The Citizen’s Forum (C.F) has described as unfortunate the turn of events following Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika’s statement about how Republican President Rupiah Banda helped him win a second term in office.
Citizens Forum Executive Director,Simon Kabanda says the statement by the Malawian leader on how President Banda contributed to his re-election for a second term in office and how the opposition in that country has reacted might dent Zambia’s democratic credentials and reputation.
Mr.Kabanda says Zambia has managed to build a good name with its multiparty dispensation in a bid to build democracy and good governance.
He however said that the manner in which the opposition has interpreted the statement by President Mutharika during the official opening of Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka last week, might put the country’s at a risk.[pullquote]Mr Mabenga said Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika’s remarks that President Banda helped him in the campaigns to secure his second term of office last year should not be mistaken for rigging elections.
He said Professor wa Mutharika was merely congratulating President Banda for the support rendered to him during that country’s general elections.
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He says the remarks uttered by Malawi’s opposition leader John Tembo risk the country being wrongly judged.
Mr Kabanda adds that Zambians are not happy with how the whole issue has been turned into because it brings the nation’s credibility into disrepute and raises questions about the country’s democratic credentials.
He has since advised politicians to be careful with their utterances about political matters in other countries.
Malawi’s main opposition leader John Tembo was yesterday reported in a daily tabloid claiming that Mr Banda had sent some people to Malawi to help rig election results in favour of Prof Mutharika.
Meanwhile, Mr Michael Sata recently alleged that some Malawians had received Zambian national registration cards to vote for President Banda in next year’s elections.Mr Sata was quoted in the Sunday Post as saying some Malawians at the border areas with Zambia were obtaining NRCs as well as voters’ cards in readiness for the elections so that they could vote for the MMD.
The MMD has described as rubbish remarks by Michael Sata that some Malawian nationals are getting national registration cards (NRCs) and voters’ cards to vote President Banda.
MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga said it is folly for Mr Sata to allege that Malawians are getting NRCs and voters’ cards to vote for President Banda and the MMD in the 2011 tripartite elections.
“Mr Sata is a daydreamer and that comment from him is total rubbish. That is my comment,” Mr Mabenga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
He said there is no other person apart from Zambians who can be issued with NRCs and voters’ cards.
Mr Mabenga said Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika’s remarks that President Banda helped him in the campaigns to secure his second term of office last year should not be mistaken for rigging elections.
He said Professor wa Mutharika was merely congratulating President Banda for the support rendered to him during that country’s general elections.
[QFM ,Daily Mail]
Yes that Gaff in Africa is off-key. The Problems is RB put himself and us in harms way from the opposition supporters in Malawi. They will insult him and accuse him of all sorts of things. Now a neiboring country should not openly campaign for a presidential candidate. This is taboo and must be left to the people f that country voting to make informed decisions. .
I like the message that was recorded when the post called VJ Zain number which was roaming. Thats my comment.
sad indeed… i think both presidents suffer from Diarrhea of the mouth… look at how careless RB has been in the recent past… calling HH’s wife a mwenye… telling donors to go Sc@#%w themselves… the procurement of the mobile hospitals is none of anyones business… You dont need a university degree to be president when his NCC is fighting for a degree clause for all aspiring presidential candidates… is this man in his right frame of mind?. maybe we need to impeach him on grounds of too much castle in take!
Yaba now RB has taken his dullness to Malawi. Cant the international court of justice issue a warrant of arrest on RB? RB is interfering in another country,s internal affairs. Why cant he let the Malawans chose their own leader than RB choosing for them? RB is putting Zambia in the danger zone and if we are not carefull neghbouring countries can fight us. Remember that we have the Banabulenja in DRC, let RB stop the nosense of poking his nose in other countries political affairs.
Useless RB as usual..he will never be serious.
KABANDA WHICH CITIZENS DO YOU REPRESENT IF NOT A ONE MAN ARMY NGO SOURCE OF INCOME AN APPENDAGE OF POST NEWSPAPER NEWS SOURCE
I told tou earlier that it wasnt Sata,s but Bingo’s comments that are straining our relations. These so called leaders we have, I dont know what happens to their judgement nga baikuta. Don’t even trouble Sata, its Bingo Bingo’s problem
#5 diasporic pressure Please Mr. Kanda is representing me. So leave him.
# 7 you dont even know his name and yet you say he is representing you.=))
Bingu wa Mutharika’s statement unintended statement is called a Freudian Slip. The problem is not Sata’s, it is Bingu’s. If you remember at the time, both the Post and the Nyasa Times reported the presence of one VJ in Malawi and concerned were raised about the possibility of rigging. Simon Kabanda, apap pena walufyanya mune.
RB, RB, please grow up old man! Please. Dont allow your grand children to reason better than you. Let them rather learn from you. Please go back to the farm and die peacefully than to plung us into wars! Please, your poor calibre of Generals like Shikapwasha wont save this country, Please Mudala kwata amano!
Its no slip of the tongue from Mbingu, he knew what he was talking about. Balimwafwa ukuchita rig. They know that mmd are expert riggers with muyashi-vj at the helm. The calibre of leaders in africa is far below par, tuli tekwa namashilu.
Tule tekwa namashilu….
#12 Bakabolala bachinfya I agree with you, Ya, it is true sometimes I wonder if what In read from the tabloids comes out of the mouyhs of peoplle who are sane
what have stolen from you take them to cops if you have facts. zambians like shooting in the dark noku konkuluda according to king fred and king cobra now joined by prince ichilema
this kabanda,who is he representing?genocide catholic,sata relative,bemba tribalist etc mambala
no.15 you are such an idi ot!!!!
The word ‘Chonde’ which came through on VJ’s number is typical DEEP MALAWIAN CHEWA never head on Zambian networks. You don’t need a degree to conclude on this one. Iyi yena na Morzegetta uwali ichikopo kuti asanga!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought that Professor Mutharika the lawyer is suposed to be the younger brother of Dr. Mutharika the President of Malawi. LT can you correct me please. We know Dr. Mutharika from the days he lived in Lusaka as COMESA Secretary General. When did he become Professor? This is not to say that he could not have become one, but just to remove the confusion between the younger brother’s identity from the President of Malawi.
Where is our new costitution to sort out Mutharika implied help in 2011? Kenya who were far behind us have got a constitution they are now putting to test in a referendum whose results are expected on Friday this week and at a much lower cost to the taxpayer than Zambia. What is happening pa Z?? Shemuna bane!! SHAME.
# 15 insoselo ubbubbi ataaaa, respect catholics even if you’re not, Mind you they do a lot of charity globally, ukubbwatta bbwatta without proof, you’re a blood thirsty genocide advocate you & just you..shaa
Please don’t take us to war. Why should MMD take their dirty rigging techniques to another country.
What a shame!!!!! There is no smoke without fire.
Watch out Ba Zambia ! Lock up your ballot boxes!!!! The Master Rigger is on the loose……..even providing his specialist consultancy services to our neighbours…Nga pa home ground chikaba shani? Kupitapo Faaaaaarrrrrr!!!!
I AM NOT A CATHOLIC. BUT, I RESPECT CATHOLICS. THEY ARE ALMOST THE ONLY CHURCH ORGANISATION THAT PLOUGHS BACK WHAT THEY GET FROM SOCIETY IN A BIG WAY. LOOK AT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS (although KK decided to destroy them), and many other community development projects such as hospitals, etc. SO, DONT INSULT THEM. AT LEAST THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR ALL ZAMBIANS who need education, medication, etc.