PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda said that he will announce the date of this year’s elections soon. President Banda told journalists in Lusaka yesterday was his prerogative to tell the general public when the general elections will be held.

“The election date will be set very soon, and I mean soon,” President Banda said.

Meanwhile,Mr Banda says it is wrong for Heritage Party president Godfrey Miyanda to insinuate that the development projects that are being initiated and implemented across the country are part of the campaign gimmicks of the MMD.

President Banda said he became republican President as a result of the demise of President Levy Mwanawasa, who did not finish his term, and that he has a duty to continue implementing development projects.

“There can never be a better time for me to contribute to the development of this country than this one because when I took over office I was not given a five-year mandate. I just carried on from where my predecessor left.

“So, all these projects which are being carried out are within my term, and it is strange for Brigadier General Miyanda to insinuate that projects that are supposed to be completed in four years’ time are being done within a short period of time,” he said.

Mr Banda said all the township roads and other projects being rehabilitated and built are being done within the period he has been given by Zambians to be in office.

And President Banda said the MMD manifesto is being received well in all parts of the country.

He said the people in rural areas do not have many privileges that their counterparts in urban areas have, and that his administration will continue with rural development.

Earlier, General Miyanda told a media briefing that this year’s elections will not be free and fair because the ruling party has already started campaigning by carrying out projects such as road rehabilitation at the last minute.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

31 COMMENTS

Braggadacio II July 28, 2011 At 5:34 am

Does the guy understand the word SOON???? He used it when Clinton was here, a few months ago I dare say!!!! He should try telling us in cinyanja, ka pena tu zan venlako!!!
Ati they have Regrouped July 28, 2011 At 5:47 am

PLEASE HH, GENERAL MIYANDA, MR. KAKOMA, GENERAL CHITUWO, NAMULAMBE, SAVE THIS COUNTRY FROM JOKERS AS IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT PEOPLE WANT CHANGE. DON’T ALLOW THE COUNTRY TO BE RUN BY GUY SCOT WHO SLAUGHTERED HIS PIGS AND REWARDED HIMSELF WITH FOREIGN CURRENCY EVEN WHEN THERE WAS NO SWINE FEVER. Do not allow this precious country into hands of crooks. We the people extend this call to other few remaining men of good standing in MMD to avert a nightmare.
Mr. MUTATI AND OTHERS, CAN YOU PLEASE JOIN THE NATIONAL SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Braggadacio II July 28, 2011 At 5:54 am

#2 have you just recovered from that drinking session you had with Dola Sillier???
Nshisunda Chisunde Sunde Kano Fye Mu Muntu July 28, 2011 At 5:56 am

If we can suddenly see projects that would normally take 2-3 years to complete being undertaken and completed in a record 1 month time by a proven failure (rupiah), why would PF and Sata with a track record of success fail to turn many things around in their set 3months period of assuming power?
CHECHA July 28, 2011 At 6:01 am

@ No. 2: YOU ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF TOPIC; WHAT DOES GUY SCOT HAVE TO DO WITH ELECTION DATE? IS IT FLIGHT OF IDEAS?
Adviser July 28, 2011 At 6:04 am

#4 I thought that when you said proven failure (PF) you meant just that. Building an overpass is just an activity – not success.
Mwine mushi July 28, 2011 At 6:11 am

Ruphia thought this time would never come
WHITE MAN July 28, 2011 At 6:17 am

Ba MMD ure going this year whether u lyk it o nt its jst the mater of time bakapoli
Nshisunda Chisunde Sunde Kano Fye Mu Muntu July 28, 2011 At 6:18 am

# 6 adviser
Okay I have no trouble with that.
To satisfy your whims, I paraphrase: Rupiah is a proven failure of activities.
Happy now?
Dont Kubeba reloaded July 28, 2011 At 6:20 am

Breaking news president banda to hold press conference today to dissolve pparliament and announce election data at 10 hrs all press and diplomatic corps invited and should be seated by 9:30 hrs
Braggadacio II July 28, 2011 At 6:31 am

Is this after he has banged dola sillier???
oxmos July 28, 2011 At 6:57 am

just announce and see what happens in your own camp
Angoso July 28, 2011 At 7:03 am

#1, I have 1 question for you: “How long is a piece of string?” I bet that is the way I would understand RB’s assertion of “soon”, its contextual and subjective!
TRUE RANGERS July 28, 2011 At 7:09 am

RB don’t waste our time yapping. Just dissolve parliament then you can remain with your election date in your fat head. RBish.
AN ***** ABROAD July 28, 2011 At 7:20 am

well the hour has come to go baMMD WETHER YOU ANNOUNCE THE DATE SOON OR LATER. ENOUGH OF YOUR MASS CORRUPTION AND INEPTITUDE.
AN ***** ABROAD July 28, 2011 At 7:25 am

AM WAITING FOR THE PRESS COMFERENCE TO HEAR WAT RB IS TO TALK.NOT INTERESTED IN ANYTHING BUT JUST THE DATE OF ELECTIONS WE WANT TO START SENDING MONEY FOR THE PF CAMPAIGNS. WE WANT TO STRATEGISE.NOT INTERESTED ANY MORE BY HOT AIR FROM THESE MMD CHAPS WHO HAVE TAKEN DOWN OUR COUNTRY TO LOW LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT.
Lasa Lasa July 28, 2011 At 7:34 am

The President of the Republic of Zabia has spoken. It is his prerogative to announce the date of elections. Is there still some people not aware that the elections are to be held this year? RB, amongst all the noise, you are so far the best perfoming president our country has seen, considering the time you have been in office. Some bought chibuku, some chitenge materials, some empty words….but you have done it. We leave in these communities and we hear what everyone is saying…..nafuti…nafuti…
BA ZEDI July 28, 2011 At 7:34 am

kwena naukula umutwe iwe mbuli!!! you think you are going to stay in state house for ever!!! even wamuyayaya had to leave after 27 years, atleast he left with dignity. but wena arms deal tokakunaya…. sooner or later tukakunaya.
BA ZEDI July 28, 2011 At 7:37 am

pepo vote SATA halfway through his term heart failure will strike…. then election time again thats should be good for democracy.. not that he is a better candidate. honestly none of the three stooges impress me.
kims July 28, 2011 At 7:50 am

well done for the on going developmental projects….
Pounds and pence July 28, 2011 At 7:57 am

All that travelling has affected his mental health. He hasn’t been anywhere in the past few days and just realised time is running out for him to be banished from state house. Donchi kubeba
ubupuba bwachilamo July 28, 2011 At 8:39 am

Soon and very soon you are leaving state house , As the saying goes what ever goes up must come down kekekekekeke good bye the saddest word .
Ati they have Regrouped July 28, 2011 At 9:18 am

@ NO. 5, MWANDI GUY SCOT IS THE DEFACTO PRESIDO. SATA IS ILL/SICK, HE IS INTERVIEWING PEOPLE FROM HIS BEDROOM. HE DOES NOT EVEN TRUST KABIMBA TO DO THIS THAT’S WHY HE CAN’T DO IT AT FARMERS HOUSE. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE MUNE.
Analysis July 28, 2011 At 9:47 am

afisanji uyu mambala?
Chief- MMD 1 July 28, 2011 At 9:51 am

Yes and the hour has come to retire MCS..RB is having the press conference today..wapya munzi..
J P July 28, 2011 At 10:03 am

Please, RB, give us houses at UNZA the way you gave our friends in Sinazongwe.
lifwekelochifirelungutwalishebanakale July 28, 2011 At 10:04 am

Chumambala
J P July 28, 2011 At 10:11 am

The PF is crying for the election date when actualyy they are not ready; they have not announced their parliamentary candidates. What are they waiting for?
DISAPPOINTED RESIDENT/ VOTERS CARD HOLDER July 28, 2011 At 11:41 am

ITS ELECTION TIME AND STILL NO BETTER ROAD NET WORK IN CHINGOLA AND YOU THINK WE ARE VOTING YOU BACK.ABASH MMD VIVA MWAMUKOLO
Pulamasaka July 28, 2011 At 8:23 pm

we have to save mother Zambia from these pf gays!
beatrice July 29, 2011 At 2:37 am

its not funny pf is cool and not gay[-(