VETERAN politician Vernon Mwaanga says the MMD’s loss to the Patriotic Front (PF) in the September 20 general elections is a sign that it overstayed in power and stopped listening to advice and the will of the people.

The former MMD Chief Whip said in a statement issued in Lusaka on October 17 the change of government witnessed on September 20 is a reality check for the MMD and signal that the former ruling party had overstayed in power.

Mr Mwaanga said the change of government should, however, not lead to a repetition of the mistakes the MMD government may have made in its 20-year rule.
He said President Sata has made laudable moves which should be encouraged because it is important to put Zambia first, as leaders will come and go, but Zambia will always remain.

“It is my hope and expectation that President Sata, whom I credit with pragmatism, because I served with him in the 1991 cabinet, will use his power and authority to unite the country,” Mr Mwaanga said.

He said the PF government should take this as an opportunity to right the wrongs and bring about positive change in the country.

Mr Mwaanga said the change of government should not be an opportunity for retribution, vindictiveness and settling of old scores, because as the old adage goes “two wrongs do not make a right”.

He hopes the new government will build on the development the MMD government brought, while discarding the bad ones.

Mr Mwaanga said the loss of elections and power by the MMD came as a shock to many party members, particularly the younger ones, who have never experienced opposition politics.

He said some people do not realise that MMD was in opposition when it was formed after March, 1990 but it functioned as a responsible and mature opposition party up to November, 1991.

Mr Mwaanga said on September 20, the voice of Zambians was loud and clear because they voted democratically for change, and all citizens should accept their verdict and honour it.

“I am proud to be a Zambian and to have witnessed a peaceful transfer of power, at a time when the African continent has been under a microscope after the ugly scenes which have been witnessed in other parts of our continent,” he said.

[pullquote]“I am proud to be a Zambian and to have witnessed a peaceful transfer of power, at a time when the African continent has been under a microscope after the ugly scenes which have been witnessed in other parts of our continent,” he said.[/pullquote]

Mr Mwaanga said political power should not be for individual leaders but for citizens who have acquired a new appetite for the rule of law, democracy, good governance and want to practise politics of inclusion.

He said it is, therefore, necessary for Zambians to give the PF led-government of President Sata time and an opportunity to play out its economic and governance agenda.

Mr Mwaanga said every new government deserves to be given a chance to prove itself to the electorate and even to make its own mistakes. He urged Mr Sata to get to work so that the economic gains and other achievements the country has made during the last few years are not reversed, but enhanced.

Mr Mwaanga said the election of Mr Sata as fifth President marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

He paid tribute to former President Rupiah Banda for the manner he conceded defeat and the orderly transition of power he facilitated. Mr Mwaanga said Mr Banda should be left to retire in peace and dignity because there are many good things he did for Zambia which should not be forgotten in the euphoria and excitement of the PF victory.

He hopes the MMD, a party he helped found 20 years ago, will accept the present political reality and become an effective, constructive, mature and responsible opposition.

Meanwhile, a senior MMD official says most members of the party were sidelined during the Presidential campaigns, another reason that could have led to the loss during the elections.

[pullquote]Mr Mwaanga said Mr Banda should be left to retire in peace and dignity because there are many good things he did for Zambia which should not be forgotten in the euphoria and excitement of the PF victory.[/pullquote]

The official, who declined to be named , said the party organs were left out and that instead, it was State House staff and former President Banda’s children that were put in charge of the campaigns.

“We were totally forgotten during campaign time as MMD senior members. The campaigns were hijacked by government officials and President Banda’s children. Only the national secretary, Major Richard Kachingwe, was included in the campaign team,” the official said.

He said the people that surrounded the former President lied to him and made him believe that everything was in place.

The official said some popular members of the party were not adopted during campaigns and were sacrificed for people that were hand-picked by a certain group within the party.

He said the same people that surrounded Mr Banda are the very ones that have now run away from him.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

President Michael Sata has said today that the zero-tolerance stance against corruption adopted by the new administration is irreversible. The President reaffirmed that the government is firm on its fight against corruption both in the public and private sector with full commitment and vigour.

“During the campaigns we made an undertaking that we shall robustly fight corruption and we shall do just that. The policy of this government is that any person who has aggrieved the Zambian people economically and otherwise, in the past or present, must face the law,” says the Head of State.

“Make no mistake about it, because we are resolute on combating corruption and all its offshoots even if it means losing friends. We are ready to make that sacrifice for the sake of the Zambian people whom we promised and as a result they gave us the mandate to preside over this country’s affairs.”

President Sata said the law enforcement agencies will investigate any past and present acts of corruption and ensure that the culprits are prosecuted within the due process of the law.

“I’m confident that professionalism and exemplary ethical conduct shall be the bedrock of this process,” said the President through a media statement issued by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relation George Chellah..

The President emphasized that the crusade against corruption will be done without malice or witch-hunt and shall be non-selective because he does not believe in selective justice.

[pullquote]“This government has not made a decision at any level regarding the removal of anybody’s immunity. And nobody has even talked about it either from the party or government’s side. It is therefore, preposterous that some political stakeholders and leaders among us are attempting to frustrate this crusade by throwing innuendoes and half-truths on this noble cause,” said President Sata.  [/pullquote]

“This government has not made a decision at any level regarding the removal of anybody’s immunity. And nobody has even talked about it either from the party or government’s side. It is therefore, preposterous that some political stakeholders and leaders among us are attempting to frustrate this crusade by throwing innuendoes and half-truths on this noble cause,” said President Sata.

“I must repeat that, we are unwavering on this score and nothing other than justice shall prevail. As for those who have expediently decided to side with corruption and the corrupt, we leave it to the Zambian people to see and know them for who they are and what they stand for. A moment ago, we all campaigned on the platform of fighting corruption, so what has changed?”

The opposition MMD has demanded to know the specific allegations being leveled against former President Rupiah Banda prompting some sections of society to call for the lifting up of his immunity so that he can be prosecuted.

MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe says it is only after the charges against the former leader are made clear that the party’s National Executive Committee will be able to give its position on the matter.

Major Kachingwe also told QFM that it is surprising to note that some people are trying to create an issue over the collaboration between the UPND and MMD.

He has denied reports that the two political parties are trying to form a pact in order to frustrate the policies of the PF government.

He notes that it is however, a constitutional right of the UPND and MMD to associate adding democracy in the country can only be nurtured if people are allowed to make use of the democratic principles which among them encourage freedom of assembly.

And Major Kachingwe has maintained that the MMD will support all the progressive policies that the new government will put in place for the benefit of the Zambians.

He adds that the MMD will ensure that it offers meaningful contribution to the country’s governance system by proving checks and balances and only criticize were necessary.

QFM

Senanga UPND Member of Parliament Likando Mufalali has accused Republican President Michael Sata and the Post Newspapers editor in Chief Fred Membe of being tribalists.

Responding to media reports associating UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema with former President Rupiah Banda, Mr. Mufalali claimed that President Sata and the Post Newspaper are bent at tarnishing the image of the UPND.

Mr. Mufalali charged that the UPND leader had a right to associate with anyone he feels and wondered why this should be an issue.

He explained that Zambians should not allow the Post to divide the country.

Mr. Mufalali has further accused President Sata’s of practicing regionalism adding that plans create a tenth Province to be called Muchinga are aimed at pushing development in Northern Province at the expense of other parts of the country.

Mufalali also noted that most road construction projects announced in the parliament speech by the president are in his tribal region.

He said that the decisions that President Sata has made so far are questionable and that Zambians must brace themselves for more surprises from the PF government.

QFM

Mofya Chisenga ,former Miss Universe Zambia , passed away last friday 14th october ,reportedly due to complications during child birth.

She was crowned Miss Tourism Zambia in 2004 ,and represented her country at a number of international pageants such as :

• Miss Tourism Queen International Pageant 2005 in China
•   Miss Universe 2006 in Los Angeles California.
• Miss Leisure world 2008 in China.

  

THE National Restoration Party (NAREP) has urged the Patriotic Front (PF) to effectively plan for the implementation of a new people-driven constitution. NAREP president Elias Chipimo said the PF Government should not rush in coming up with a new constitution as it might have flaws.

Mr Chipimo said the party is of the view that the 90 day period set by the PF to implement a new constitution is inadequate and unrealistic. On October 14, President Sata assured the nation that his Government will deliver a new people driven constitution within 90 days.

Mr Sata said his administration attaches great importance to good governance and will as such ensure a new constitution is delivered within three months. But Mr Chipimo said in an interview on yesterday that it is not feasible for Government to deliver a good constitution within 90 days. He suggested that Government tackles the implementation of a new constitution in two stages.

Mr Chipimo said in first three months, the first stage can be tackled which is passing of non-controversial clauses. He said in the second stage of between 18 to 24 months, the sensitive and controversial clauses in the draft constitution can be addressed.

Mr Chipimo said Government should not complicate the delivery of a good constitution by rushing the process. Mr Chipimo said there is no room for errors as it has the potential to affect the implementation of a people driven constitution.

“If the constitution making process is rushed, it will not stand the test of time and so we appeal to this Government to take its time on this important process,” Mr Chipimo said.

He said President Sata should leave a good legacy by ensuring his administration produces a people driven constitution.

[Zambia Daily Mail]