By C.Chibomba

On 20th September 2011 the people of the Republic of Zambia will be going to the polls to cast their vote on who should have the right to rule them for the next 5 years.

The Contenders

10 political parties have put forward presidential candidates. Several more parties chose to sit out these elections, having read the landscape and seeing the writing on the wall which, to all intents and purposes, gave them the reason to believe that it was best to abstain.

Most pundits, including the majority of pollsters, have put their money on Rupiah Banda to take the day.Banda is the current President and is the candidate for the ruling party, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD)He has tirelessly criss-crossed the country taking the message of development and more development if re-elected. It is evident that his message has been well received judging from the huge crowds seen at his campaign rallies. The opinion polls have consistently favoured Banda with outcomes of between 42 and 48%. His chances of retaining the presidency have not diminished.

Michael Sata is the candidate put forward by the largest opposition party, the Patriotic Front (PF). He is performing reasonably in the opinion polls, garnering results of between 30 and 38%. Sata stood the best chance of ousting Banda from the presidency when his party sat in a political pact with the United Party for National Development (UPND) for a period of about three years. The Pact adopted a common strategy to build a strong force to fight the ruling party at the polls. In due time, the Pack showed signs of wooing voters to its side. Believing that the Pact was headed for election victory, some elements in Sata’s Patriotic Front became greedy and contrived to ‘allocate’ themselves positions in a perceived future Government. This enraged their partners in the Pact from the UPND and thus the Pact crumbled and diminished Sata’s chances of ascending to the presidency. Sata is now desperately trying to pick the pieces but has a hard task to dislodge Banda.

The third largest party in the country is the United Party for National Development (UPND) and its presidential candidate is Hakainde Hichilema. As the junior partner in the erstwhile Pact, the best he had hoped for was as Vice President to Sata. With the collapse of the Pact, Hakainde has heaved himself up as a possible contender to the highest office. Unfortunately for him, his party is parochial and has support only in one part of the country. It is a massive task for him to penetrate the rest of the country and there is little hope that he can be a threat to either Banda or Sata. The opinion polls give him a lowly 13% of the vote. His best chance would be to go into alliance with one of the larger parties, particularly the MMD who are the likely winners this year.

Then there are the other seven parties. What is most significant about these parties are their fancy names. They are basically also-runs with no real hope of upsetting the order of things. For the benefit of a complete picture, these other parties in contention are:

The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD). It is the only party whose candidate is female, Edith Nawakwi. Nawakwi was once a Minister of Finance whose appeal has been to women to come out in numbers to vote for her. This is a long shot because, while women voters are in the majority, it is unlikely that the will deliberately vote for her simply because she is a woman. Party leaning normally holds sway when voting.

The National Movement for Progress (NMP). This is a new party hardly a year old formed by Ng’andu Magande. He also once served as a Minister of Finance and only formed his party after being hounded out of the ruling party when he fell out with the elite. His chances of success at the polls are next to nil.

The Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD). Its president is Charles Milupi who vacated his seat in Parliament as an independent member to form his party just over a year ago. He successfully defended his seat in a by-election and came back to Parliament as party president, the only member representing his party. His popularity is limited to his constituency and is unknown elsewhere in the country. He has no chance of success in the presidential race.

The Heritage Party (HP). Godfrey Miyanda a former soldier, is the head of this party and its presidential candidate. Miyanda once served as the country’s Vice President and broke away from the MMD to form the Heritage Party hoping to ride on the fact that 90% percent of the population in Zambia is Christian and the country has a constitution which declares it a Christian nation. Even by a long shot, none of this is likely to win Miyanda the presidency and so his campaign is largely futile.

The United National Independence Party (UNIP). This is the oldest political party in Zambia fashioned by the first president, Kenneth Kaunda. His son, Tilyenji Kaunda is now at the helm and is hoping to walk in his father’s footsteps by also becoming President. Alas, his is virtually an impossible task. UNIP collapsed in 1991 with the introduction of multi-party politics. The party went into oblivion to the extent that in the last parliament, it had only one representative in the House who, interestingly, has since defected to the ruling party. UNIP has no significant support anywhere in the country and only pride drives its leadership to keep its name afloat. Kaunda might as well not be contesting the presidency.

The Zambian for Empowerment and Development (ZED). This is one of the several parties created recently merely to congest the free democratic landscape knowing full well that there’s was a futile exercise with no hope of landing the ultimate prize. Its leader is Fred Mutesa, a University don with radical ideals which cannot appeal to a population interested mainly in having food at the table and decent schools to send their children to. Mutesa’s vision of a utopian Zambia only understood by his students at University will not win him any votes. He stands no chance.

The National Restoration Party (NAREP). This is a party formed just over a year ago, whose appeal is mainly to the youth. The leader, Elias Chipimo Junior, is the youngest presidential candidate, a rising young lawyer, whose father, Elias Chipimo, was once a prominent politician, banker and diplomat. Chipimo’s ambition is to exceed his father’s achievements and become President of Zambia and so fulfil the adage that says the youth are leaders of tomorrow. He has preached this message mainly to the youth attempting to convince them that he time for the youth to lead has come sand so they should vote for him. The reality of the situation is that even the combined votes of all the registered youth would not win him the election.

The other two parties are really not worth mentioning. At best, they are ‘one-man’ parties and do not add value the political landscape in Zambia. They are, nevertheless, good for the democratic outlook and dispensation in Zambia. There is fair play politically. Everyone is accommodated, everyone is heard and everyone is given an equal chance to participate and have their say. Only the votes to cast on 20 September 2011 will decide who will be the next President of Zambia.

It’s worth noting that Zambia’s prevalent brand of politics is very personality driven, with many of its leading politicians building cults of personality based on messages that resonate with their followers. Many of the parties have not held democratic conventions and have leaders who have been attempting to be president for the last ten years. In the case of the two largest opposition parties the PF recently held a general party convention, the first in its ten year history. But this convention was characterised by autocratic decision making from the top, with Michael Sata choosing how positions should be allocated across the board. In the past the party did not even bother to attempt to practice any real internal democracy, its leader is known for his autocratic tendencies, suspending and appointing members at will. Since Anderson Mazoka’s death, Hakainde Hichelima the new leader of the UPND has not held a party convention either. Without transparent governance mechanisms it is difficult to tell how the opposition parties could meaningfully change the political landscape as far as corruption and transparent governance is concerned. With many of the opposition parties filled with disgruntled ex-MMD members it is also difficult to say how much they would actually change the socio-economic environment for the better.

KABWATA Patriotic Front aspiring candidate Given Lubinda has advised advocates for prayers for peace to ensure that they pray for justice too because that was a precondition for peace.

“Yes pray for peace, I agree but who is praying for justice. Who praying for transparency and accountability so that the vote counts for what it is?” he asked.

He maintained that the PF will not accept a rigged election this time and so it is important those praying for peace ought to understand that peace is based on justice.

“We have to be convinced that every vote counts and it will count until the real winner is declared,” he said. “This we are taking very seriously in the Patriotic Front and we shall keep vigil over our vote until Wednesday morning when Zambia is given a dynamic, hardworking president Michael Chilufya Sata as head of state.”

And PF vice-president says the party has gone everywhere and delivered sound message of change and hope, shocking the MMD which has lived in the fools’ paradise that rural areas would not accept the PF.
[pullquote]“If you attempt to steal even a single vote from my president, from my vote, I cannot guarantee you safety in Matero. We have 80,000 vigilant monitors in that constituency and so one will be risking one’s life by attempting to do anything silly,” he said.[/pullquote]

“I have been to various areas of the country and I am returning to Mongu for the final phase of my country tours. Sata has slept in the trenches and eat with the poor. He has preached his message to the mass poor yearning for change and there is no way the thieving MMD will lie that rural areas will not vote for him,” Dr Scott told members of the press conference at Hotel intercontinental Hotel on September 17.

At the same briefing Matero PF aspiring candidate Miles Sampa said anyone seeking to subvert the will of the people by attempting to steal even a single vote will be doing so at their own peril.

“If you attempt to steal even a single vote from my president, from my vote, I cannot guarantee you safety in Matero. We have 80,000 vigilant monitors in that constituency and so one will be risking one’s life by attempting to do anything silly,” he said.

[PF Press]

Pomp and splendor characterized President Rupiah Banda’s grand finale at his rally today in Mandevu Township in Lusaka. The huge rally which was held at Kimbaguitii basic School grounds appeared to be hued in the traditional MMD blue colour as both sympathizers and cadres of the ruling party where clad in the party regalia.

Before President Banda’s delegation’s arrival , the massive crowd closed up all the roads and paths leading to the school as patriotic songs and dances were performed much to the excitement of the crowd.

Renowned musicians in the likes Daliso, the Oga family and local song bird Mampi spiced the occasion with various hits that made the crowd dance and cheer the President and his entourage especially when he drove into the school grounds.

Today’s rally is exactly the sixtieth successful rally the President has under taken across the country. In his address, Mr. Banda called on the electorate to vote for him and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) for continued good economic policies.

“The MMD is the only party with a clear vision and direction hence the need for the people to vote for the party on Tuesday,” he said.

The President noted that there are so many developmental projects that the MMD has implemented countrywide adding that if he is re-elected,he would do more for the nation.

He disclosed that his party is the only one that has managed to field in candidates in all the 150 constituencies. Mr. Banda said that the opposition has no clear direction and vision for Zambia that is the reason why they are using the slogan “Don’t Kubeba”.

President Rupiah Banda expressed his certainty that he was going to win Tuesday’s elections. Mr. Banda said that this was because the MMD party has managed to deliver in all sectors of the economy in the country.

He said that he has constructed roads, hospitals and schools in all the parts of the country hence the need for the people to vote for him once again.
“Look at our records in Lusaka and other parts of the country, we have real projects,” Mr. Banda said.

He said that the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) is the only party with a vision and direction. “Our victory must not be taken for granted, we have worked for it and we have done that till the last hour,” he said.

And Former Vice President Enock Kavindele has called on the people of Mandevu constituency to vote for President Rupiah Banda on Tuesday next week.

Mr. Kavindele said that there was need for the people of Mandevu to vote for Mr. Banda in order for him to continue with the various developmental projects that he implemented three years ago.

He stated that Mr. Banda should be given another five year mandate owing to his good economic policies. He said that if Zambians wants the peace that the country has enjoyed since independence to continue, they should vote for the ruling MMD because it is the only party that is peaceful and has a vision.

And MMD Mandevu constituency aspiring candidate Canisius Banda called on the people of Mandevu to vote for MMD on Tuesday next week. Dr. Banda has described the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata as a recycled leader who lacks direction.

Meanwhile, Vice President George Kunda has today concluded his campaign trail for the Muchinga Parliamentary seat in Serenje district.

Mr. Kunda who is re-contesting his Muchinga seat held ten successful campaign rallies in various parts of the constituency in the last four days.

ZANIS reports from Serenje, today, that the Vice President held mammoth rallies in Kanona, Koffi Kunda, Chibale, Nchimishi and Mulembo areas among others.

Speaking at Koffi Kunda Basic School today, Mr. Kunda said the MMD is still intact and is headed for a landslide victory in Tuesday’s tripartite elections.

Mr. Kunda noted that the ruling party is focused on delivering development to all parts of the country unlike the opposition PF which is continuously hurling insults on President Banda and the MMD government.

He said Zambians deserve mature leaders such as President Banda who is concerned about the future and development of the whole country.

The Vice President has since called on the electorate to ensure that they vote for President Banda and the MMD in the forthcoming elections.

ZANIS

The Zambia Small Scale Farmers Network (ZSSF) has endorsed President Rupiah Bwezani Banda in next Tuesday’s tripartite Elections.

The Network says it has resolved to vote for President Banda as a way of rewarding the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) administration for its positive agriculture policy.

Network Coordinator Boyd Liambai said this in a statement released to ZANIS in Mongu yesterday.

Mr. Liambai said ZSSF has attributed the country’s maize bumper harvest during the last two farming seasons to President Banda’s efforts to incorporate several farmers in the Farmer’s Input Support Programme (FISP).

The Network which has 395,000 farmers is busy working with 10 Provincial Sensitisation Committees to ensure that 985,000 famers under the FISP vote for President Banda in the September 20th elections.

Mr. Liambai stated that the Network is indebted to Mr. Banda’s working policies aimed at improving the agriculture sector by increasing the number of farmers on the FISP.

He added that this is why the Zambia Small Scale Farmers Network in Western Province will support his workable agriculture policies which have also helped improve farmer’s lives in the country.

He said the Network is happy that Government has allocated about K600, 000,000 to 80 women farmers clubs in Western Province under the Women Empowerment from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.

Mr. Liambai appealed to farmers countrywide to support the MMD government ‘s agriculture policies saying the opposition parties have no provision in their manifestos to support farmers.

ZANIS

LUSAKA lawyer Hobday Kabwe says Zambia risks experiencing unprecedented levels of lawlessness in the unlikely event that Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata wins the September 20 elections.

In an interview on September 15, Mr Kabwe said Mr Sata and his followers have so far shown that they have no regard for the rule of law. He was reacting to Mr Sata’s threat to deal with citizens whom he considers to be corrupt if he is elected President.

Mr Sata was quoted in yesterday’s edition of The Post newspaper saying the country will see all the thieves on September 22, 2011.

“This statement attributed to a person who is aspiring to become Republican President makes very sad reading. He sounds like he has already secured convictions for these people and he is just waiting to sentence them,” Mr Kabwe said.

He said it is unfortunate that Mr Sata can use a political platform to threaten innocent citizens instead of delivering a message of hope for Zambians.
“It seems Mr Sata does not learn from the free legal advice we give him. There is no way he can call someone a ‘thief’ without reliable evidence and the law presumes everyone innocent until proven guilty,” Mr Kabwe said.

He warned Zambians to be cautious and ensure that they do not vote for Mr Sata to avoid putting someone with a dictatorial character into office.

He said the people have a perfect opportunity to assess the difference between Mr Sata and President Banda through the duo’s utterances.

“While President Banda has been consistent in focusing on delivering the message of hope to Zambians, Mr Sata’s statements are in most cases about lawlessness. What kind of a President will he make in an unlikely event that he wins the elections next week?” Mr Kabwe said.

He urged well-meaning Zambians to ensure that the economic and social gains the country has attained under President Banda are maintained by retaining the MMD in power.

Mr Kabwe said President Banda has clearly demonstrated his passion to develop all parts of the country without discrimination.

[Zambia Daily Mail]