By Pemba Moyo
It will not be any surprising if President Rupiah Banda is re-elected into office next year with a fresh five-year mandate added to his CV, and there are more than enough reasons why that would not be a miracle.
Challenging a ruling party is one thing, and the opposition in Zambia manages to do that so well, but ousting the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) from office needs nothing short of the 1991 revolution that sent UNIP packing, which unfortunately is not within sight.
As we count down to the 2011 general elections, it might be interesting to look at just how the ruling party packages it’s campaign messages and also where the opposition gets it wrong.
Donations
Debating whether it is wrong or right for the President, Vice President, First Lady and ministers to make donations either to organisations or individuals citizens especially during campaign periods should be left to people who interpret the law better, but let’s look at the effects it bears.
Not so may headlines ago, First Lady Thandiwe Banda was in the news facing criticism and condemnation for donating money and other materials to some unknown women’s organisation in Mpulungu, Northern Zambia.
That was shortly after Mpulungu area member of parliament, the late Lameck Chibombamilimo was put to rest. Those with unfailing memories will recall that Thandiwe’s almsgiving was a replica of Vice-President George Kunda’s charity to a bunch of dancers during the campaigns for the Chitambo by-elections 2009. Pictures of his ‘brown envelop exercise’ are almost collecting dust now, but the results from both occasions are needless to mention.
There are so many other ways in which the ruling party, enjoying tightly massaged publicity from four well funded media institutions – including ZANIS, manages to gather momentum into the now all familiar ‘Operation: Rural vote’.
Just last week, President Banda made headlines with his K5million (about US$1,000) donation to a needy Kabompo couple that was seeking help to raise new born triplets.
“President Banda was sympathetic with the couple after reading about their plight in the press, read a statement signed by State House special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere.
And well, the Kabompo triplets surely had their Santa Clause wish granted, but how many triplets born in Zambia have had the luck of capturing the Head of State’s attention?
Of course the first family is blessed with twins Temwani and Dunia and probably understands better the challenges of multiple birth. But haven’t Siemens Siamese twins been born in this country and some died for lack of foreign specialist treatment? If the problem facing Emelda Chikamba of Chikamba Village in Kabompo is so touching, can’t there be a constitutional provision taking care of such natural situations?
Bumper harvest
Hats off to the Zambian farmers for producing about 2.8 million metric tonnes of Maize in the “Bumper Harvest” of last season. It is still very difficult however, to fully credit President Banda for the massive yield, unless the ministry of Agriculture supplied unprecedented farming inputs in 2008.
But a good rainy season met with standard agriculture policy can produce enough maize, some of which soaked by the way, to earn the ruling party positive governance points.
Mining
Almost every day, chiefs in Zambia have been praising President Banda for scoring positive economic strides and calling for his re-election next year, citing the single digit inflation among other economic indicators as his achievements MMD through President Banda claims that its administration has seen a record high foreign direct investment in the mines, not to mention job creations in the booming sector.
About two years ago, Zambia’s Copper was selling for less than US$3,000 per tonne, a situation that saw mining companies folding up and leaving. Today Copper has shot a record high price of over US$8,000 per tonne, would there be any connection between honourable Commerce minister Felix Mutati’s speeches to the investors and the London metal exchange rates?
But again, for a country like Zambia whose major export is copper, the rising global metal prices has a lot to write home about for a party in power.
Infrastructure
The people of Mongu are surely happy and deservingly so, for the Mongu – Kalabo road that has been a mock to their livelihoods for more than 10 years. Thanks to President Banda, K1.2 trillion has been earmarked to finally put a full stop to the old Western Province story.
The sad news is that a very tiny fraction of that amount is coming from Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane’s 2010 budget, the rest of it is coming from Exim Bank of China.
Due to demands of increased power supply to drive the growing economy, Energy minister Kenneth Konga last year signed a US$1.5billion agreement with the China-Africa Development Fund to construct a 700 megawatts Kafue gorge lower hydro power station. Over 2,000 jobs will be created.
Again the only problem is that government through ZESCO and the constructor Synohydro is expected to source only a third of the total budget while the US$1 billion remains a loan from China.
What may not be foreseen for these and numerous other projects at this stage is that President Banda may not be there when these loans will require servicing.
But systematically President Banda and his ministers are packaging their ‘progressive’ campaign messages in a way that suits the ears that have no preview to behind the scene realities.
TV advertising
To blind it all, President Banda has intensified his TV adverts on the national broadcaster ZNBC, which he uses to amplify his party’s manifesto and government achievement.
Even though these prime time adverts, which the opposition have not really questioned to expectation, have continued to run, it remains a mystery who is sponsoring them.
The packaging may suggest that ZNBC does not cash-in anything from the ruling party, and much as that may only be left to speculation, MMD is enjoying the fruits.
Yes President Banda has done exceptionally well, for a man who was hopped back into active politics from his productive farm ascending to the highest office. But to say that he is Zambia’s guardian angel may well be an overstatement.
The Pact
When all this is happening, you would expect the opposition joining hands to form a united front to bring about the much talked about change, but the reverse is the situation.
Firstly, No one really knows whether or not the Pact between the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) is still existent and from the look of things, it would seem that even members of either parties don’t know the answer.
From Fighting over the Pact presidency to constituency seats and finally giving each other cold shoulders, PF and UPND, the unbreakable Pact is without doubt staggering.
Even though UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is consistently assuring Zambians that the Pact, which was born out of their demands, is still going strong, it would not be surprising if we learnt later that Mr. Hichilema was in fact singing lullabies to himself.
What happened to joint campaign rallies, what went wrong with joint press briefings and a joint manifesto for the Pact?
Let’s suppose Mr. Hichilema and his PF counterpart Michael Sata went flat out campaigning in Western, North Western, Eastern and Central Provinces, giving the same donations that the ruling party is giving and uprooting the resistance in the rural areas, where would it leave MMD?
This is not likely to happen, not soon. Instead Mr. Sata has gone his own route and so has Mr. Hichilema. It is simply to the MMD’s advantage that the two leaders are failing to realize that they would not win an election in their individual capacities.
Opposing the opposition
As though that were not enough, the other smaller opposition political parties have charged up against the bigger opposition parties, putting holes in their challenges to the ruling party.
Some are eager to nail the Pact completely out of existence while others like Humphrey Siulapwa’s New Generation Party have literary lost their vision, courting 74-year old President Banda as there 2011 hero.
FDD’s Edith Nawakwi Nawakwi is seemingly comfortable watching the political scenario from a respective distance, buoyant with her booming agriculture activities. You can only guess if she is confident of becoming Zambia’s first female president in 2011.
With due respect to a law abiding citizen, Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda, his passion for leadership and relentless efforts to change mother Zambia is yielding too little.
New comers like Elias Chipimo’s National Restoration Party (NAREP) must have tested the waters by now and seen just how deep it runs. Challenges have not spared them as seen by their occasionally broken silence and change of party convention dates.
But even that has not stopped parties you would want to refer to as jokers like the Africa’s Democratic and Economic Development Organization -Zambia Must Change Now (ADEDO – ZAMUCANO) from coming on board.
With the reduced presidential election nomination fees, more parties are expected to mushroom between now and next year, adding to the pressure facing the countrie’s opposition.
Under such circumstances, it would be more of a miracle if President Banda lost the 2011 elections than if he won it.
Pemba Moyo, are you an MMD cadre in disguise.I hope HH is the president next year I think Sata and not RB will stop that, It will be victory of evil against good . Thanks
Mr Moyo your article is redicuously one sided. It amazing how from the start you seem to be hoping tha the MMD wins and discounts the opposition
Yes they have some dissagrement but its not like the elections are tommorrow.
All those bumper harvest, mining, are those things that would be opposite should UPND win? Terrible article only meant to arouse the MMD cadres and supporters
How about an article Mr Moyo on ‘ Why the PACT will win the elections’ You will find that the substance in such an article will bring a lot more credibility, in your assertions, than this too one sided joke of an article. Hope it took you 20 mins to write it. We are fine in scotland Thanks
Clearly biased article. We all know Justice Sakala is in Gbaogbo Kanitundila’s pocket and given the tribalized political landscape Banda has curved out in this country, it will still take a miracle of biblical proportions for him to win and for Sakala to instal him. This is not Ivory Coast baba, his parliamentary majority is going and the first item of business if he rigs will be to force him out via a vote of no confidence. He should learn what is happening to Kalusha Bwalya.
I agree with #1 Pemba Moyo you are a hired gun by your fellow Easterner to sow seeds of despair and hopeless in the opposition camp and hope that don’t turn up for voting because there will be no point. I wonder how much you people from Eastern Province are getting paid by RB to just keep the presidency in Eastern Province. I wont work!!!
For your own informations donations are not new. They have been there since KK times and there is no conclusive evidence that donations won elections otherwise Parley will be 100 % MMD because they always donate more in every election.
And has anybody run a better TV campaign than UNIP did in 1991? He removed them.
U mention Siulapwa, the chap has never got more votes than spoiled ballots papers. Stop spreading despair iwe Moyo.
morning Mushota, Did you have a lovely xmas?
Unfortunately this article is a true reflection of the political circus in our country. I don’t like RB, he actually knows most people don’t that’s why in last elections he hired image builders. Ideally the moust suited president is HH, but has he done enough?
LT why do you tollerate someone like no3’s name. Clearly he/she is swearing and profanity says a lot more about the person, and dilutes whetever they are writting about. Please remove that name, he is probably swearing at everyone that reads his article. How dull
Thanks
Hello Mr shansonga. Yes lovely, I shall be going to shop more, I have ben spoiled this christmas i feel like a teenager really.
I hope you had a nice christmas. Lots of sales today on Boxing day, before the VAT increase
I dont agree on your agreement on the article, I think it is too one sided. A true reflection of a jounalist that has some connection/interest and is worried about their job should the opposition come to win the elections
Mr Moyo how about being impartial. I hate talking about tribalism, but isnt Banda and Moyo from just about the same tribe?
Thanks
Jealous down RB is a wise and kind person. My vote as usual. Viva RB.
lusaka times is one big load of bb.oo.oo.tt lickers!!!
Guys the author has just put it as it is on the ground and to answer #5 Mr shansonga, the opposition and HH have not done enough. I don’t see them winning and their lack of decisiveness on the leadership shows how wavering and double minded they are. I hate RB too, but given the choices on the plate, certainly my vote is on RB unless a decent leader emerges between now and election date. With People like Prof Chirwa, Magande sidelined..I don’t see that happening. I would rather keep RB in state house than have both the President and First lady with heart problems and tracking to SA for medical check-up every month. Too costly to national coffers.
Just look at the road network in Chingola a mining town & the number of indians who ve come to do even casual jobs.here in lusaka residents from a shanty compound are seen in my neighbourhood with 20L containers asking for water.just based on these simple issues i ve raised can you tell me that Zambia has quality leadership.Politics is a source of livelihood for the head of state & his cronies.i will start voting when sensible people come on the political scene not the current crop who are lining their pockets while selling the whole country to foreigners.
People on this thread, we all know that HH is a fantastic presidential material. RB and SATA have done their part in zambian politics,thanx to them. Please let us sensitize friends and relatives, ask them not to decide to be blind. The world has changed so much and we need fresh, young brains to lead us. We all have a responsibility to change our homeland and create a better society for the next generation.
this PEmba MOYo has been bought or is an RB sympathizer. I’ve never seen such biased writing before.
Just look at how our friends do these things, for example in the U.S. Even though it was quiet clear that Obama was a leading candidate, newspapers did not publish such one sided articles as “the reason why Obama will win”. they kept their cool and waited for the results.
Please Lusakatimes, grow up.
well said No.10
Nonsence
The writer has deliberately not touched on facts that will work against the mmd, such as grinding poverty, unemployment, poor state of infrastructure, health facilities, education etc. There are also community radio stations and the churhes that will add their voices against mmd.
MMD like UNIP did can control the state media but the people’s minds are ready for change. The by elections have largely sent the message
nonsence!!
Good afternoon
Whether Banda and MMD again next year, let’s leave it up to the voters to decide. Only the ballot will speak the last word.
Anyhow, Zambia is our beloved country and as for me, I will be contented if we do not witness the problems that we are currently seeing in the Ivory Coast. In this respect, it is the duty of every Zambian to pray for a peaceful leader with a genuine vision and the prosperity of our nation at heart.
Dora is always by his side.. Second wife
‘Bumper harvest which has got absolutely nothing to do with RB,,,,Copper prices which are determined by London Metal Xchange to be attributed to RB as a factor that would see him being re-elected is plain S.tupidity on the part of the author.And for him to claim that the government and mmd controlled media is well funded is rather too cheap,the author needs to wake up to reality and if Zambians are going to vote for RB based on these facts,then Zambians are just as happy with the status quo,no development for a very long time
HAPPY CHRISTMAS FOLKS
Moyo, you are so right. As much is this is not good news to me, i think you are right.
Rupiah Banda will be ‘re-elected’ simply because other more suitable candidates are barred and have been warned not to even think of contesting their party’s presidency.
The propaganda blitz has started. These articles are being penned by a chain of known people at Times of Zambia and Daily Mail who are under the control of DJ. I have never heard of a journalist by the name of Pemba Moyo.
Let us start a campaign to each one of us ask a person we know along the breadth and length of Zambia to cast a vote against Rupiah Banda.
EACH ZAMBIAN CAST ONE VOTE AGAINST RUPIAH!
This man has spoken the truth, even though we may not like it. The MMD knows they have a solid grip on the rural areas. Ironically, the have this grip because they have deliberately ignored the education sector.
By the way, aren’t RB’s adverts illegal? The campaign period is not yet open and this man has been at it for the last 3+ months
PEOPLE READ THE ARTICLE AGAIN. MOYO HAS SAID THE TRUTH.HE HAS NOT ATTRIBUTED COPPER PRICES TO RB, HE SAYS CLEARLY THAT THIS IS AN ADVANTAGE TO THE INCUMBENT AND NOTEMOST VOTERS IN ZAMBIA HAVE NO CAPACITY TO ANALYSE ISSUES DEEPLY AN VOTE BASED ON THEIR CURRENT STATUS LIKE IF THEY ARE FARMERS AND HAVE THEIR SEED AND FERTILISER THEY WILL VOTE MMD. IN URBAN AREAS THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS ARE MARKETEERS, CIVIL SERVANTS AND LOW SKILLED WORKERS LIVFING IN HIGH DENSITY AREAS AND THIS DEMOGRAPHIC WILL VOTE MAINLY MMD AND USUALLY EVEN IF MMD DOES NOT EMERGE IN THE MAJORITY IN THESE ARES THEY ARE ALWAYS SECOND TO WHOEVER WINS AND THESE NUMBERS COUPLED WITH THE RURAL VOTES EQUATES TO AN MMD VICTORY
The biggest advantage to the MMD is the simple majority coupled with the illiterate Zambians who would even vote for them after been given tea & buns (like what happened in Katete).
Hehe RB is going out whatever your propaganda is. 2011 no sane person will vote for MMD. Even his body gards at state house have always been voting against him, but this time it will be 100% against RB at state house.
This writer is behaving like a kid or may be he is living in fear that he will have no job come 2011.
Very dull Pemba Moyo.
NONSENSE.
if there’s one thing that annoys me on LT these days it is poor spelling. A journalist has no business writing articles if they are going to write things like ‘Siemens twins’. what on earth is a Siemens twin? You would think it was some new gadget from the Telecoms company Siemens. Get it right, its Siamese twins. If you cant spell it dont write it or invest in a dictionary. Please.
HH for president! we don’t want these old cabbages!
Moyo might be right after all that President Banda may win next years election. This is because the PACT have not yet even chosen a Presidential Candidate and both camps want to go for it. No one seems to be ready to allow the other to start. THIS WILL BRING FURTHER DIVISIONS IN THE PACT to the advantage of MMD. The PACT should have been wise enough to quickly select a Presidential Candidate and then have enough TIME to manage the turbulence which will come after then. This would have given them some TIME to go round selling the PACT President as a United Force. President Banda has a Good Strategy of scratching where it is itching[ Namwala road, Mongu-Kalabo Road, Mutanda-Chavuma Road etc ] India
At siemens twins, what a catastrophie!!!!!
rubbish
This article has just brought out the unfortunate realities of Zambia. Doesnt matter whether its biased or not but its true…………
#16
Do you think those issues he has not touch will affect the vote?
I am of the impression that the opposition is currently in total disarray. While most Zambians would like to see change, the voters may not have that much of a choice but to retain RB and his MMD! Should that happen, true and honest Zambians must fault the opposition, not the ruling party. An old adage says, “the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know.” Currently, RB and the MMD is the “devil” the Zambian people know. The author of the article is being realistic. Otherwise the opposition are mere wishful thinkers!
imwe HH will never be president ask maestro!!!
Nothing….! only illiteracy,misinformation,tribalism,propaganda,weak opposition parties wil make RB win.
Ba Moyo,
You have just highlighted enduring facts. Its wishful thinking to talk of change next year under this factionism of the diametrically opposed on all fundamental fronts. At local and international system post systemic cold war will that worked to shift the balance of power in all then pro socialist states of the 90s, Capitalist MMD is here beyond 2011.
Unfortunate truth,no matter hw sad or bad reality is,it still remains reality,sry pipo bt r.b is winnin owin 2 the oppositions incompetence period
Dora Sillier !
dont ask me whether am for RB SATA or HH one thing I KNOW FOR SURE is that we can tame these guys by not voting for MMD MPs except for honorable people like CHITUWO, if MMD can have RB IN STATE HHOUSE with 13 MPs in parliament we surely will contain him. PEOPLE ‘S POWER CAN STILL work.
RB is an incumbent, confident, positive and has the resources. Sata inconsistent, negative, with limited resources and in opposition while HH is with a small youthful followingmostly southerners. It will take much more to unseat RB. Actually, the MMD will lose more than RB.
Let me suggest we stop contributing to this article. It comes out to me like an MMD sponsored one, which they would like to use to get your views on what they need to do to win next year. Mwanya ba kabwa ba MMD.
truth hurts so like #41 has put it the least we all can do is limit the number of mmd mps.
That is an opposition pact filled with tribalists and thives. development is not in their vocabuary. PF were is the reponse to RBs accusations of stealing manee meant for service delivery in your areas ?? or can any PF bloger say some thing?
The Opposition have wasted so much time fighting each other. The same opposition have completely failed to air their tangible visions to Zambia, such as how they would do things differently.
When Mazoka was leading UPND, he tried to promote his vision, UPND manifesto and how he would run Governenment Programs differently.
HH has failed to come out and sale his vision on how he would address national issues such as
1. Education
2. Job Creations
3. Investment
4. Health
5. Poverty
6. Development
The platform is open for every that has ambitions to get to Plot 1. However, the best we seem to get from the Opposition parties are either insults or criticism without alternative suggestions or programs. One only needs to look at the Councils run by PF.
The opposition should be there for “Checks & Balances, Accountability and Substitutions. Currently, we have no one that seems to attempt in making RB run for his money.
Therefore, looking at what one can see in the crystal ball, it clearly gives an advantage to MMD to win the 2011 Elections. Next year is supposed to be a competitive year going to the poll but some have already thrown in the towel – which they cannot win. It’s a shame!!!
As for SATA, it appears he has failed to dupe HH on the PACT Presidency. So, things appear unfavourable for Chilufya Michael Sata
And MMD should not take things for granted. They too need to work had to score more baskets.
Abena Kamwendo nabafiya nafuti. Egyptano tabwelantho!
Capitalist, Patriot and other a**elickers will obviously defend this yet another jaunt by Lupiya and his friends.
i just hope this guy is not MMD. his article is nonesense, partisan and does not address blessing from ordinary Zambians. why is winning the election the main objection to this fools and not bettering the life of the many.
I meant objective.
What Zambia needs is a young fresh mind not these old scum bags, to me they are all the same.
The most shallow article i have ever read on this blog!
Just to fill up the gap in the story, RB is the best thing that has happened to Zambia in a long time, He IS actually Zambia’s guardian angel. And those bloggers who are not parrots but frank and independent in their thoughts know this deep down their hearts, in spite of their public utterances. On voting day in the booth they will acknowledge this by voting RB, watch this space.
no. 51, it is not the age but the quality that is why the constitution does not place an upper limit on age, this is left to the voters. In 2011 you will decide whether you want to continue with RB or risk the nation for FIVE LONG YEARS in the hands of Mr Sata, with a strong possibility of Mr Sata declaring one party/one man rule as it is in his PF. Do we want to continue with our democratic rights or not? When our children are grown up, are they going to appreciate our decision to give up democracy? That is one of the choices that we have to make in 2011, not for ourselves but for our children and their children. It will be a vote of how responsible we are for the future of our children.
i agree with pemba moyo. the pact is not united enough. it was a great idea to get one started but these guys dont know how to make it work. its a bit cliche but as the saying goes ” united we stand, divided we fall’ PF-UPND take heed. also mr sata should know that zambia is more than just lusaka and the copperbelt. he shud learn to respect other districts no matter how small. as a mfuwe resident i was really offended by his comments that we didnt need a good road because the place is just full of animals.. really king cobra? we might be kamunshi’s to you but remember every vote counts no matter how remote the area. MMD know this and thats why they’ll win again..
Pemba Moyo, your name betrays you that you are a tribalist and a political mercenary that is why you are trying to bewitch Zambians!!!!!
You are like Chimba III !!!!!
Eat your MMD alone and leave Zambians in peace…..
Dora Siliya looks fat, are Zambian government leaders taught about the dangers of obesity like heart attack, diabetes, hypertension e.t.c?
Zambia have no money to send her to RSA for specialist treatment for her careless over eating and laziness.
Dora be active please!!!!!!!!!!!!
This article is an eye opener to to the opposition. we need to pull up our soaks if we are to change government. sadly the judiciary is compromised. the only hope for ordinary zambians is to unite. HH, SATA unite and save us from the tyranny. look at hospitals, roads, the quality of education! Zambia is not lusaka only with beautiful cars and roads. We need someone to plan for the whole country and reap from high copper prices. we are doomed if we allow mmd to continue.
Stop calling the author a tribalist. you chaps are the ones who are tribalists because in your twisted minds people only support RB or HH on tribal lines.just as a dirty mind always suspects something dirty, a tribalist will always suspect tribalism.
Propaganda wont change my mind. Iwe Pemba, look at this ZAMTEL has closed offices in Chililabombwe, Luanshya, Kalulushi, Chambishi and Mufulira which has resulted in massive job losses so you call this progress?
#54 u r ryt!! i dnt understand how a sane person can vote for sata!! is it shallow myndedness or what?? surely zambians we can do better!! not sata please….sata is just too inconsistent!! HH and RB are better!
stop this tribal talk.its you monkey bembas who are tribal with yo tonga partners.followed by the rebels lozis.leave us alone as we rule this beatiful country.the only wise bemba is kalu and the worst easterner is kamanga plus the worst of all is simataa.viva rb
Fellow Zambians, don’t Kill the Messenger, Pemba Moyo, may be right, at the moment, I don’t see any seriousness from the Opposition Parties, what is very disappointing is the Hunger of being president. Plus all Opposition Parties are associated with Individual Names, which with MMD, it has no owner and names of Leaders have changed.
We need young blood but problem with our so-called leaders?? Will never want to support Young generation with Modern Innovative Ideas. They want to die on these positions. Very sad but looks like RB will be back in 2011 and if ever given the chance would Vote for him because none of the current opposition leaders seem to be serious.
ma rubbishhhhh
RB will win the election not because he is the best to do so, but he has the best strategy as the MMD have had for 20 years now. I’m not saying they are visionary or that they have Zambia at heart, but they capitalise on the forgetfullness and cheap politics of Zambians. One PF mp joins them and they are quick to give him a ministerial job, and hence many others follow. In 2011 he will give away hammermills and sowing machines like never before and you will see the deflections.
HH and Sata are a non starter. lets see who will say I will be Vice for the good of Zambia while you my friend can be the president. Lets wait and see.
20 years of MMD rule and Zambia has no major industry to brag about, Commerce belongs to the Chinese, Agriculture yes the bumper harvets are there but millie
Continued’ from #65
meal prices too high, Education and Health? Lets not even go there. Rwanda, Angola, Mozambique and had devastating Wars the whole world saw, but look at them today. The Rwandan war was just in 1994 ( MMD was already in power) but today you can not even compare the two Economies
God help us
like number 38 and 39. good that many views are expressed. Big patients now go to India. I am told the change is due to the fact that many come back from the south in a coffin. Dora may be going india. anyway is she not a dish for …