THE Times of Zambia has maintained its stand on a story published over former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa’s presidential ambitions.
Features editor Janet Ilunga said in Lusaka yesterday that the news story dated Friday September 4, 2009 and headlined “Maureen eyes presidency” was a result of an interview the newspaper had with her in relation to her life, one year after the passing of her husband, the late President Levy Mwanawasa.
Mrs Ilunga explained that the first interview was conducted on Monday August 31, 2009 in which Mrs Mwanawasa said she had a passion to lead the country but she did not have a platform to stand in 2011 because the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) had made a decision on a candidate.
Mrs Mwanawasa also said that she subscribed to the rules and regulations of the MMD, of which she was a member, and the electoral requirement that a presidential aspirant must be sponsored by a political party.[quote]
“At no time did Mrs Mwanawasa complain about any specific portion of the story except that she had been receiving phone calls from people who were threatening her and that she has created enemies that she had no capacity to handle,” Mrs Ilunga said.
She said the newspaper decided to conduct a second interview that was recorded on tape so that she could be given an opportunity to explain herself better and even there she repeated her passion for leading the country.
She said Mrs Mwanawasa reiterated that her political ambition was not new, as people even in the MMD had called on her to stand in 2011 to take over when Dr Mwanawasa was to retire.
“For us as a newspaper, we are surprised that Mrs Mwanawasa is saying we have refused to make a clarification when she did not state what she wanted corrected. She in fact said she had no problem with the feature which was based on the second interview so then where is the misrepresentation?” Mrs Ilunga said.
Mrs Mwanawasa was quoted in The Post newspaper in a story headlined, “Maureen refutes Times story on 2011 presidential ambition” as saying she was misquoted by the Times of Zambia.
Mrs Mwanawasa said she wanted to live a quiet and private life and politics was not part of her daily life.
She said she told the Times of Zambia reporter that she wanted to lead the country but did not know when the opportunity would arise.
[Times of Zambia]
Why is she backtracking now? Has she been threatend by RB?
Learn to write your own stories you fools. Why are you always stealing stories?
LT,do you know investigations and write your own stories.
Maureen should understand that politics is a rough game……..
I wanted to say that LT should be doing their own investigations and then write stories based on them.Just getting other papers’ stories and putting them online isnt good journalism.We would like to get your own point of view on issues……………..by dublicating the stories from Times of Zambia,you’re indirectly becoming a mouth piece for the governement.
Ba LT you are like MMD coz you not have originals but photocopies. Learn to have your stories.
# 4 hi…. You are missing the point by saying “its not good journalism” the fact is that LT does not even have or practice journalism. They are a parasite of other news sources. goodday
What is wrong for Maureen to stand as President anyway? Are widows constitutionaly barred to seek the highest office? Learned colleagues of the bench, can you kindly clear the air for some of Engineers who only understand machinations.
2 & 3, before you show your ignorance, read the ‘about Lt’ above. You will know the mission of this website. They bring out stories that are published by other media for us to debate them. If you don’t like this site better leave us and go to other site, rather than calling LT ‘fools’
When LT has nothing to write, surely they can copy and paste a story frm somewhere. One day they will copy a lie which which will cost them bigtime. LT get something of your own. Get to Chibolya there in LSK and write about the open air Dagga market.
Crap ka LT may be u chaps ar MMD, u dont hav proof of wat u write, u just copy to hell with these stories
Iwe Presidential Paging! Careful, Don’t ‘shoot’ us. Lol
# 8 You wrote “2& 3, before you show your ignorance, read the ‘about Lt’ above. You will know the mission of this website. They bring out stories that are published by other media for us to debate them. If you don’t like this site better leave us and go to other site, rather than calling LT ‘fools’
— I THINK YOU OVER STRETCHED MAN.. You seem to miss the point of constructive criticism.
Really, Times of Zambia is a politically messed up paper. Chaps are heavily bribed to lie. This paper is heavily biased to the state. If they write a story, that story will be biased. Right now the paper is trying to scandalise a widow politically it appears.This paper only writes counter stories from the story originators- the post newspaper.They are a state answering paper.
When this story just came on the blog, I turn a hard face towards Maureen. Surely if she says she did not utter what she is accused of why force her to bow.
But if mama mwanawasa did actully indicate what was written then my comment in the previous blog on this story stands.
Herve Renard,
Im not shooting at nobody. All I just needed was guidance on whether windows are barred in our constitution to vie for the highest office. If so, then it is not late for us to tell the NCC whose sitting has been extended to remove this discrimination.lol
True LT is useless. That is why it is losing readers everyday. Only the same people are continuously commenting, one person 290 times on one story. Its because LT is useless. I have never seen a story written by LT. All they do is photocopy and plagiarize. One foolish person here is saying they put stories by other people so that we can debate them. What insanity is that? How can you have such a policy as if you are not normal. The truth is that the people who run LT, Kennedy Mambwe of Zain Zambia, Kasolo Kasonde of coppernet and his uncle in south Africa have no capacity to write there own stories. Kennedy Mambwe has questinable masters degree from cardiff but has first degree or diploma. Kasolo is a photographer. And the photos on LT are done by a Times of Zambia photographer.
# 8 is right. period. However, this Times woman called Ilunga has been sponsored by Rupiah to destroy Mrs Mwanawasa. Who doesn’t know that if Rupiah wins the 2011 elections, he call for a third term. Infact, they will introduce clauses for limitless terms in the new constitution. I am reliably informed about this. Just wait and see, and will remind when that time come.period.
I meant Kennedy Mambwe has no fist degree or diploma. H
Kalikeka #11
Some bloggers are only showing their ignorance
Please learn to read before you make your comments
Who will take over from Teta? Nobody will fit in his shoes. His reactions to issues were either driven by emotions or sickness. He was always real based on these 2 factors, en therefore nobody fits in. ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THE TETA LEGACY ALSO? lol
She must have been drunk from wine as usual and cant remember making the statement
Mukamfwilwa: You still need more time to mourn your late husband .Your desperation for power and hard fought struggles for identity and recognition is possing very serious questions about your credibility. We are not surprised though as we noticed perculiar behaviour during the time of Kulibonesha and you even went to the extent of addressing Civil Servants.
Given a choice between RB and Maureen, which one do you think would be a better candidate? I think the latter…
#14 Mulenga Lumbwe
You sound bitter though and very personal, did Kennedy Mambwe grab your girfriend and Kasolo damp your sister?. Anyway which site is everybody going to so we all shift. Any suggestion? Or rather your best recommendations
even if she stood for election, who is going to vote for her…Mwanawasa was different from her….we need a new crop of people…not the same crap all the time…..from 1964…shame
‘Naine nizayesako mu 2011’-Thandi
I think she said it, she should just be bold enough to stick to her words and now cow to MMD zealots. As for that parade in Mansa in support of Chiluba’s satanic acquittal, I am as yet to come accross such a disgusting act. If the people of Mansa want to live with plunder, it could be time we handed them over to Katanga ka Kabila Joseph where stealing is part of their historial culture.
ON: “She said she told the Times of Zambia reporter that she wanted to lead the country but did not know when the opportunity would arise.” I believe this is her true stance.
As a matter of fact, all Zambians, if asked, they will tell you they want to be presidents in the future. This is because they are not satisfied by the way the current admin is running the country.
They believe they can do a better job as presidents than the current. Most of them have no platform ( just as Maureen), but somehow they still carry that dream.
Ask Patrick Mwanawasa ( the late’s son) and he will tell you he also has plans. I see nothing spacial about Maureen’s ambitions. If there was something special about it, she could not have backtracked from her earlier statement.
Now she has graduated as a politician! Say one thing and mean something else. Say one thing and claim that you have been misquoted. Say one thing to one newspaper and another thing to another. Why don’t we get rid of politics and politicians altogether? As I have stated before, politicians in the main are full of lies. Those who are honest and sincere are shot down.
Honestly who can you vote for if RB and Maureen were to stand lets be honest to ourselves She has done nothing wrong she has all the rights to go for presidency what is wrong with you people Maureen has been in state house for more than 5 years and we have never had a monkey do the thing on her
She probably read the comments on here and backtracked. Gone are the mwanawasa days were boot lickers would cheer to anything she said in hopes of getting favour.
All of us should know when to speak out our dreams. Never announce your dreams when they are still in infant form, otherwise someone will brutally crush them. Speak out only when you are ready for action.
Look at how many enemies Joseph (in the Bible) created when he announced his dreams. Look also at how Jesus of Nazareth was pursued by King Harold when he was just a baby.
QUOTE FROM THE POST COMMENTRY…
“If anyone is in doubt as to how desperate Rupiah and his many minions are on this issue, they only need to look at what happened yesterday. In the middle of the funeral of their friend, Benny Tetamashimba, they have the courage to release big party officials to go and celebrate Chiluba’s acquittal in Mansa. How can a party such as MMD engage in the celebration of such a questionable acquittal at such a time? Why the desperation? Even when ordinary civil servants from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing are postponing their meetings in Livingstone because of Tetamashimba’s death, his fellow MMD leaders are celebrating the acquittal of a thief who stole public funds…” END OF QUOTE
for all the dunderheads telling off LT about originality of stories, get it thru your thick skulls that LT is doing u a favour by giving you a platform to yap about the stories that you will read about in the Times but otherwise wont be able to comment on. of course any normal being can tell these stories are from the Times and LT know that since this site is mostly anti Govt and the stories are Pro Govt, they’ve created a healthy environment for both creative and non-creative debate MORONS!! The post is always dissing govt so wat the heck wud u add on if they posted their stories here? Learn to see above and beyond your simple perception of things.
for all the dunderheads telling off LT about originality of stories, get it thru your thick skulls that LT is doing u a favour by giving you a platform to yap about the stories that you will read about in the Times but otherwise wont be able to comment on. of course any normal being can tell these stories are from the Times and LT know that since this site is mostly anti Govt and the stories are Pro Govt, they’ve created a healthy environment for both creative and non-creative debate, M.O.R.O.N.S!! The post is always dissing govt so wat the heck wud u add on if they posted their stories here? Learn to see above and beyond your simple perception of things.
Hey. pipo of zed, maureen was already once a president what else does she want imwe sure???? Let her concentrate on her studies for now and family matters,my advice to her
are u chaps critizing LT middle finger in the air. if you dnt like it then get the f**k out of here. Good job LT. keep it up.
#8 Herve, i get stomach cramps sometimes at the utter dullness displayed by some bloggers.
#25 That is excellent analysis. Most would like to stand but the playing field is not conducive. Times of Zambia and Daily Mail I have proof they twist what one says. Unless you see the interview on Muvi. They are shameless. Leave Maureen alone!!!!
I pave way for you like am martin elliot ,I burst all ya judas iscariots and put ya a$$ on a chariot
slumdog shalapungu ulupundu kwati bana mpundu.
Feel free madam other wise stay in the kitchen
Maureen just hold a press conference and put your facts straight. Invite scribes from Times, MUVI TV and POST. These state house controlled papers have a way of twisting facts. remember what happened to VJ in Congo and how times/daily reported it?
Ba Times of Zed, she said she wants to lead a private life for now but did not rule out a run for the presidency. Her issue was that you said she is running in 2016, which she did not say
ubufi muleke ba Maurine mwanawasa wats your position and you were recorded and now you say no wat are you then?
If i recall correctly, i think she said she had a political ambition but she didnt know when that higher calling will come, compared to the Times of Zambia saying she was vying for 2016. Why cant she just be left alone to live her own life
Just as I have always said it once in the “once a public figure, always at the macy of the media”. Watch what you say as a public figure otherwise you will swallow your words.Zambian politicians have got alot to learn. The media can either make or brake your. You have just got to figure out how to use them to your advantage (succeed or Suicide )
Today Lusakatimes is run by a number of people distributed around the world, working in an open source type of structure, purely driven by hobby and ambition to provide Zambians around the world with current news content based on facts and not speculation. Our day to day news content comes from known Zambian sources like Zambia Daily-Mail, Times of Zambia, ZNBC and ZANIS. These are the giants whose shoulders we stand on.
Ba FL Maurren there is no point in backtraking your stance. Just stand by it. Dont show cowardice just coz a few cares are threatening about this and that. You used to be close to power and learnt a few tricks from LPM. 1st to prove yourworthgo for Bwacha Seat in 2011.
When you stand a battle one should have the capcity to withstand the onslaught. Its not just standing on sand platform and once there is strong wind you faulter. Stand for the what say and never give up.
Times of Zambia should be challenged here. Did Maureen mention 2016? I have the passion of leading this country at what position? Times of Zambia, are your stories written by the Pilot Rev useless General Shikapwasha the stinky mouth piece of Mwdya Mweka Daddy?
Its interesting and indeed it is, in zambia dictatorior kind of ruling is now evident more especially in MMD.Moreen should be carefull otherwise theese people might fix her up. What is wrong with just expressing yourself about your feelings,moreen is being scared why?
#45 Presidential Paging. Ulamoneka bwino we! I like your photo. Please lets see your children as well! lol!
Lastly, Lusakatimes has no intention whatsoever of charging people to access the content on our site. Our content is open source and free. All our revenue is from advertising and the bulk of it goes towards ensuring that we provide a web infrastructure that is fast, reliable, 99% available throughout the year and update up to date with the current technological trends.
SO, IF YOU CAN WRITE DROP US A STORY. IT IS NOT FOR LT TO WRITE STORIES, THERE IS NO BUDGET FOR THAT. NOW LET US MOVE FORWARD.
So who is fooling who.
#48 But stop posting under different names just to make it look like you have a lot of people visiting your site.
And, please tell your mods to stop prying. This site is listed as one of the highly risky sites. What your mods gain by reading peoples` emails no one knows.
To say Mrs Mwanawasa wants to live a quiet life is far from the truth. The untimely death of President Mwanawasa really unsettled her and if anything she would wants herself or a protege of the Mwanawasas(Magande, Mpombo) to head the Government. These people have unfinished scores to settle. So don’t believe a word she says on being quiet or indeed supporting President Banda. Don’t believe her.
By the way #48, I had a virus sent by your mod from this site. I hope this stops, or this site will be shut!
Why would one be happy just to read others peoples` emails honestly?
Mama leave her alone
# Mwangala Sianga, I like blogging LT at least I am kept abreast . Its food for the day. This has also provided us with a quick platform to get informed timely and also to respond timely. My main worry of late is moderating our stories. Can some one explain. This is a site which annoyes and entertains depending on what one needs.
#47,#52 The fact remains that lusaka times is parasitic. How come you dont copy and paste articles from postnewspaper? You only plunder from GRZ not the zambian private sector? If you say that the website is ‘open source’ why is it that photos which you actually create have a huge lusakatimes symbol to prevent others from using your original work? That is also a definition of leech: You take but you do not give.
It is reasonable if Maureen is vying for 2016 as a presidential candidate. Otherwise 2021 or 2026 looks very bleak. The bottom line is SHE HAS POLITICAL AMBITIONS. Only the date remains to be set in her political equation.
On balance I think it provides a good aggregation service.
Maureen is making this harder on herself. We all know that she had presidential ambitions even when levy was alive… She must take it on the chin and move on. This is politics..not just Zed way …all over the global…timing is everything.. one wrong move and it is game over!!. Now Maureen pick up unnecessary fight with GRZ press… she must not run to the Post everytime she she screews up. The press GRZ and priviate must be her allies if she will move from gear one (MMCI).
LT’s source of information is Times of Zambia, Dily Mail , Zanis and ZNBC. Why not from Post, MUVI TV, BBB, CNN etc. Does it mean this Blog site is state controlled meant to assess our reactions to certain situations from time to time. Can someone some where clarify the issue at hand. I am getting concerned if all this is the true situation.
No problem. Anyone is free to aspire to presidency. Why do people think its a crime. This is political imaturity. Seems anything is taken as a threat to the incumbert. We need to grow up.
Let whoever aspires be given the freedom to express themselves. Was there anything wrong with Hillary Clinton going for presidency? No.
It’s possible that Maureen could make a better presidency than some men we have out there.
Come on Maureen, go for it. Come on Sata, go for it. Come HH. go for it. Come Saviour Chishimba, go for it.
I hope all these will contest in a live TV debate with RB so we can be more informed about them.
Maureen just loves to be in the news all the time. She craves for publicity and the limelight, just like Chiluba. She says she wants to live a quiet life with her family but she has been yapping here, there and everywhere.
#62 King Fisher
May be LT cannot afford the price tag on articles from the Post Newspapers. It’s possible that The Post charges for their articles.
let her go ahead and stand she is free
#3 ba Hustler Don´’t be ‘ignorant’ try to understand that LT profile clearly explains that they rely on other Zambia news source for their information…Anyway the IT age has come to soon for some of us, I hope you have not taken my advise harshly….Good day
beside LT informs and allow you to bicker for free lets give our news source a pat on the shoulders.I learnt about Teta’s death on LT.I would have not known about the development.
Can anyone explain what a BLOG is??? Maybe that will clear up a lot of misunderstanding about what LT is doing.
The Post, Times of Zed, Daily mail, extra, are all free to start/run a their own blogs in conjunction with their staple—NEWS!—if they fell they need some feed/discussion from the public about what they publish, no one is stopping them from doing so. Running a blog takes time and dedication. These other entities might not want or don’t want to dedicate full-time staff to a newspaper blog. I suspect theirs would even be monotonous & boring, discussing their own stuff!!!
But LT brings it all together. My opinion—-sue me if you don’t like it!!!!!!
# 63 I was of the Understanding that LT was more about Zambian news, There is little or no Zambian news from your CNN ;BBC and remeber the are copyright issues so you don’t expect news from sources which does not allow the liberal use its news material….
On “She said she told the Times of Zambia reporter that she wanted to lead the country but did not know when the opportunity would arise“, I agree with ba-Maureen because I did not read any quote from her own words indicating that she will stand for MMD and Zambian President in 2016 specifically. I will be grateful if Times of Zambia can give me her exact words on such a statement. As of now, it is all speculation obviously by trying to make people think that ba-Maureen is supporting Mr President RB Banda for 2011 MMD and Zambian President.
Be blessed all.
_
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things shall be added unto you.
You, guys Stop worrying and insulting LT… Please stop and grow up, this is not a full time job and nobody gets paid, LT is a social network created by 4 IT software programmers and 2 students, in-order to keep students abroad informed of news back home.
Madam Mwanawasa,
The first mistake you made was to surrender you allegience to the MMD and Rupiah. It was good you came out on your aspiration. However, you made a mistake when you said meantime you were going to work (to campaign) for Nyamasoya. In your hearts of hearts you convinced yourself Nyamasoya was going to grant you power to be Zambia’s president. You thought he has absolute power to do that. You were first and foremost supposed to say meantime you were going to continue to work for the people of Zambia. They are the ones who have power. Your allegience was first to go to Zambians. Wawona manage. Enemies Zanda!!!!!! Hope you have learnt a lesson. Zambia First Mammy.
Ba#73Kelvin, Which institute are these students? Who are the hosts of this blog site. Do not dream of what our Zambian students are supposed to be doing instead of setting vehicles ablaze. Im so close to one of the Senior IT Professionals in Zambia Dr Libati od CBU and we discuss quite alot and your concerns Kelvin are based on hear say and full of COW EXCRETE if not human. Get the facts right and donot mislead yourself and others. Do you see spaces for adverts on this blog? So what finances are you talking about not to be available? Sh!t id10t+ u f00!-
#72 is right. Can Times of Zambia give us Madam Maureen Mwanawasa her exact words or show on your favourite ZNBC her recorded speech to clear the air
Yes ,i agree with #72 and 76 Time of Zambia must show us the record of the interview.Otherwise times of zambia must not push her too much in to politics.She has refused saying what times of zambia is saying.Let her no0urning her husband.To you my dear sister please stay cool and humbled.Just concerntarte on looking after your childred .I am sure one day LPM juniour will take over one day.
Someone once told me ‘There is nothing wrong with the African mind , our problem is the African mindset.’ Just think about our problems today. Does any politiican have a solution? Let’s set our hearts and minds on God, and Jesus our Saviour!
#15 Lumbwe Mulenga, Typical of Bemba chap.( I m also Bemba) Why dont you come up with something better than this instead of putting your friends down. The boys are doing their best. Give them ideas if you got some. These chaps have shown us something and l dont know why you log in on Lusakatimes. Kasonde and Kennedy dont be discouraged by these LOSERS!
#51 Magicroundabout, I’ll give you one of my children’s picures 2moro. Just look out for it. One of them is promonet in the PF-UPND pact. Guess who???????????
Balekeni ba anti, she wants to lead a quiet life chabashani kanshi?
We shall remain mute until Ben Teta is finally intered 2moro. What follows is RB’s dicretion. May be to appoint Mrs Teta in Foreign Mission the way LPM did to the Mapushi family. Rest in pieces Teta.May Yuor Soul Rise If Possible,MYSRIP
Maureen should not tell one thing and do the opposite…she want to lead a private life..but she often goes with GRZ and RB abroad to attend seminars, ‘volunteers for interviews etc… look at ba Beti Kaunda and you will see a private person…not ba Maureen… probably Maureen needs to grow some balls and state want she want.
Where is the problem if Mrs Mwanawasa wants to stand for president? Is it something that no one should want? Actually right now am declaring my intentions to stand for president of Zambia, got a problem with it deal with it! Anyone has the right to be president of Zambia as long as they meet the required age of 35 years, and they are Zambian. It shouldn’t be news if this and that wants to be president!
The question is, what’s wrong with any Zambian aspiring to become president? I smell dictatorship and this, if we are not care, will be overbearing upon us as citizens.
Liberation from oppression, intimidation, poverty and corruption should be our main fight as Zambians.
Do not fall into the trap of incapable leaders — be objective!
Mrs.Mwanawasa is a Zambian and she has the right to run for President of the country,so it goes that her late husbands dreams and aspirations are with her,so mama Mwanawasa if you throw your hat in the ring we shall support you.
Should everybody have a university degree in order to be considered as being literate? i FOR ONE DO NOT HAVE A DEGREE and have no aspiration for one and am happy with my life and very functional , thank you very much
RB does not tolerate nonsense. If he could deport monkeys from their natural habitat of number 1 Independence Avenue, am sure he threatened Maureen that there was still space for one more family at Mundawanga. Oh, the poor lady is shaking in her night dress right now. Oh poor Maureen, I feel sorry for you. Remember Thandie’s babies are also eyeing the same seat. Carefull what you say madam former fast lady.
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