President Rupiah Banda has assured that the Eastern Province Movement for Multiparty Democracy Provincial conference will be held in a free and non violent atmosphere.
The President said this at the City Airport, shortly before his departure to Eastern Province for a three day working visit onboard a Zambia Air force plane in Lusaka today.
President Banda who looked jovial said, he did not expect any violence at the provincial conference, since the MMD was not a violent party and that the delegates to the convention would without doubt choose leaders of their choice without causing confusion.
He said, the conference will be held in a conducive and non violent manner like was the case on the Copper-Belt, Western and Central Province conferences which he said were devoid of violent activities.
And President Banda has chided Colonel Panji Kaunda for the comments attributed to him as quoted in some cross section of the media that this year’s elections would be the bloodiest in the history of the country.
“What gives some people such courage to issue such alarming statements?, asked Mr. Banda. “Zambia will continue enjoying peace, as Zambians are loving people”, said Mr. Banda.
President Banda said, Government had done a lot for the people of Zambia, especially in the agricultural sector where he said government had managed to pay all the farmers who supplied their maize to the Food Reserve Agency to the tune of over 1.3 trillion Kwacha across the country.
He added that, just in Eastern Province alone, Government bought maize worth 233 billion Kwacha, saying the trend was similar in all the nine provinces in the country.
The President has been scheduled to be in the Eastern Province for three days, where he is expected to hold private talks with some stakeholders, before proceeding to Chipata, to officially open the Eastern Province MMD provincial conference.
He is accompanied by the Parliamentary Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga, MMD National Chairperson, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Lands Michael Mabenga and Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala and other Senior Government officials.
The President and his entourage was seen off at about 14:40 hours by Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa, Information Minister Ronny Shikapwasha and Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja.
The others present to see off the Head of State were the Presidential Affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma, Defence Chiefs and other Senior government officials.
And in Chipata, the president said the MMD government will not be swayed by media innuendos aimed at destabilizing the ruling party which stands for unity of the entire country.
Speaking on arrival at Chipata airport amid jubilant MMD cadres, President Banda said the MMD will not be twisted by sentiments aimed at destabilising the party’s focus on unifying the people of Zambia and fostering development.
President Banda, who spoke in Ngoni as he was addressing slogan chanting MMD cadres, said he was happy that people in eastern province have continued to be united despite negative media sentiments against the ruling party and the government.
ZANIS
Why is the Post always hullucinating about RB or MMD with their non existant and imaginary ”well placed sources?” why can’t they learn that Zambians are more intelligent than their useless journalists who have run out of any creativity apart from the false negative MMD/RB stories. We are fed up. Are they so damn that they can’t realise that they will never win any politician an election. 2008 and Mpulungu are good examples.
#1, you sound like an MMD cadre in either in Zambia or foreign mission
SURE IT WAS EQUALLY DIVIDED?
230 BILLION OUT OF 1.3 TRILLION SPLIT BETWEEN 9 PROVINCES DOES NOT ADD UP EQUALLY.
EASTERN PROVINCE WAS SELECTED BY RUPIAH TO BUY ALL MAIZE SO HIS SUPPORTERS WILL SEE THEY HAVE BEEN REWARDED OVER OTHER AREAS THAT ARE OPPOSITION CONTROLLED.
MR PRESIDENT ARE YOU A LIAR?
DO YOU NOT FORGET YOU HAD TO POSTPONE THE LUSAKA ELECTIONS DUE TO VIOLENCE OF YOUR CADRE WILLIAM BANDA?
MMD ARE VIOLENT BUT RUPIAH THINKS WILLIAM IS AN ANGEL AND CHRIS CHALWE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE A MMD YOUTH MILITIA LEADER.
THE MMD PARTY STINKS AND LIES DAILY.
THE PRESIDENT THINKS HE IS FIXING THE COUNTRY BUT IN REALITY IT IS BEING DESTROYED DAILY.
#3 well said, keep up with your good work. Ruphia is the most tribalist president. Foreign Affairs under him was full pof people from Eastern province. Namboard the same. The govt appointments says it all.
if RB were 2b consistent with such msg william & others wud behave.