Zambia has called upon President Laurent Gbagbo to respect the people’s wish and accept defeat as true statesman and step down to allow the President-elect Mr Alassane Dramane Ouattara to assume his duties as head of state of the Ivory Coast.
The government is also closely following the preparations for the referendum for self-determination of Southern Sudan which will take place from January 9 to January 15 as provided for in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005.
In statement realeased yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande said President Gbago and the Ivorians should give chance and support the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of bringing peace to West African state.
Mr Pande urged the Ivorian stakeholders to exercise restraint, resist the use of violence and preserve and consolidate the country’s fragile unity at all costs.
Mr Pande said Zambia supports the initiatives of the heads of state and government of ECOWAS, in tandem with the African Union and United Nations aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the Ivory Coast in order to avoid further displacement of people and loss of life.
“Zambia wishes to express its deep concern at the political impasse which has been created by the inauguration of two presidents and the establishment of two separate governments at the expense of the Ivorian people’s will,” Mr Panda said.
He said Zambia closely monitored the electoral process in general and in particular the presidential elections that took place on November 28, 2010.
[Zambia Daily Mail}
Banda Rupiah you are next!!!
it is a question of too little too late . You don’t wait until after two months when everybody has already taken a position before you take one. Even the Zimbabwe regime of Robert Mugabe has taken a position long before that it will abide by the AU position But for our sheepish willy nilly Govt .to come up with a position now. its a little suspect and.I think that either it demonstrates a shifted position or simply a move to save face for supporting Gbagbo..
Zambia should mind its own business.It seem like we have a growing case of african governments who would rather point and poke at others rather than minding your own business.It is unafrican for a brother to voice his opinions about his cousins domestic issues especially when he has no idea what the issues are.How can Zambia comment on Ivory Coast based on western propaganda. We as Africans should help ivory coast so that it solves its problems. Public hypocitical calls that are one sided will not help ivory coast.You could learn a thing or two from majority african countries even those like ghana that support quattara
#3 how do we help ivory coast to solve its problem if we do not speak out the truth. the truth is that this guy should just accept and go. the problem with most african leaders they do not want to accept defeat. it is very painful especially for some of us who live with the ivorians and hear them lament about their nation. i think, though very risk zambia has taken a wonderful position on this issue.
the other thing plz do not generalize you own culture by saying it is unafrican for the brother to voice his opinion about his cousin. In my place we air out the truth, we call a spade a spade we do not beat about the bush. the truth must be said and i think this would be one way forward for africa. one of the problems is that we are too much into these old saying that do not help at all.
viva zed.2011 let’s show them how its done.there can only be 1 president at given time.let’s progress,even economicaly
Firstly, this stance has been taken very late. Second, how can we ask Gbagbo to ‘resign’ when he was already voted out?
The correct way to phase it is to ask Gbagbo to concede defeat and step aside.
why diddn’t you do the same 2 kamugabe?
am the next president of zambia whether u chaps like it or not,am heading to plot one in less than 12months from now
You are telling your friend to resign, why didn’t you resign after stealing from Sata? I wish that guy didn’t die mwe, I can’t remember his name.
Brothers, why should war be your prefered method of settling issues. What is more important peace and security where the country grows and all citizens benefit. Do not allow outsiders to destabilise the continent for you. We have seen it in other countries that country comes first before foreign interests. Mark my words you may think you are secure but this trend has a way to revisit us. You think Zambia is secure, we thought so in Zimbabwe untill we took Farms from master John. Those in glass houses should not throw stones.
The situation in Ivory Coast demands our immediate attention as representatives of the African world. The time has long come for us to speak out against the machinations of the French and American governments in the affairs of the African continent. Clearly the interests of the French and the Americans are not the interests of the people of Ivory Coast and all claims of moral uprightness made by Western interests must be questioned. We realize that their interests, if history is our guide, are for material advantage, minerals, political puppets, and strategic positions for global control President Gbagbo won’t step aside because he is the certified winner of the presidenti al election.
By law, the disputed election was sent to the Constituti onal Commission where the seven member panel…
By law, the disputed election was sent to the Constituti onal Commission where the seven member panel –after examining evidence of vote fraud—rule d that 500,000 ballots were invalid. They declared Gbagbo the winner. He was sworn in—as directed by the country’s constituti on—as president. But unlike Gore, Ouatarra is hanging on after a fraudulent election. Could you imagine Al Gore holding his own swearing-i n ceremony? That’s what Ouatarra did without the approval of the Constituti onal Council as required by Ivorian Law.Ouatar ra has his own friends on the Electoral Commission . The commission president announced Alassane Ouatarra the winner. Not in the presence of representa tives of both campaigns, not in the presence of other members of the commission , not in the commission hq
Bravo RB you are a democrat.
Banda is next!
Really? This is the best time to come out of the shell ? It is a no-brainer this is a power shift or as one put it as way to lift face. First it comes too late, second the resignation is not what to ask here because the guy wasn’t elected in the first place!