. Our president does not care for our great country Zambia. His mined is tuned to the out side world. He is always asking where in the world is a meeting so he goes there. He has no time to sit and plan. Has he ever sat for a week in his office since he steped into state house? Now can you be surprised if a country gets into this fuel shortage and embaracingly questionable acquitals? RB is a jocker who plays jockes on imprtant and crucial national issues.
This same constitution with so many dodgie loop holes is not worth defending.The constitution is so constituted to suit people in power and not serve the Zambian people.It allows for freedom of assembly but police deny yiou permits,it allows for freedom of expression but you aint free to express your self (except maybe online where you are anonmous), it allows for police detention of not more than 48hrs without charge but suspects are locked up for weeks.This same useless constitution is against torture yet all confessions obtained by police are through torture.Police harras and lock up family members of suspects,police shoot to kill denying suspects justice through extra-judicial killings,remandees are put in the same place as convicts! What a damn constitution to have! FAKE and EVIL!!!
#13(mulenga pa new castle)
So who do you blame for the current bad constitution? and who do you trust can give us a good constitution cos KK,Chiluba? LPM was about to but nature said NO and dont tell me Sata can do that job given his wrong history and betrayal in his political carrer.
# 14 should be”cos KK and Chiluba failed”
#14 & 15 Sharp Shooter.What makes you think I think Sata can do the job,did you read any thing about Sata in my posting? I don’t pander to Sata or the current dirty crop of politicians in Zambia.Zambia needs a revolution, the hour must come right now when you,and many young and intelligent in Zambian and the diaspora rise up and fight for the betterment of our motherland.For how long shall Zambia continoue to be mismanaged by presidents with questionable origins.Secondly, Mwanawasa was not interested in leaving Zambians with a good constitution,all he did was fiddle for years and then came up with a useless NCC that is just there to enrich bafoons at the expense of the poor tax payer.I bet you and I and a few others can come up with a fair constitution in less than 3 months,not years!
It shoud read ‘in Zambia’
Too bad that 2011 cannot come soon enough. We need to retire this man back to his Chipata farm.
Well, it is important for Zambia to look at MMD’s rule are ALL Zambians living better than when UNIP ruled????. Education, hospital, employment, road infrastructure…..MMD ain’t a good party they do not care about the local Zambians welfare.