
PRESIDENT Banda says Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata talks a lot but says very little.
Mr Banda said Mr Sata claims to be a big man but lacks substance.
“He promises everything but delivers nothing. When he and his PF friends come calling ask them questions,” Mr Banda said.
He said this yesterday when he launched the Presidential and MMD campaign for the 2011 general elections.
He said people should ask the PF how it will build tomorrow’s Zambia, how it will create stability, security and prosperity for all Zambians.
He said Mr Sata can never be President for all Zambians who have already rejected him three times.
Mr Banda said former President Frederick Chiluba rejected Mr Sata as his successor because he knew he is not worthy.
“Dr Mwanawasa beat him in 2001 because he was a better man. He beat him again in 2006; easily I beat him in 2008 and in 2011will beat him again. But Sata never learns, he is like a punch-drunk boxer who keeps coming back for more. Well this time the MMD is going to knock him out for good! The people of Zambia will be the referee…let them count him out,” he said.
Mr Banda said the PF leader’s final hour has really come because the PF boat is sinking and that Mr Sata will go down with it forever.
He said as President since 2008, he can stand before the Zambian people and point to what his Government has achieved.
Mr Banda said the MMD is ready to be judged by the people who have seen what it has done.
“We have been constructive and energetic. They have also seen what the opposition have been doing; fighting and squabbling like children. Michael Sata will be asking Zambians to vote for him. Let him stand on his record, too,” he said.
[pullquote]“Sata likes to call himself the cobra. I never trust a creature that slithers on its stomach, would you trust a snake? I warn all Zambians if you play with the cobra expect to be bitten. But that is democracy for you. Everybody has a right to stand, even Michael Sata,” he said.[/pullquote]
He said in 2008, Mr Sata promised to fix load-shedding, build the Livingstone road, and put more money in people’s pockets within 90 days but nobody believed him.
Mr Banda said even this year, Mr Sata is making the same promises but he has no vision, no new ideas, and no direction.
“He is yesterday’s man. This year he will say that it is time for change. But change to what? People of Zambia, your choice is simple. You can go backwards with PF or forward with the MMD,” he said.
He said the truth is that PF is a one-man band with a sick heart, it has no soul and that it only has Mr Sata whom Zambians cannot trust.
Mr Banda said United Party for National Development president Hakainde Hichilema trusted Mr Sata but he got hurt.
“Sata likes to call himself the cobra. I never trust a creature that slithers on its stomach, would you trust a snake? I warn all Zambians if you play with the cobra expect to be bitten. But that is democracy for you. Everybody has a right to stand, even Michael Sata,” he said.
He added that the failed PF-UPND pact was meant to be about teamwork but Mr Sata is not a team player.
“We knew the pact would never work because we know that Sata will say and do anything to get power. Because of their mistakes and failures, the Zambian people will punish them. The MMD will take votes from PF up and down the country. We will take them from the Copperbelt, Lusaka and Luapula,” he said.
Mr Banda also cautioned the UPND to watch out because the MMD will win in Southern Province because it is a party for all Zambians.
[Zambia Daily Mail]