THE choice of a candidate to lead the United Party for National Development and Patriotic Front (UPND/PF) Pact in next year’s elections has taken a new twist with the UPND also announcing it will soon declare its president Hakainde Hichilema as the one to lead the alliance barely 48 hours after PF leader Michael Sata declared himself frontrunner.
And MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga says the ruling party has been vindicated on its stance regarding the UPND/PF alliance.
Southern Province UPND vice chairman John Chidyaka said even if Mr Sata has declared that he is the presidential candidate in 2011, the UPND will continue campaigning for Mr Hichilema to lead the pact.
Mr Chidyaka described Mr Sata’s statement of standing in the 2011 elections as political propaganda.
Mr Sata has said that no law or any piece of paper will stop him from achieving his political ambitions.
He was referring to the National Constitutional Conference’s adoption of a clause which prescribes that a Presidential candidate should have a first degree from a recognised university.
Mr Sata also said the clause was discriminatory.
But Mr Chidyaka said in an interview yesterday that the UPND has no problem with Mr Sata’s ambitions of contesting the presidency because even Mr Hichilema has the same ambitions.
He said according to the UPND/PF pact, Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema are both presidential candidates.
Mr Chidyaka said Mr Sata’s claims that he will be the president after the 2011 elections are only meant to disguise the pact’s presidential candidate and confuse other political opponents.
“We are going to continue marketing Mr Hichilema as a presidential candidate for the 2011 general elections. The UPND will also declare its leader Mr Hichilema as a presidential candidate for the pact.
We are gunning for the elections in 2011 and as UPND, H.H will be the one we are going to declare as a presidential candidate. What Mr Sata is saying is just political propaganda meant to disguise the true presidential candidate for the pact,” he said.
Mr Chidyaka said members of the pact are fully aware of who shall lead the alliance in 2011 and that assertions that the two political parties are confusing them are unfounded.
And Mr Mabenga said the MMD has been vindicated on its pronouncements that the pact will crack.
He said the UPND/PF alliance has no future because the two parties have different ideologies and agenda.
Mr Mabenga said the pact does not have a preferred candidate and that this is the reason the two parties are selecting their own presidential candidates.
“We have been telling you people that this pact has no future and the truth is coming out now. So the MMD is vindicated because this pact is slowly cracking,” he said.
And Mr Mabenga said Mr Sata is free to contest the 2011 general elections as long as he meets the qualifications enshrined in the constitution.
Mr Mabenga said it is wrong for Mr Sata to assume that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) is enshrining certain clauses in the constitution to disadvantage him from contesting the 2011 general elections .
“What Mr Sata should understand is this constitution is meant for all Zambians and so he is free to contest the presidency as long as he meets the set standards.[quote]
“So as MMD , we are not scared of him, he is at liberty to contest the elections but he should qualify,” Mr Mabenga said.
UPND Mazabuka Central member of Parliament Gary Nkombo, when contacted for a comment on Mr Sata’s statement, said it is not news that the PF leader has been aspiring to be president.
Mr Nkombo said while Mr Sata has presidential ambitions, the UPND leader equally has similar aspirations and that the two leaders should be allowed to continue campaigning.
“Do not create an impression that we are fighting.
We are still working together and in fact, you cannot ask for a comment from me. You ask Given Lubinda (PF spokesperson) about what Mr Sata said.
And is it news to you that Mr Sata has been aspiring to be president? And is it news that Mr Hichilema wants to be president of this country? You leave us alone and do not ask me about PF, ask me about the UPND,” Mr Nkombo said.
And Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people in Mazabuka has denounced Mr Hichilema for allegedly lying to the people of Southern Province that he was going to contest the presidential elections in 2011.
The chief said all the people of Southern Province know that Mr Hichilema is going to lead the UPND/PF pact in 2011.
Chief Mwanachingwala challenged Mr Hichilema to announce his position on the matter now that Mr Sata declared his intentions of standing in the 2011 elections.
The chief said Mr Hichilema must tell the people of Southern Province the truth about his ambitions.
Chief Mwanachingwala accused Mr Hichilema of having indirectly sold the people of Southern Province to the PF through the pact.
“What we all knew here in Southern Province was that Mr Hichilema was going to lead the pact. Now that Mr Sata has declared himself presidential candidate, Mr Hichilema must have read and heard, he must tell us the truth because he told us that he was going to be the one. When I spoke with you last time, they called me names,” Chief Mwanachingwala said.
The traditional leader revealed that soon after predicting the collapse of the PF/UPND Pact, Mr Sata called him to complain about the story.
“After you spoke to me, Mr Sata called me and read the whole story to me. I did not dispute anything but I asked Mr Sata what his motive of forming the pact was,” he said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Why do opposition party members delude themselves. It is impossible for the pact to survive given that the two party leaders are vying for the same position.
Just because the new constitution will bar MC from standing does not mean that he’s going to endorse HH. To the contrary, he will fight tooth and nail to be the presidential candidate.
Sata has no university degree and that rules him out of the race, no need for confusion here. Sata is now a “dying kicking horse”. I dont think Sata will finish primary school, high school and university between now and next year. Give the HH a chance old man. **==
There we go again. If the contitution is effected then Mr. Sata I am afraid is disqualified
A lack of education is a serious handicap in life. If Sata were “educated” he would have allowed his MPs take part in the NCC, where they would have blocked a number of resolutions, including the one requiring a university degree to be president. But without an education, Sata is unable to analyse such simple issues nor will he stand in 2011. What a shame – being uneducated!
I wonder why lies about the pact cracking down have continued to fly about. Is it the ruling Mwadya Mweka Daddy (MMD) and its disciples who are making such fabrications ? This government for the Mad Maddest Dogs has failed to redeem the suffering majority from poverty. I wonder whether a true Zambian could be speaking or writing like this ? Go to the copperbelt and prove for yourselves the way local Zambian miners are being treated through slave wages. The government is there and it never ever spoken about this problem. Whom does the so called Zambian government represent ? Leave Sata and Hichilema alone and to hell with your fake MMD government which is there to intice foreigners. What is it that we can rejoice about MMD ? Completely nothing. Elyo iwe ci Shikapwasha naitumpa sana, Ucenjel
If Sata who has no degree has excelled in politics then he has leadership skills that are needed for presidentship. Mind you what NCC has oked is not yet law. Until then Sata is still in the game. You selfishness is difficult to hide there we are. You will know them by their acts. The learned fools will talk and talk while the Wise will act.
MMD knew that the education cause problems for the pact seeing that all else had failed to destabilize the pact so far. PF and UPND should remain level headed and instead also push for the enactment of the 50+1 clauses or is that a closed issue. This new constitution can be a double edged sword for both the MMD and the opposition. However I can already see how the next government will also be calling for the review of the new constitution as we can already see how it being manipulated to ‘fix’ certain individuals hence will not stand the test of time. What a missed opportunity for the current leadership to do the right thing for the country.
Michael Mabenga in particular and the MMD in general are f.o.o.l.i.s.h. No one is being vindicated here. The PF and UPND are separate entities until such a time that they go for a congress or whatever, to come up with a single candidate. As for now, both can go there way to campaign for the presidency. Nishani kanshi, that chi Mulobezi Primary School teacher a.k.a Mabenga has very little grey matter. Kaziganizani please!
When you think of this its very interesting situation….technically Sata is disqualified, and HH is through.
The Big question on everyones mind now is Sata gonna be selfless, give HH lead, the ball is in Sata’s hands, lets see how you play it old man, will you go down fighting, or surrender and allow the younger man to lead the pact.
Ease guys ease. Everything is under control
Wow! This is a cool undretaking now. Zambia goes for a degree President. Without any shadow of doubt this is another apartheid of it’s kind. Only the elit are suppose to stand as Presidents. If anything a President doesn’t do much work but the Ministers and as such this close if fair must be extended to Ministers and other public officials, Diplomats etc. So these guys the NCC are the ones making rules on behalf of the 12 million plus Zambians? Is it not fair enough to give voters cards to degree holders to vote so that they make an “educated choice” of the President? This clause sucks and believe U me if RB didn’t have a degree, this could have been another 50 + 1 referendum issue. Shame NCC. Look at the way Sata is, more “brians” than the so called UNZA graduates.
Apologies so shattered today, corrections, close-clause, Brians – Brains, :)>-
Now that the NCC has moved the goal posts for presidency, I fear that the struggle may be much hotter for the pact than they expected. My humble advice to both sides (UPND & PF) is that they combine efforts in developing and presenting a common political programme as fast as they can before they become tied up in an intricate power struggle which will only benefit MMD as the pact digs it’s own grave.
mmmmm no comment.. but the best thing sata can do is just give up and let the young man rule. vice president president wots the difference? sata should have been clever and said that he was giving hh a young man to lead the nation and thus giving the new generation a chance and that he would on top of being vice president be an advisor to the young leader (HH). if sata had done this he was goin to make history and gain much of the people’s respect. i mean, now zambians are thinking saying even if this pact agrees on who should lead it, how certain are we that there wont be any quarrels within the coalition government?? therefore wot will see is people voting for mmd just for the sake of certainty. rememvber human beings are naturally inclined on having the status quo. we hate change..
When will the constitution be in effective?
Trying to legislate Sata out of the elections will only lead to Kenya style bloodshed. Unfortunately most Zambians are too dull to see when they are slowly heading for disaster. Before Nyamasoya became president, the same people were trying to disqualify Sata by limiting the age of the presidential candidates. They can’t use that now because Shrek is also old. Now they have found something else to use. May be Zambia needs to experience war the way Congo and Angola have. That way people will stop following dull politicians blindly. Africa is the least developed continent, not because of the effects of slavery and colonialism but because black people refuse to use their brains for good and progressive things.
you guys are calling for millitary take over pa zambia.we done ve generals will degrees and that leaves them out.ley us be carefull zambias becoz the civil war will e expensive to all??????????????
This pact has always been a ‘nght of the long knives’ in the making. You can never take two egotistical narcisstic personality disorder sufferers like HH and Sata and put them together in a pact .
The best solution to Zambia’s election problem is 50%+1. That way Sata, Banda and Haka can stand. The second round winner would then be undisputed.
There is still time to get an MBA online degree by MR Sata if he really thinks he can make it to state house, though I think he will just be wasting his time, but again he could just hold a record of an oldest Zambia graduate and am sure history will remember him for that than be remembered as Chief Kulima Tower Kaponya
The pact has been a good arrangement for parliamentary elections. As far as presidential elections are concerned, Sata and Haka are both too egotistical for one to stand aside for the other.
and they should bring a clause which says all politicians should wear metal bambaz with locks.. apparently they are now gangbanging pa zed! country which doesnt allow porn but a politician knows about gangbanging.. where did he watch it from.can he be arrested. amano ukuvipa
and that traditional leader what selling is he talking about??? every man has a choice to chose which poltical party to follow! very ignorant idea of thinking that “it doesnt matter who the president is or what he stands for, so long as he is under upnd we will support him” this hopefully will teach the southerners a lesson and that they should refrain from this form of cultural politics. ps. i am a tonga myself!
14.walai nthwenu mputi bizness. I totally i gree with your comments. But knowing the old man that will be a miracle. Technically Mr. Sata is no longer a candindate. Remember thsi law will be driven by MMD. MMD will make sure it is applied before by 2011. PF needs to take bold decision to accept the reality.Since all Parties will benefit from this arrangement.
Hi Zambia. Can you help me here please? What if Mr. Sata receives a honorary master degree from any country, will he qualify for President? The issue here is a degree not how its obtained. If yes, Sata will surprise everyone.
Degree issue is total madness! let us not lie to ourselves, a degree does not make up a good leader. Get wisdom, understanding and the fear of God – even your enemies will be at peace with you!!!!
in this modern age and era, a president and head of state that isnt at the very least a bachelors degree holder, is a non starter. Mr Sata, your efforts toward ousting the MMD are appreciated, but your time is up. Go out with dignity and not disgrace!!!
#25, it has to be an earned degree, not an honorary one
What those pipo at NCC are doing is like digging their own grave. Some of those pipo do not evn have a grade twelve certificate and have sold their aspiration for national leadership for a given amout of silver( allowances), Shame on you!!!
#28 Zambia. Thanks. Then Sata has no chance in the coming elections and this looks to me as fall of the Pact
30. You are mistaken to think that Pact is Sata. Pact is UPND & PF leaders are just players who can be removed at any time so think positive not negatively.
While I feel for my grandpa SATA, I think placing a minimum qualification to the presidency is good. People, these days even getting the job of an office orderly you need some qualification, what more being the Chief of a country?
If Sata meant well, let him leave HH to lead the Pact or let him sponsor a graduate from PF who will contest the leadership of the pact with HH.
Tough lucky for the old man….I really feel his pain but at the same time I would prefer a graduate President.
#31 No PF is Sata.
Kamba Kamba you have hit the nail on the head. We cant afford to make laws of the land based on intentions to sort out few threating individuals at the expense of the 12 million people. The position of permanent secretary is now a job for cadres (some of whom are grade 7s) who have more control on ministries than ministers who may be grade 12s. As a social worker, I have grade 12s with 6 points who for sure will never get a university degree, because of poverty, but are brilliant fellows. So these are disqualified for presidency. Those dull sons of ******* who are stinking rich will go abroad to obtain degrees and come back to qualify for presidency. Shame!!!!! If you have a degree in Sewer system analysis, that for sure qualifies you to be president????????????????????
#29 Mupe, do you mean that chi dull Michael Mabenga? The bug.ger is just a holder of a primary school teaching certificate. The last time I checked, he was a teacher at Mulobezi Primary School. The other shetani, Lameck Mangani taught Grade 8s at a basic school. His qualifications do not allow him to teach Grade 10s. imagine, efibantu filetutungulula. Let us be serious Zambians. Fimo tulekanako sure. Even if HERB has a degree, it is in a subject called the History of Economics. It is no better than Grade 12 Commerce.
If you are serious, specify the fields in which one must get a first degree, (e.g management, politica science, sociology, administration, etc.) for a degree in plumbing does not place me better for presidential candidacy, a degree in radio repairing doesnt either, and anyway any degree in anything does not make me a good leader. Jesus was uneducated by those standards then, but he turned out to be the greatest leader ever. Its not a degree but personality that matters. Wisdom has nothing to do with degrees, yet a leader only needs to be wise.
The NCC and its delegates have misrprensented the nation on the Constitution. They are quick to vote down important clauses that can help cement democratic principles but rush to vote for disctiminatory clauses. Why vote out the 50+1 and Vice Presidential running mate and agree on the degree clause. How are we going to reconcile a Constitution that guarantees freedoms of choice and association while at the same time provides for one class of people (holders of Degrees) to discriminate against none degree holding citizens. This tramples on individual liberty and is not any different from the the aparthied laws. Come to think of it, did the UPND delegate vote for the degree clause? How strategic.
Ba bwezi, and ba mudala ba Kunda have degrees, but when you see ifyo balecita, naba shikulu who never saw the inside of a classroom would shudder at the sight of their achitecture.
Out of the 12 million population only 300, 000 people give you a president when over 6 million are of age. And you accept that president, crazy Zambians!!!!!!! You even reject 50 + 1 %. What are you afraid of? That circus of NCC!!!!!! The whole Country is one big comedy.
Can Bwezi privatize the country pliz!!! that would be much better. For five years, we hire a cabinet and government from another country to govern us. We pay them for the Job. You will be shocked what development we shall score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
People keep saying Sata is using HH. Who knows, with the degree clause a possible constitution item, the UPND might has seen a chance to ride on the popurality of Sata and PF knowing very well that is delegates were going to vote for the degree clause, which would effective make HH the Presidential candidate. What with HH declaring how it delgates at the NCC blocked the MMD from defeating the 50+1 clause. UPND candidates could have done the same for the degree clause!
This NCC will obviously create problems in this land. Blame no body but them and obviosly will be answerable for all the consequencies of there biasnes.
Specify the Universities as well. For ba mudala ba sata can go tomorrow to the University of Taiwan and buy a first degree (in exchange for *******). So that signed paper can not deter him from his political ambitions. I think the degree thing is nonsense, considering the current corruption. There are universities that can offer a degree from this february to next year 2011 nomination date (month). so how does it benefit the gittery mmd? sheer waste of time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is also discriminatory.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PEOPLE,PEOPLE,WE ALL KNOW WHAT MR.SATA WANTS AND TO THINK THAT HE WOULD LET HH BECOME THE CANDIDATE IS A JOKE.EVERYONE KNOW IN THEIR RIGHT MIND THAT HH IS THE BETTER CANDIDATE.BA SATA PLEASE I REALLY DONT THINK ZAMBIA NEEDS SOMEONE LIKE U AS PRESIDENT,YOU JUST DONT GET IT SORRY.HH WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sata, Zambians have rejected you 3 times, and then, you dont have a degree, sorry ba shikulu, no one wants you. Let the young man HH take over. we are all not meant to be presidents. We all had ambitions and they never came true. And you are very arrogant.
Whether we like it or not, the fact that this degree ‘nonsense’ has been done in bad faith, Mr. Sata will still be a candidate in 2011 believe me. There is still a lot of time for Mr. Sata to obtain those useless degrees. I don’t see him failing to secure even a doctorate if he so wishes.
With only a year before the elections, there has to be absolute clarity in the leadership of this pact. In the absence of that I cannot see how they can win the election. They have scored successes in bye elections simply by campaigning for each others’ candidates. This implies that only one of them (HH/KC) should be on the presidential ballot. However, if as appears possible, both are on the ballot then………………
Check the post. Kabimba says sata has no problem with the degree clause, he is eligible. After all I do not see this constitution being enacted before the next election.
which degree does stata have and we all know he’s got a certificate from Lilayi and was dismised from the police..what is he talking about now?go HH!!
Pact will never work, Sata and HH interests are crashing…
Why is the MMD so scared of SATA? Is not because they know that he single-handedly represents the only real threat to their continuing to be in power! All other opposition leaders do not command as much popularity as this man. Miyanda, Nawakwi,Tilwenji and even HH are all not a threat to RB and the MMD knows that. The only person they know can ( and will ) defeat them is SATA and hence they have started moving to disqualify him. But I think they are missing one point. SATA is a cleaver man and he knew long before this clause thing was passed that what the MMD has done now would be done. He has a plan. The only disappointing thing is that even the UPND MPs voted for this clause and this shows that the UPND side of the pact dont want SATA to lead the pact.
There is absolutely nothing wrong on capping qualifications for the top most job in the land because this will not only attract educated people to it but people who may have developed a critical thought process. But to enact it at the expense of excluding proponents of the ruling party is complete wogwash on the part of the implementors. A country must not be run on settling of small egos.
#49 I agree with you entirely but to away with this clause just to allow Sata to stand is also not good. Over time, this clause will prove beneficial to Zambians. I like your reasons why only graduates should be prez to “attract educated people… who may have developed a critical thought process” This is what higher eduacation does. I fall back to my comment at #32
This clause does not bar Sata from standing as he can obtain an honorary degree from not only Zambian Universities but other universities which cherish democracy. There are a lot of “doctors” in the pentecostal churches in Zambia which are dished out just by being able to read the bible. If in doubt, ask Dr Nevers Mumba
Dr FTJ Chiluba is an example of people who have never been to higher education but is now an honorary graduate. Remember that he cannot point at any former classmates.
So mudala Sata, bola panshi as you qualify or will qualify to stand as Republican President.
This too contraversial that I would not be suprised no elections are conducted come 2011..satana means business..he is violent, viciousious, poisonous.
Whether the constitution issues will be enacted anytime soon is not the issue, its just ridiculous to have a president thats uneducated. it lowers the country’s standards nationally and internationally. Yes, Sata is very arrogant, an attribute of his iliteracy. I will find it personally hard to deal with if he’s elected president, Zambian’s know better, Let HH run!
The law should not be targeted to sort out an individual or personal vendettas. For instance, FJT Chiluba instroduced Mactribouy’s law, that “mother vehicle theft was non-baillable” with alterior intentions. This law was to incarcerate Archie Mactribouy who was alleged to have been endowed enough to satisfy then Zambia’s first lady Vera Chiluba.
Now RB Banda is targeting Sata as he sees him as his main challenger.
Give us the 50+1 referendum so that we can also fix Bwezani and MMD.
Naimwe guys should this degree be an issue? How can a person in his right senses seriously think that Sata can make president of Zambia? The 90 days joke of a man! Let’s differentiate comedy from national matters. The three times that he has attempted he has lost, the last two very narrowly. Which is ample warning from God for Zambians to think again. If we insist on Sata, God will give us enough rope to hang ourselves until we learn. The MMD may not be the best party for Zambia but the fact is that it remains the best option, seeing the way the nearest possible alternative (HH alias baby Sata) has messed himself up flirting with Sata.
And have you given a thought to Sata’s statement that “nothing will stop him from achieving his political ambition (to be president of Zambia)”. The emphasis is on “personal political ambition” and not “economic salvation” for Zambians, as the gullible have been duped so far. Sata is only interested in revenge, personal glory, jobs and riches for his family and friends, and paying off his debts. He is not president because God does not award that position on those criteria. That is why He wakes people from their sleep or their farms to make them presidents, while others spend (or is it waste?) their lifetimes trying to pursue their ambitions. I would advise Sata to repent, become a pastor and serve God’s people instead. This president thing is not his calling in life.
#57. I agree with you God appoints leaders whether you like or not.
for the future, which can be like tomorow, this degree issue is ok in my opnion. For those of us young persons who would want to be president, I think this should be motivation enough to work hard and show some sort of creativity and obtain degrees as a sign of personal achievement which can a like proof for our determination, displine and diligence. Some people say leaders are made, others say leaders are born, but I think leaders are self made by every decision they make at every moment in life.
Most of you bloggers will be suprised to see that SATA is ahead of you. If you remember in 2007 Mr SATA went to present a paper at a renowned university in the State. From that time to date he has not been sitting idle as some of you do.If I am not mistaken he is in actual fact working on his second degree(Masters) in political science.This will teach Zambians not to legislate towards individuals.
All being said, the MMD will be laughing all the way to the ballot box in 2011. History is about to repeat itself. The marriage that was, did not resolve the basic issues. This marriage( UPND-PF Or PF-UPND) was hurriedly entered into for only one reason – take MMD out of power. Am not sure if this is the priority for my old mother in the village. When I asked her she said what she was concerned about was food on the table. The pact has not yet (in my view) explained clearly to the electorate what they will do when they oust the MMD. Even the renationalization of Zamtel does not send enough signal of how Zambias economic fortunes will be translated into bread and butter for my mother in the village.