The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) and the Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) have advised Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata to desist from making allegations that could affect relations between Malawi and Zambia.
And Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu has asked Mr Sata and any citizen with information that national registration cards (NRCs) are being given to non Zambians with a view to rig next year’s elections to report such manoeuvers to security agencies.
FODEP president Stanley Mhango said yesterday that politicians making rigging allegations should be factual and produce concrete evidence.
He said the allegations that President Rupiah Banda helped his Malawian counterpart Bingu wa Mutharika to rig elections have the potential to affect relations of the two countries.
SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma in a separate interview said rigging allegations against President Banda are serious and that people should provide evidence.
Mr Chibuluma advised Mr Sata to seriously reflect before making allegations that have the potential to affect the country.
Institute for Human Rights and Democratic Governance (IHRDG) director Franco Kapijimpanga said it was irresponsible for opposition leaders both in Zambia and Malawi to suggest that President Banda help Professor Mutharika rig elections.
Mr Sata recently alleged that some Malawians had received Zambian national registration cards to vote for President Banda in next year’s elections.
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.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Lungu said the Government was not aware that there were some foreigners obtaining NRCs to enable them participate 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.
[ Times of Zambia ]
FODEPand toothless SACCORD, bamambala imwe. You are Badly brought up adults! Ala What is the problem, since when in this mordern era have you seen a president of one country helping another in a different country win an election? Mbingu confessed RB helped him. Foolish what do you deduce from this??? So RB wont be welcome in Malawi. The opposition will demostrate againast him, is that what you want your president to be insulted in a foreign land. Already Vera Tembo Chiluba was heavily insulted in malawi when she started going out with Mutharika Mbingu. Check Nyasatimes on Google Vera Chiluba story.
If the opposition later win, dont you think RB will put us in a much greater risk than Sata telling the truth.
I thought the Malawan President said that by himself last week on Thursday during a state banquet hosted in his honour, President Wa Mutharika said President Banda helped him in the campaigns to secure a second term in office. Many poeple would ask how he helped him and in which way, don’t he have the resources and a party that can help him win elections.Why kucondema when someone said it by himself.Bumubwa muleke
RB helped Mbingu win elections just as the Taiwanese helped Sata lose the 2006 elections.What that help RB gave to Mbingu is subject to different interpretations for for those who are not stiff minded.Those who can’t critic a piece of literature can not think of anything besides ‘rigging’ as to what that ‘help’ probably was.Perhaps he helped him rig but there’re also a zillion other forms of help that anyone can offer to a candidate standing in an election.Think ba mambala!
Can somebody confirm to me whether the Malawian president said RB helped him to win elections? If he said it why is Mr Sata being blamed for echeing what his excelency said on him own without any coercion?
WON’T COMMENT LEST JOOSTE ACCUSES ME OF WHAT AM NOT
# 4 Tell it as it is Yes Mbingu said it loud and clear that RB helped him win the election, he helped him win the elections with a landslide, that is what he said.
IN FACT WHEN THE PRESIDENT WAS WEDDING IN MALAWI EVERYONE NEW THAT VERA WAS GETTING MARRIED TO THE MALAWIAN PRESIDENT. TELL US WHAT HAPPENED YOU GUYS IN THE KNOW. HOW DID THE SITUATION CHANGE?
But we also know that Taiwan heavily helped Sata during the last two polls and he still lost. By his own confession, he went to Malawi via South Africa to meet Mr Wang, the then Taiwanese ambassador to Malawi and also to campaign for Mluzi. Mr Mutharika got wind of this and kicked out two things, dumped diplomatic relations with Taipei for Beijing and threw Satan out of Blantyre. So Sata’s intentions were also less honourable and he should not cry foul now. We also know he went to campaign for Mugabe who lost to Svangirai.
Iam a Malawian who was at the Zambian ambassador’s farewell party in joburg this wekkend. You guys in Zambia dont you have any national dress? All the guests were dressed in sloppy western clothes..dont you have some pride in African identity? Kaunda used to dress in african styled suits but none of you is following in his footsteps.actually my questions are for all africans why do we love imitating everything va azungu?
@9, Why should we dress in something that we are not confortable with? Thats mere propaganda to help strengthen presidents authority in the minds of the populace. We cannot afford to be caged right,left & centre or else we will say women must just be wearing ma skirts & men ma trausas also. I guess you see were you are wrong bro! Dont you think va zungu vima oneka bwino? Then why not dress them?
I agree with Mwana wakwithu. The one thing you quickly notice about Africans is that they have no self identity and are always looking for an opportunity to run away from their Africanness. Who says African dress cant be comfortable and trendy? Who says African names cant be trendy? But check zambian names they always have some European name before them. This lack of self pride is what makes africans always think they should look to others for inspiration, never to themselves.
#7 Peter,
malawians Insultred Vera that Chuili Hule, married twice, with 9 children. was committing adultery in state house whilst the husband was also doing the same. The malawians said they have pretty ladies in Malawi adnd more so even in cabinet which Mutharika can marry to make first lady than Hule Vera.
He let go of Vera and married a lady in Government. Thats what happened.
#7 Peter,
Malawians – achimwene Insulted Vera that Chuili Hule, married twice, with 9 children. was committing adultery in state house whilst the husband was also doing the same. The Malawians said Vera has morals and that they have pretty ladies in Malawi and more so even in cabinet which Mutharika can marry to make first lady than Hule Vera.
Mbingu let go of Vera and married a lady in Government. Thats what happened.
You MMD guys then think what you are saying – why do you think Taiwan has an embassy in Malawi? Because Malawi recognises Taiwan. So you are the ones criticising Malawi mwe…
and FODEP, SACCORD…. who?
If thre’s anyone straining Zambia-malawi relations its Bingo himself, who has made a comment that would make Rupiah and Zambians unwelcome in malawi! Think you cadres and leave H.E Sata alone!
Na imwe…relations can never go sour because of this…we are all brothers and sisters in every respect.
We look the same,we have same names mwe,we behave the same with our coolness characteristic…the list goes on.Ka Mosi kankala chabe mushe when we throw in ka chinyanja/chichewa/bemba etc …”Imwe wa barman dress the table manje”…!Lol
Sata obviously sees the writing on the wall and is trying to bring as much disharmony in Zambia and in our neighbouring countries with his loose lips and blood thirst. I fail to see how anyone can possibly see him as a presidential candidate when he has no clue about diplomacy and unifying people around a worthy cause!
How can you start making such allegations without showing irrefutable proof about another country’s leader when you’re hoping to become a president in your own country? How will others respect you and us, as Zambians? Next he will be praising Uncle Bob for plundering Zim (again) and lifting Idi Amin as an icon. This man is dangerous, and should be condemned by all. He has no place as a leader in Zambian or African politics. Your time is up, old man!
GeorgeBush #10 ‘comfort’ is in the mind. When something is repeatedly offered to you you start seeing ‘comfort’ in that thing.
Peter # 7, yes Everyone knew that mbingu was doing vera tembo, formerly mrs chiluba.
The whole issue has been blown out of proportion here, there is nothing sensible for Sata or Tembo to be arguing about here. Did they expect the head of state to support the opposition of another country? Come on abena Zambia, I thought Mwanawasa deported Tsvangirai from Zambia on similar grounds!!??
I agree with mwana wa kwithu I think Malawians and zambians are some of the most brAinwashed Africans. Apart from their love of European names they have never made a mark on African arts, sport, or Science because they have no self belief