MMD Kitwe District Secretary George Lungu has advised candidates aspiring to take over from President Mwanawasa as party president, to weigh themselves.
Mr Lungu told ZANIS in an interview that whoever aspires to step in President Mwanawasa’s shoes when his term of office comes to an end should a person of high integrity.
He said the country’s economy under President Mwanawasa had performed extremely well and the successor should be someone who can build on the current economic successes.
Commenting on Dr Lufwig Sondashi’s announcement that he was best suited to succeed President Mwanawasa, Mr Lungu said delegates will decide who will take over from Dr Mwanawasa at the convention.
He appealed to delegates at the convention to carefully scrutinise the candidates who will offer themselves for election at the convention.
Meanwhile, Mr Lungu has cautioned members of the party to concentrate on organising the party to ensure the grassroot is intact.
Dr Sondashi yesterday declared his interest in contesting as the ruling MMD Presidential candidate at the party’s next convention.
On the other thread i asked, You mean there is no smart and learned blogger to make deep, educated, and mature analytical contribution on these 2011 centered threads?. All i have been seeing are childish, dumb and dangerously street type of thoughtless contributions equivalent with Grade seven level zealots.None seems to exhibit knowledge that in democracy, anyone can declare interest for anything but that does not translate into winning institutional endorsement or nomination.Where are smart people to debate leadership development, traits, skills,style, situations, contingencies, path-goal, & leader-member theories?
In 2001, we had 11 candidates did they all get the people’s mandate? In the USA’s decision 2008,16 Americans made press conferences, spent their millions 8 on each side of the divide including Gravel and Ron Paul, have they own their parties mandates despite their declaration of interest? Smart bloggers debate on ways of conceptualizing leadership they want for the country.They intelligently focus on processes, personality perspectives based on leadership traits that would induce others to accomplish tasks. hey zero on potential leaders’ acts of behavior, possible power relationship, skills perspectives, goals, influence ability to keep birth a national vision for change.Here it is emotive.
The million Dollar question is, you mean there are no smart Zambians blogging these days? No public or Presidential leadership scholars to drive the debates hereon????
I find this Lungu guy is smart and sober. i quote him:
“Commenting on Dr Ludwig Sondashi’s announcement that he was best suited to succeed President Mwanawasa, Mr Lungu said delegates will decide who will take over from Dr Mwanawasa at the convention”.End Quote
Indeed declaration is not mandate or nomination as the party’s stamp.Delegates will do their thing no matter the million men that may hold press conferences.Its democracy at best in Zambia.
I have on several occasions commented on the content of some contributors i.e.narrow minded and sarcastic arguments.However,i feel that the peoples choice should not be a prerogative of only the so called educated rich and affluent.If the Zambian people settle on a zealot and despot like Robert next door,then so be it because each incumbent is always mindful of lining their kith and kins pockets.It is now time to give power to the people!
Mr Ngande Mwananjiti former Director of the now defunct AFRONET can be a good candidate for the position of Republican President. He fought for Zambias democracy and human rights for a long time until he disolved his NGO. His only problem is the maner his NGO was dissolved out of pressure from Donors who could not fund him to contnue talking about Human Rights in Zambia. He should start talking again even without money from donors. Zambia need a leader like him.
#4 Senior Citizen
Are you now in support of the delegates at the MMD convention to decide who takes over the reigns of power from Levy?This seems to be a complete turn around from the arguements you had when Prof Chirwa announced his interest in the MMD presidency.My contention has always been that the delegates should be allowed to elect their next president and no one must be denied that opportunity.Consistency in our debates breeds integrity and anything short of it is frivolous.
Mwaiche Chapi,
There is no turn around. My point is, has been and will be pliable to the effect of allowing qualified-bonafide members of the party to run at the time of the convention. We want people who have proved their allegiance to the party, country and the ideals of MMD existence. The party has the internal capacity to determine who would vortex power and be running as infiltrators determined to betray the country and the party values.This is why even you as you illegally talk big for Obama, you will never have the opportunity to constitutionally run for Presidency there in the USA.Unwritten rules are in all institutions and countries. MMD is no exception.
Mwaiche Chapi,
Chirwa has never been there for the party in its troughs. But today he want to pull his legs when MMD is at its peak.Something you treasure you pride in it in and out of seasons. The internal machinery, strategists and members with latent powers have the right to be activated against infiltrators. For that, there is no apology or diversion from Democratic ideals whatsoever. Take this message and circulate it at any level that i said it here and i say it so on the ground .
The MMD candidate that some us will endorse and vest in heavily to the finish line is someone you don’t even mention in blogs and pubs.He is busy mobilizing his political capital,logistics and forming PACs.
Mwaiche Chapi,
With unblinking eyes, i publicly give you my unwavering word that MMD will reign come 2011 elections.Watch the space and join the MMD primers at best on someregular live debates starting 2010.I hope you are readying to take part with your case for Sata.
Ba senior citizen, you must be over optmistic that MMD will the day come 2001 elections. Remember that majority of our citizens and voters are not educated and they have no time to analyse candidates the way you and I do. Most of the voters are also poor and their first ineterest is to worry about what to eat on that day. So when Sata makes noise as he is doing now they do listen attentively and expect him to dish out some money. In as much as I do not like Sata to be the next president, I am very worried with the support he is getting in Lusaka, copperbelt, luapula and northern provinces.idea of waiting until last minute for the MMD to unveil their candidate may not yield positive results.
Ba senior citizen,The issue of Chiluba’s corruption case has made MMD unpopular in those areas mentioned above because so many people received the brown envelopes. Remember that Sata mentioned before that he will discontinue Chiluba’s case if he is elected as president. The campaign in some quarters is that the only way to save Chiluba is to make Sata president. So do not rule out Sata, actually you must get worried. It will be interesting Ba senior citizen in 2011. The way to defeat Sata is to start talking about his lies and propaganda now and the danger we are going to find ourselves in if he is given a chance.
#12 Kashimani, using propaganda as a way of discrediting someone when you don’t have ammunition to finish him is a dangerous approach in a political senario.psychological approach on geo- politics is a key to success.
# Pafwenamwine, Sata uses propaganda to propel his political influence and he is using it so well because while the MMD is talking to the press sata calls people and has massive rallies and tears other parties to pieces. That is what our people want to hear and he has massive support. What I mean is that those in MMD and other parties must use that same strategy of propaganda to dilute Sata’a vernom or else it will be too late. I was just talking to my cousin this morning who said that she can not vote for Sata but she just likes to hear his voice as if he is a comedian. I just told that same comedian is winning bye elections so his strategy is working. #12 what is geo-politics?
to manage a company you need a minimum undergraduate degree at the interviwe, why should runing the country be less stringent on qualifications ?. Also no one taited in corruption need aply.
So minimum -Degree, and no curruption strings.
Pafwenamwine(13),
“psychological approach on geo- politics is a key to success” Quote
Don’t post things you don’t understand.In your perspective, what is “psychological approach on geo- politics”? and in what way is it a factor in Grassroot politics in the case of Zambia?
Don’t be too impressionistic with a tendency of self confusion through habits of mixing up things beyond your understanding. From your post i can tell you don’t understand what you write.First understand the “primacy” of the international arena before driving geo- politics in your debates.Surely i can sufficiently equip in that field if you exhibit humility. We are here to educate one another.
Kashimani,
The Hamas type of dilemma will not happen in Zed.Strategist are there to project into the future outcomes and prepare the future for such danger.The USA failed to do so over Palestine but got it right in the case of Algeria.The Islamic Sharia cult was bound to slid into power in Algeria recently had strategists not overridden politicians with contemporary strategies.The superior ability to project into the future served Algeria from having an Islamic regime. Active scanning of the environment is the role of strategist to create the future even before it manifest. Take it,Sata will never rule Zambia. Never, never and never ever.
That the best we can assure you. Please vindicate us should your fear come to pass.
Aint nobady in MMD capable of rulling…thats my opinion….2011 i dunno what we gone do…..um Honarable Sondashi i think its time to retire sir.. …respect
The 2011 elections may very well be replay of elections held exactly two decades earlier when Chiluba riding a wave of euphoria and populism rose to power and proceeded to underline the importance of selecting leaders with care. In 1991 UNIP was in a state of denial despite the writing on the wall. In 2011 MMD will very likely be in the same state of denial. As it is now MMD has a lot of flaws but the PF is not the answer to our problems mainly because its leadership lacks the fundamental moral fiber needed to navigate the tough but tempting Zambian political landscape. Say what you want about Mwanawasa but he has at least managed to slow down the rampant chaos prevalent in the past
What the MMD need to do is get back to the basics. As someone pointed out Zambian people are actually very simple people if they feel someone is serving their interests. The rural game is simpler than the urban game. Deliver inputs on time and collect and pay for produce promptly. Introduce simple but effective technologies to increase productivity. Game over. For the urban areas, have someone on the ground coordinating supply of water, sewerage, planning and allocation property resources fairly regardless of whose party the constituency belongs to. Intensify small loans to women to start up businesses in these areas, build something for the people and they will be loathe boot you out
Executive intelligence demands that a leader should have 1. the analytical ability to map a route to intended objectives 2. the skills to get the best out of the people around him 3. capacity for self-introspection and continuous self-improvement. All 3 Zambian presidents to date have lacked severely in at least 2 of the 3 prerequisites above hence its no surprise we are not going to be a tiger economy anytime soon. Having said that, there are times in history when a nation needs a ‘holding midfielder’. Some one can just hold the ball from the enemy while we look for a striker to get in position for the finish. I pray that we shall find that striker by 2011. Otherwise the ball goes to Sata
#11,12. You have release some interesting details which require serious analysis.
Personally, I wopuld be happy to see Sata put pressure on the government of the day, but to NEVER assume full power of our country Zambia at state house. However, I am alive to the fact the the elections determine who goes to plot one – and not me individually.
#17. you contribution is powerful. We need to read the situation and apply measures which help in having desired results.
I also want to highlight that I do not agree on issues of hand-picking successors, it makes a comedy on the whole principle of democracy.
I like the debate, very mature, and this is the way it should be. Ba senior citizen we need people like you to keep the debate live and kicking. I like your grasping and analysing of issues, you articultate them so well. I guess you are a Political Scientist.
For me Songashi is not an ideal and fit person to lead the MMD, let alnoe to run this country. We need think-tanks that will continue the good work that Levy has done.
Mwaiche so called Senior Citizen #8- #10
I `ve always been advising you not to be over confindent in the MMD party by assuming that they are headed for a landslide in 2011.Simply check out the lesson HRC has been taught by OBAMA.One can draw similarities between what`s going on in the US primaries and the Zambian political scenario.Obama simply tapped into the anti status quo and developed the YES WE CAN movement.Naivity might lead a political rookie to think otherwise.A political genius and a strategist sees the 2011 elections as wide open and ripe for an upset.
Watch this space.
Mwaiche Chapi,
Your euphoria for the US primaries you have kept as a benchmark is not stunning in the eyes of seasoned strategists and vested scholars. Particularly your zealousness for the Obamamania is both out of context and evidence of limited ability to understand the American APD, political culture, national interest, Grassroot latent power of the November voters, election primaries system (open, closed, blanket and semi closed), democracy and the Bradley effect.I would walk through with precision what is happening in the primaries and the eventual November outcome, but constitutionally i have no mandate as a Zambian.
Certainly, my understanding of the international market place and the American APD is too deep than you may think.So dear young man, don’t talk of some benchmarks you have limited knowledge on.Ever wondered my Obama has strong primaries showing in red states and weak in swing and traditional blue states? On the home front, know that we are a diverse open plural system where the winner in a competitive race takes it all. You could have 20 parties on the ballot, but the one that leads the popular votes, is the constitutionally winner period. Our Democracy is not a two party system as the case of America is.Change come with crystalizing the critical mass on fundamental drivers of change.
Mwaiche Chapi,
Thus far and in any near future outcome in the Zambian scene, i beat you there will be none overwhelming in any needful deallignment and punctuation.Your President Sata ruining your life by worthlessly staging you on the blog to sing some orchestra without an audience is indeed regrettable and very embarrassing to say the least. It has has no future for you whatsoever and its not building you going by your sub-level arguments here since i stared erratically visiting LT.Know the dynamics of the vote spread and difficult of block voting in a functional plural system as Zambia.
Mwaiche Senior Citizen #29
I wish to bring to your attention the 2006 elections and hope you can apply some logic unlike cadre mentality in disecting that outcome.Taking note of SATA`s ratched past,one can only conclude that the votes SATA got were merely anti levy and not actually for him.Realising that those sentiments and negativity have even grown stronger.That could into easily be translated into votes.You being a SHUSHUSHU must have these facts on your finger tips.Naivitity is a good explanation of your over confidence that the MMD is headed for a landslide in 2011.
On the US primaries,it`s about the delegate count while blue and red states come into play only in the general election
MWAICHE PRAGMATIST
The base of the MMD is the rural electorate and any strategist will enlighten you that,that`s a swing block and with proper triangulation can go either way.Getting too excited and relying on such a base shows how little political and anlytical depth you have and makes me hesitate to go into a debate with you on this front.
If hillary is standing we can also do with Vera chiluba standing. She is the only one with politcal experience having been in plot 1 also now an MP. You better get used to a chiluba dynasty with also Castro wanting to help zambia move forward.
Pat. u don’t need a degree to run a country these days. Anyone can get a degree these days. Mind you, there are a lot of fools with degrees around.
#33 Immanuel Kant,
Most jops of responsibility needs a dgree minimum, am sure runing a country involves much more responsibility.
Why do you think you need a degree minimum to run any reputable international company ?
I think that should be the minimum requirement.