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Only two presidential candidates in 2011 polls

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The Youth Movement for Inter-party Reconciliation has proposed that only two presidential candidates should contest the 2011 elections.

Organisation Executive Director Patrick Samwimbila said this is to prevent vote-splitting and election of a minority president.

Mr. Samwimbila said the organization also desire that the 50 plus one majority votes be be implemented  in 2011 even in the absence of a clause in the republican constitution

Addressing the press in Lusaka today, Mr. Samwimbila has since urged the opposition political parties to start working towards an electoral pact.

Mr. Samwimbila further said the move would go a long way in encouraging people to vote.

Meanwhile, Mr. Samwimbila has said political differences can only be resolved through dialogue.

He said violence would only bring about chaos and instability in the country.

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

106 COMMENTS

  2. This is a good suggestion but it must have the backing of parliament as we are effectively saying Zambia should be a two party democracy. Can it work in a country where poltics are seen as the quickest way to getting rich? Ask those above 60 and see if they will agree. Sata wants to be known as President, BY wants to be known as president, Miyanda wants to be known as President, HH wants to be known the same. These people are so desparate they will not listen to anyone stopping them from contesting. May be we should first of all cull all politicians above 60 and start afresh.

  3. “The Youth Movement for Inter-party Reconciliation has proposed that only two presidential candidates should contest the 2011 elections.”

    And who do you suggest those candidates are. Can you please think things through before you say them. This is a silly idea. As you know, I am for the free market and part of being for the free market is allowing competition. A 2 party system is pretty much an oligopoly, they can do whatever they want because people only have two to chose from. Case in point, the USA election. Ron Paul who is/was the best candidate had no chance.

  4. cont from #3]

    “Mr. Samwimbila said the organization also desire that the 50 plus one majority votes be be implemented in 2011”

    That is a better Idea. Let any number of parties contest and then run, then the top two will contest for the second round. That is a much better Idea than the one you first proposed.

  6. yes i agree with this,too many political candidates coz serious split of votes and if mr.sata and ba HH worked together,they would have come out as winners

  8. Two or five candidates RB will lead Zambia for only two and half years and go down in history as the Zambian President with the shortest term of office. Must make the most of it while it lasts.

  9. Chi #1(free-market-captlst),what is all this euphoria about being No.1 or 2? If you ahve nothing to say on the topic save us this idiocy and stay out of the blog!

  12. the only way to get around this is have the 50+1, were we should a second round in the event that the winning candidate fails to get 50+1 votes hence dealling with the issue of the minority president. the issue of electoral pacts can’t work here as noticed from the last polls

  13. Guys these organisations are just used during elections to support people. Like edwin lifekelo’s the zambian law allows 4 any number. MMD cant allow this change cos they would surely lose like they did 2 weeks ago.

  14. #10
    You are the people we do’nt want in society coz you dont contribute anything, it would have bin better if you were bed bugs or just flys.

  15. #14

    Why are you commenting on the fact that I am number 1? Why not comment on the posts I have made on number 3 and 4??

  16. Not comfortable with two presidential candidate to contest but the implemention of 50 plus one majority votes in 2011 sounds good and there after the best two candidate contest the final presidential election.

  17. This is very interesting at the same time very unrealistic. With such reasoning, we are not far from suggesting a one party state as during the Kaunda era. Am of the view that such a situation, if allowed will actaully be a diterrent to freedom of association.

    Even seemingly dual party systems like the USA and Britain (which am sure Samwimbila had in mind), smaller parties do exist although they rarely win elections. The better situation I believe is to allow the formation of parties by as many people as wish and them before the general elections, hold primary elections to eliminate Presidential candidates that stand no chance of winning and remain with two.

  19. Bull….! Anyone should have the ryt to contest the Presidency.
    only the 50+1 shud be upheld maybe it wud help prevent riffraffs like that presidential candidate who has never seen the inside of a lecture theatre & he relies on Kaponyas for support.

  22. Can pliz somebody advise Sata that the rain season is meant for farming even basic farming.
    Old man is busy fighting useless petitions togather with the Catholics & The Post Newspapers.
    Ewe mudala uzadya chani kansi!
    Even Nyama Soya has a farm & time waster Miyanda has let alone HH

  24. “Mr. Samwimbila said the organization also desire that the 50 plus one majority votes be be implemented in 2011 even in the absence of a clause in the republican constitution” is good by let everyone use his/her right to participate in the elections and then the Constitution will dictate how the two top Presidential candidates will go for a new round of voting if there will be need.

    Viva president HH and the mighty UPND to form GRZ in 2011.

  26. Is it?
    1.HH & Prof. Chirwa
    2.Sata vs Kunda Goerge
    3.Nawakwi VS Maureen
    4.Saki vs Ngondo
    5.HH vs Sata
    6.Winter K vs HH
    7.Sata Vs RB
    8.Tilyenji Vs Saki
    9.Shikapwasha vs Nevers mumba
    Or M’membe Vs Mulongoti

  27. 50 + one majority votes, thats what we all want to see come 2011. Two presidential candidates, not sure who should decide who stands and who doesnt stand?

  28. This is very interesting at the same time very unrealistic. With such reasoning, we are not far from suggesting a one party state as during the Kaunda era. Am of the view that such a situation, if allowed will actaully be a diterrent to freedom of association.

    Even in seemingly dual party systems like the USA and Britain (which am sure Samwimbila had in mind), smaller parties do exist although they rarely win elections. The better situation I believe is to allow the formation of parties by as many people as wish and then before the general elections, hold primary elections to eliminate Presidential candidates that stand no chance of winning and remain with two.

  29. Two candidates?>! think through. It can’t work there people that are full of themselves who wouldnt want to see only two people on stage. At any cost even if it will take them two days to find two hundred supporters they would stand

  30. THE PROBLEM WITH 50% + 1 Is that we will always be having elections twice in 5years, because obviously there will always be runoffs. how ever this advantages MMD more than the opposition because in the event of a run off between MMD and UPND i can asure you northern and luapula will vote MMD. in a similar way if the runoff is between Sata and MMD southern will go MMD. this is the reason why MMD sent KK to form a pact between Sata and HH knowing very well that if HH is on top northern and luapula will go MMD and if HH is on Top they grab southern

  31. What I can foresee is that 50 plus 1 will make some cry at the end. You remember George Weir who was leading before he faced that Liberian woman predient! This Bemba mentality of insulting others in UPND will not help them. In PF you have people like Kambwili who think they can impose their language on others. Even when he comes to the UK where his wife is based he wants to speak bemba in our home. PF need a sober minded leader if they want support of other opposition leaders. As it is UPND can work with MMD very well but would not support PF in anyway because of the foul language such, calcualtor boy, under five. Do not insult others and later believe they will help you, never.

  34. Forget about 50+1%. Why do you think VJ is back in parlliament as whip? they brought him back to come and prevent the 50plus1 %.

  35. I’m number 26…..im so excited!

    Number 25 i love your idea for 2011.
    Would they be called the MPP Party?
    Mmd
    Pf
    Post

    hehehee

  37. People, I am surprised. There are still some people thinking that the Undereducated will have a chance to stand for Presidency in 2011. Do you people listern to President RB Banda’s campaign messages? The messages were that he wants to make sure the Undereducated is retired from Zambian Politics. Since the case is like I hava explained above, the NCC will make sure the put a clause to ban anyone without a Grade 12 School Certificate from Vying for Zambian President. So those with hopes on the Undereducate must tell him to sit for Grade 7,9,12 exams before the November 2011 elections. Free advice is that TAKE NOTE OF MY ABOVE for the Undereducate and Most of PF aint part of the NCC 2object.

  39. #31. your flag Kashimani, you have hit the nail on its head and I do not need to write more until someone needs my attention. Otherwise, I truly believe in your “As it is UPND can work with MMD very well but would not support PF in anyway because of the foul language such, calcualtor boy, under five. Do not insult others and later believe they will help you, never.”

    The UPND will deal with progressive MMD and not ride with uncouth individuals with a Bemba as a National Language Promoting minds. Let us deal with issues that affect our children in particular and the Nation at large instead of hanging on insults and politics of the era before we got independence from the British in 1964.

  42. Lelo lelo SATA.Can the BIG BOAT survive this time? I hear it started leaking last night and was taken to Kashikishi for repairs.This boat has never in its life taken anyone across the river.They have all drowned and eaten up by crocodiles.

  43. #34 it is actually MMD who want to bring the 50% +1 because they know its imposible for luapula and northerners to overwhelmingly vote for HH just like southerne cant overwhelmingly vote for Sata. and southern his almost an equal population to northern and luapula combined.meaning that a rerun with Sata would mean MMD winning southern to cancel luapula and nothern votes and then winning all the areas they won in this years election for alandslide victory. if its a rerun with HH then they will get northern and luapula to cancel the southern vote. while we are making noise on LT VJ is looking at the demographics and population survey results including the voter register.

  45. 41# You are tired just say something. Our democracy is still young, we shall reach a point in near future when people will start supporting political parties out of principal than tribal lines. When that time comes most parties will wind up and join progressive parties. Hopefully only 3 parties would remain in polital arena. These will be United Ingredated Party (MMD, UNIP,ULP,NG,NFP,FDD in short all parties supporting MMD),then PF & UPND.

  46. is this guy also sponsored by RBB? This needs the constitution to be amended! so since that wont happen or will happen billions of kwacha later. its a bad idea. ikalafye tondolo mwaiche!

  47. Who is Samwibila to tell Zambians what to do? If the opposition decide to come together and field one candidate, well and good. But this should be done purely voluntarily. Otherwise, any one Zambian must be allowed to exercise his/her right-even if it means having 73 presidential candidates ( not practical though!), our democracy allows that. Parliament should not pass laws to infringe on citizen’s rights and restricting presidential candidates to two is not even in the Mung’omba Draft constitution and therefore not advocated for by the majority of Zambians.

  48. #43 Engines while I agree with the analysis above MMD is also limping. Tetamansimba has pushed his luck so much that he has stepped on Katele kalumba’s toes. Did you read what Katele said in today’s post? That is enough words for a wise man to think. Teta is becoming big headed in MMD and wanted to impose RB as party president which means it will be difficulty to dislodge him if he decided to recontest at their convention. Without pleasing Katele RB will be out come next convention. I am one foot in tongaland and another one in loziland. If PF has sobber minded leader southerners can support that person in case of rerun but what they do not like is Sata, not PF as a party.

  50. Ba PF You should have a convention this time and elect Given Lubinda as president. Then we’ll see to which party the Bembas will migrate to. They all left MMD when Chiluba ceased being president. Now the Bemba priests are at it…just because Sata didn’t make it to Plot 1.

  54. It should not be adopted as it restricts freedoms and principles of democracy. Look at USA for example with a very old and long standing democracy; they have so many parties and so many people standing including independnt ones sometimes. So such a move would take the nation backwards in terms on democracy.

  55. Two presidential candidates is okay or three but the 50+1% must be a must to ensure a popular president and do away with a minority president like the current scenario. Rigging will be the thing of the past should we introduce this but it must be debated extensively.

  56. 50+1 with the current polluted ECZ is useless,it has to be cleaned otherwise we will continue being lead by the will of Dan Kalale & his team.

  57. I DONT AGREE WITH THE IDEA COZ WE NEED TO CHOOSE FROM A VARIETY OF 4 OR 5 SO THAT WE COMPARE WELL BESIDE 50+1 IS VERY DANGEROUS A SIMPLE MAJORITY IS PREFERED

  58. Which two presidents? LT your title is like that’s an official statement from government. It’s a mere suggestion from a few individuals.

  60. #4 Dranyam, You must be serious, isn’t Sata who caused the plit of votes. Who is a better candidate between the two? Follow issues, capacity, intelligency. Zambia needs real change not recycled leaders. You should also und.rstand why people retire at 55 or 65 in developed countries. It means their thinking capacity is diminishing

  61. Ba Patrick Samwimbila. I think you have forgoten that you are living in a Multiparty Democratic Zambia. In such a system it is retrogressive to impose such limitations. Zambia is in her infancy of democracy. With time, the system will regulate itself to a point where you will have say two major parties competing in major elections. Making it law is not only undemocratic but retrogressive. What you should be advocating ba Patrick is civic education for the electorate. I f you have an informed electorate, you have a better chance of reducing the number of parties because those that don’t live up to the expectetions of the electorate will fall on the wayside.

  62. Just go to hell with some of your proposals
    Don’t freak me out with some of your suggestions imwe natuma Movement twanu. Do you know what democracy is?

  64. “The Youth Movement for Inter-party Reconciliation has proposed that only two presidential candidates should contest the 2011 elections.”

    where do such shallow thinkers come from kanshi,This country is a Democracy let us have as many people to stand as posssible, from two it will be ONE man should stand, please dont take us back to the wa mu yaya era twapapata

  68. Infact it was “Chanda Beu Kafupi” who removed from the constitution when he saw the writing on the wall that he was going to lose in 1996.

  74. what methods are you going to use to come up with two presidential candidates? If you can come with one right and better. That will block candidates like Miyanda from donating K20m to ECZ when there are many vulnerables who could put that money to good use. Perhaps you meant MMD and UPND since sata is phasing as a result of old age and illness since he owes a S/A hospital a review. and they will be no one to take it up as the party has got no mainfesto but they follow their leader’s attributes (good at Insulting). Moreover the followers will run away as creditirs will soon pounce on him and pipo will desert him.

  77. UPND will never rule zambia, my foot. as long as am alive
    we dont want a party that will come to cleanse zambia of other tribes.
    never under my dead body.

  78. zambia for zambians.
    if UPND rules zambia then the devil would really ascend on zambians…but as a prayer warrior, i wont live to see that day becasue i will be deep in prayer
    shame on you. you chases my sikota from UPND and western province will never vote for u and am sure all zambians

  80. Do you think we are Democratically mature to reach such an extent??? Impossible, not in Zambia. Politically, we are novices with regards to democracy.

  81. Chif Justlce should have led during transition period but Kafupi the Master Dribbler change constitution without u knowing. Sata & HH shouldn’t have been crying now.

  82. # 19 I have had my humble share of education, but I don’t think it is every graduate that thinks rationally. I feel own this country together; educated or uneducated. However, I have seen some brilliant people (God is marvellous)who have not had a long stay at school, articulating issues that some of the so-called educated chaps find difficult to understand.They are said to be genius. These do not need PHD’s. Make use of them while they are alive.

    For argument’s sake, how do you compare the intelligence of Dr Nevers Mumba and Michael Sata? Be honest.

  84. #50. I think PF is not a party for Bemba people only. Othrwise they would not have entertained the Lozi and White chaps in their party’s top leadership.

    I aint Bemba; but one of the many things I admire about them is that they freely mingle with anyone like their own. They don’t care who they work with.Let’s be honest about this too.

  86. #
    84. your flag FX, PF is about the Undereducate and him alone. Wait and see what will happen when he will leave it and age with health cause him to go in the background.

    Otherwise, how do you like the non-holding of elections at a PF Convention which has never taken place? Zambia is a democratic nation and so I expect PF to go for a democratic convention even if it has to be a formality one for the Undereducate to still be PF’s president.

  87. # 56. I agree with you. Whatever our speculations we may not forge forward with rampant corruption especially perpetrated by the His Excellency.

    Unless it is uprooted, Iam afraid the electorate may never have trust in the electoral processes in Zambia. Take a look at our leadership; VJ,Dan Kalale…

    Even the issue of two parties cannot work as long as we have characters so mighty they negate people’s choices and wishes. If Mcain had involved, or hired the mighty services of, VJ,he would have been victorious. But our US brothers and sisters are principled, so VJ’s services can only be employed by the primitive and retrogressive.

  88. Pf guys cannot work with anyone because many of them do not have a good mouth. They do not unit people and as such no matter what they do they would not mix with others. MMD guys are better placed to work with others. When people of Southern province, North-western, and even Western saw that HH could not make it they opted for rb because Sata and his guys insult a lot hence can just divide them. Treat others the way you would want to be treated guys, control your mouth.

  89. #
    88. your flag Chisenga Chimwemwe, nice analysis Chisenga. PF is indeed for jokers only that they are more hilarious than Kapotwe, late Sauzande and Ponyax with Pachikani, Bikiloni and Difficulty.

    In my opinion, PF has a combination of people who could make a best seller movie if they were to go full time in the Zambian Movie Industry. The guys are good in this area jealous down.

    Just brace yourselves Zambians for the next episode of PF acts and comedies that will hit the media especially in the run upto 2011 elections.

  90. Guys if you continue praising PF here, I will hunt you down, You are lucky the other guy who loved the media (Mateyo) has gone. Remember..the guy on the mosquito net advert ?

  95. This is a multi party democratic country. We can have as many parties contesting as colours of the rainbow and beyond. The problem at hand is not about vote splitting but vote rigging. Let us simply put in place measures that will ensure the elections are held in a truly free, fair and credible environment. We can have two candidates standing but as long as those elements and agents of election rigging are outstanding, we may as well forget about voting in power a candidate of the people’s choice. Simply put stop dreaming!

  98. You people you must start reasoning.WQe have a constitution to follow why do you always move goal posts.This is a democracy and the rule of law must prevail.Follow the constitution and no short cuts.Whoever wants to stand should be allowed even independents.If you are going to change things please start with changing the constitution

  99. Thats not possible here in Zed. No party trust the one another. The Presidents are to power hungry because they basicly have mortgage their respective parties to out side investors and they are responsible for repayment or campaign promises to the investors.

  102. Yawnnnnn!This election talk has gone on long enough,its now so boring! Lets first change the constitution to 50+1,with provision for re-run between the top two then see where that takes us.Restricting candidates to only two CANNOT work in Zambia this day and age. How about we discuss piracy on the high seas???!! much more interesting

  103. 27. Disgruntled Zedian

    ” 50 + one majority votes, thats what we all want to see come 2011. Two presidential candidates, not sure who should decide who stands and who doesnt stand? ”

    There would be two parties, and either the parties internally decide who will stand, or there could be limited elections.

    Or, who will lead either party could be decided through instant runoff voting, where the people decide on their favorite party leader and their preferred choice of leader. The candidate with the most votes becomes party leader and (as in a true First Past The Post system) the party with the most MPs has an automatic mandate to govern.

  104. Some people just want to be known for saying something in papers. This is a rediculous suggestion. Whose interest is that suggetion anyway? As far zambia is concerned, there are many political parties and they are free to contest the peisdential election regardless of the number of aspirants. Who will accept to support other political parties and sale their party? Such suggestions just bring confusion. It should remain aas it is because it has been the way of politics in Zambia anyway. We have three major political parties at the moment and that idea cannot be applied.

  106. I will right away grasp your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.

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