Former President Rupiah Banda has explained that his endorsement of President Lungu was in line with his previous support for Mr Lungu in the January 2015 Presidential by – elections.
Dr Banda has maintained that President Lungu presents the country with continuity and stability, especially following the frequent changes in leadership at the helm in a short period of just ten years.
Mr. Banda further observed that holding five elections in such a short time cannot have positive impact on the economy and the unity of the nation.
He added that he is personally delighted that President Lungu has continued with the many development programmes initiated over the years, including the Mongu – Kalabo road and the Great East road from Luangwa to Chipata, the Kafue Lower Hydro – power station and social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals to mention but a few.
Dr Banda noted that all this has been achieved in a very short period of time, amidst adverse global economic challenges.
He said he was therefore convinced that given enough time, President Lungu was capable of delivering even more development to the nation.
The former president has also announced that he decided to endorse and support the candidature of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in the forthcoming August 11th general elections.
Mr. Banda said he had made this decision in exercise of his right as a citizen of the Republic of Zambia.
And on the occasion of the country’s commemoration of the Heroes and Unity holiday, Dr Banda implored the political leadership of the country, to ensure that whoever wins the 11th August elections puts in place, as a matter of priority, measures to address the feeling of marginalisation currently prevalent in the nation so that the victory will be a victory for all Zambians and the country can move forward together.
“His Excellency Mr. Rupiah Banda has joined the founding President of the Republic of Zambia Dr. Kenneth Kaunda in calling on all Zambians across political, ethnic and religious divides to embrace the peace that the country has continued to enjoy since the attainment of its independence and avoid any form of violence as the best way of honouring our fallen heroes,” a statement issued by his office says.
Mr Banda has since called upon the country’s leaders in the various political parties to emulate the spirit of the founding fathers who, when faced with the challenge of political violence in the sixties, put the interests of the ordinary Zambian citizens first and forged a united front that saw Mr. Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula’s African National Congress Party (ANC) and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’s United National Independence Party (UNIP) merge into one united party under UNIP in the spirit of the country’s motto of One Zambia, One Nation.
We should learn from Malawi, France and now what is happening in United Kingdom voting on emotional. We should allow more time to Edgar and PF
Wise and timely words of wisdom from a versatile statesman and veteran patriot. Continuoity, stability, unity, inclusinessness and institutionalism in constitutional democracy are keys to unlocking our country for Greatness. President Lungu is steering well this a troubled ship called Zambia. Given 5 more years, polarisation, maginalisation and wide abject poverty will be overturned. His administration has scored big on infrastructure and national unity. He needs time to rollout his great plan for Agriculture evolution, manufacturing, tourism and energy already attracting massive investment appetite. No time for Chief amateurs but stability through continuity.
RB is the 3rd immoral politician ever. Both RB & Edgar used the funerals of late presidents to fool people as if they were some body worthy leading mourners.
@ pio
Please name ONE UK elected head of Government who has been CONVICTED on charges of EMBEZZLEMENT!!!
If you are stupid to believe in ECL and RB crapping, good for you. But, stop ignoring and justifying corruption, nepotism, tribalism and institutionalized criminality.
RUPIAH BANDA IS ANOTHER SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COUNTRY. CORRUPTION AND SEGREGATION, THE WAKO NI WAKO SYNDROME IS IN BANDA’S DNA. LUNGU AND BANDA ARE BOTH HYPOCRITES AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED. WE NEED TO CHANGE GOVERNMENT. WE NEED TO VOTE FOR HH AND THE UPND TEAM.
Awe sure. This Old man is another problem in Zambia. I wish the late LPM did not bring back from retirement. He has brought a lot of problems. Had the chosen Magande to be his vice we would not be where we are. We really have a vacuum in Zambia for leaders that genuine and care about this country. Who can’t see that Lungu is becoming another Magabe and turning Zambia into Zimbabwe. This must be stopped, condoned and never supported.
Well said Bashi Mpundu. You can never go wrong with that
Lungu in continue continue for a full and not incremental loadng. Women and children are safer under Lungu. He gives them a future, voice and plantform of dignity free from the threats of GBV that would sweep them if we were to institutionalize it with honor of GBV Chief at executive state office level.
@ Senior 1MBECILE
Especially when he pardons CONVICTED RAPIST of MINOR?
FFUUCCKKOOFF
Lungu pardons women abusers from prison like kanene only to brutalise women again. Lungu puts the lives of women in danger
Fellows are you not amazed at this? The PF ganged against Rupiah Banda and stripped him of his so called immunity. This was after they thrashed him in a landslide victory after he said of them “viwoneni vimasilu” (behold the lunatics [intending to rule you]). Enter Sata’s demise and now Rupiah spends his time in the same bedroom with PF, VIMASILU!. And some of you here want to make us believe that Banda is wise. Mr Sata for all his human shortcomings (as are found in all of us including ME) was certainly a more principled man. How the dead have fallen.
What of Guy Scott who was called Muzungu opusa by UPND leader? Times change and partnerships change too. Only envy will make some want to have change now. For the majority of us zambians, we are for now safe in the hands of Lungu.
Yes we must continue….to “move forward with an intellectual such as Hh chabe”! No more lies and manipulation iwe Banda. We know you are still ruling behind Lungu! Hence your “Wako ni Wako”. MCS must be spinning in his grave for Lungu’s back stabbing of the real PF.
Nothing new here. We know RB has been assisting Lungu to rig these elections at all costs. RB & Lungu are birds of the same feathers and so they must flock together. Wako niwako and Kumodzi kumaawa matters most. Sad to see a former head of state reduce himself to a tribalist and regionalist instead of encouraging “One Zambia. One Nation”. All becoz of personal selfish interests.
Getting an endorsement from someone who was rejected by Zambians is like a Dog going back to eat its own vomit.
RB is not loved/respected by Zambians so his opinion does not influence them based on selfish personal benefits of Lungu’s staying in power. He fears a change of govt will revive his & his sons corruption cases.
He does not have the interests of Zambians at heart, but his own selfish motives. Even that Nigerian he swindled in the oil deal has become vocal.
What of Mumba was he not part of MMD,? You seem to have nothing to say. That is why Lungu will win. Just count former MMD ministers that are now supporting UPND. Then you will know you are not being objective.
@Maloza, What are you doing with a Saulos mwanike who has failed Grade seven 21 times loudly rejected by the people of Zambia? You hope to shovIng Saulos meanike is a good sale? Nega Nega vision cannot win you elections because it does not make up enough votes in Zambia to white wash the One Zambia, One Nation Lungu stands on.
RUPIAH BANDA IS ANOTHER SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COUNTRY. CORRUPTION AND SEGREGATION, THE WAKO NI WAKO SYNDROME IS IN BANDA’S DNA. LUNGU AND BANDA ARE BOTH HYPOCRITES AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED. WE NEED TO CHANGE GOVERNMENT. WE NEED TO VOTE FOR HH AND THE UPND TEAM. DOES LUNGU CARE FOR A LIFE? ABSOLUTELY NOT. LUNGU ONLY CARES ABOUT HIMSELF. THIS THIEF IS ALREADY MORE THAN 23 MILLION RICH. FROM RAGS TO RICHES THRU CORRUPTION AND STEALING OF PUBLIC MONEY. LUNGU IS THE REASON WHY ZAMBIA IS RECORDED AS THE HUNGRIEST NATION IN THE WORLD. AND YOU SAY YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THIS SLEEPING ON DUTY PRESIDENT.
If RB had any tactic on how to win an election he would have won in 2011 but lost…there is nothing the ECL can learn from this man….come 11/08/16 ECL and RB will still go down
Uhm ba RB, with due respect, we have decided firmly to vote the country forward. And God willing, and our votes counting, HH and his UPND team will bring a breath of fresh political air in our beautiful country. Forward ever, backward never (ever again!)
” put the interests of the ordinary Zambian citizens first and forged a united front that saw Mr. Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula’s African National Congress Party (ANC) and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’s United National Independence Party (UNIP) merge into one united party under UNIP in the spirit of the country’s motto of One Zambia, One Nation” Did Kaunda and UNIP leadership call Nkumbula and ANC cows? Tribal? United my aaaa
RB and ECL are tribalists period. ECL has allowed a dunderhead by the name of Kambwili to continue preaching tribalism everywhere he goes. I am a northerner but I’ll vote for HH so that I get read of these people who are preaching tribalism on a daily basis. Don’t people have better things to say to the electorate other than insulting southerners? I will not vote for a person because he/she is from the same province as me. Why would I do such a stupid thing? I mean, A person I don’t even know is someone I can only judge when he/she tells me what they want to do when I vote for them.
YOU SEE US THE LOZIS IGNORED WINA BCOZ SHE IS PART OF ZAMBIA’S MISFORTUNE. TRIBAL POLITICS ARE FOR THE ILLITERATES.
Lungu saved RB from all the court cases of abuse of authority and corruption, what do you expect! This is just another version of Politics of the Belly. RB is just a shameless Politician who laid the foundation for corruption in Zambia and has destroyed MMD! Zambians must not listen to this man!
Awe sure. This Old man is another problem in Zambia. I wish the late LPM did not bring back from retirement. He has brought a lot of problems. Had the chosen Magande to be his vice we would not be where we are. We really have a vacuum in Zambia for leaders that genuine and care about this country. Who can’t see that Lungu is becoming another Magabe and turning Zambia into Zimbabwe. This must be stopped, condoned and never supported.
If LPM never brought back RB he would have lost that election to the late President Mr Michael Sata…RB delivered Eastern Province then to Mwanawasa hence the reward of Vice President…Learn Zambian Politics…
RB nicikopo
I knew that Envy will prevail from the up and down when RB endorses ECL. Campaign has now started wapya munzi.
You call yourself MMD but go on to endorse a PF candidate? Does it matter to you that Zambains people have become poorer since 2011? Ungrateful man you are, turning against the party that gave you the Presidency, I used to defend you but not any more
Ulipato telusuma ba UPND, Cimo no buloshi. Lungu nabomba but mucilifye namumupata. Lesa emya abaicefya. Edgar is winning this years elections mulefwaya nangu tamulefwaya
PF is losing come rain come sunshine. The endorsement by RB wont change
anything.
Do you hear George Bush or Jimmy carter endorsing, this one or that one former Presidents should not show taking sides but mingle with all political players especially when tensions are high
@ Zambia … I totally agree with you. RB as the former president should not be partisan. But it his choice if he wants to be irrelevant. He has the freedom to support whoever he wants… just like me . Am sure if HH win he will change because ,like everybody else , he has to survive.
The cartel will not change anything PF is winning no doubt.
UPND you are used to loosing every time
TO ME FORMER HEADS OF STATE SHOULD REMAIN NEUTRAL AT ALL COST. AS A LEADER WHO PRESIDED OVER ALL ZAMBIANS, TREAT THEM LIKE A PARENT WOULD DO TO HIS CHILDREN. BY THE WAY, HAS THE KNEEL STOPPED ACHING NOW?