THE MMD will win this year’s presidential and general elections if the Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) participate in the polls separately, UPND chairman for international relations Clive Chirwa has said.

Professor Chirwa puts the MMD’s popularity surge at 38.1 percent and the PF-UPND pact’s collective performance at 19.34 percent. He advised the alliance to work “extremely hard”.

He warned that figures from the last 55 by-elections show that the MMD has an edge of about 50 percent over the pact, and urged the two parties to take his analysis seriously.

And the MMD has hailed Prof Chirwa’s advice to the pact partners as a true reflection of the current political reality in the country, and a confirmation of the ruling party’s strength.

In a letter addressed to PF president Michael Sata and his UPND counterpart Hakainde Hichilema dated February 15, 2011, Prof Chirwa told the pact not to ignore his figures “as they give a very clear outcome if it does not function to the ability expected by the people of Zambia.”

He said the figures are based on the results of the three parliamentary and 52 local government by-elections conducted between August 2009 and September 2010.

Prof Chirwa outlined the calculations that helped him arrive at the two figures.

“Taking into account these weightings, MMD has clocked 38.1 percent success, while UPND has 16.54 percent and PF 2.8 percent,” he said.

Prof Chirwa said the results do not mean UPND is now the favoured party over the PF.

“However, what these figures clearly show is that if we had to go it alone as PF or UPND, MMD will be voted into power yet again as our (pact) total resurgence is 19.34 percent, which is approximately half that of MMD (38.1 percent),” he said.

Prof Chirwa also expressed worry at the voter registration list of January this year.

“We are seeing a complex picture emerging, which tells us a simple message that requires the pact to work extremely hard in order to achieve the aspiration level the Zambian people are yelling for,” he said.

He discussed many other issues related to the pact in the letter, including proposals on how positions should be shared between the two partners.

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga commended Prof Chirwa for telling the truth over the party’s strength.

“I am happy that Clive Chirwa has supported our assertions that the MMD is powerful and will beat both the PF and UPND even if they stand as a pact,” he said.

Mr Mabenga said it is good the information is coming from the pact’s own member and not from the MMD.

“Even if they stand as a pact, we are not shaken in any way. Even without us speaking, their own member has conceded that we are a powerful party and will win the elections. This is really good,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Foreign Affairs minister Kabinga Pande told parliament in a ministerial statement today that all the 42 Zambians in Libya are safe so far.

He says government is preparing to evacuate Zambians in Libya among them 38 embassy staff, two students and a footballer with his wife.

Mr Pande says government is concerned with the violence in Libya which has led to the loss of several lives.

He adds that Zambia condemns any form of violence, adding that as a member of the UN human rights council,the country is among those that has requested for the convening of a meeting tomorrow to discuss the violation of human rights in Libya following a clampdown on protesters.

Asked by Monze Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu whether Government is considering cutting diplomatic relations with Libya as Botswana has done following a government clampdown on protesters, Mr Pande said Zambia has interests to protect

QFM

The Anti- Voter Apathy project (AVAP) has appealed to President Rupiah Banda to advise his party to desist from issuing statement that maybe a source of conflicts as the country goes to the polls this year.

AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo told QFM news that the statements of former president Dr.
Fredrick Chiluba’s intention to resurrect dribbling in the MMD raise suspensions which may result in conflicts.

Mr. Tembo has, however, commended President Banda to advocate for peace but has also challenged him to ensure that the playing field for political players is leveled.

He added that preferred candidate syndrome when it comes to choose party leaders should also be avoided to prevent the possible outbreaks of violence.

Mr. Tembo has also advised the president to ensure that they prepare themselves for any outcome of the elections saying their must win mentality is also a source of worry.

He says that all parties need to prepare themselves for any outcome of the elections saying that no political party can claim ownership over the voters.
[ QFM ]

UPND Copperbelt Province chairperson Elisha Matambo has said the outcome of the Mutaba Ward by-electionin Kafulafuta Constituency will define the most popular party between the UPND and the Patriotic Front (PF) in the province.

Mr Matambo said in an interview yesterday that the campaigns for the March 3, local government by-elections would show which of the parties commanded a larger following after they fielded separate candidates for the polls.

Mr Matambo said the UPND was successfully selling itself as an alternative political party, able to deliver social and economic development to the people of people in that area and Zambia in general.

PF Ndola District chairperson Rebby Chanda said his party was confident of winning the election.

MMD Masaiti Member of Parliament Gladys Lundwe, who toured the constituency, said the ruling party was undertaking various development projects in the area which could only be successfully completed with the help of councillors from the ruling party.

MMD Masaiti District chairperson Micheal Katambo said the MMD campaign team had embarked on a door to door campaign explaining the development projects which the Government was undertaking and why the people of Mutaba Ward should vote for an MMD councillor.

The MMD have fielded Gilbert Kayingu, while the UPND and the PF fielded John Tuseko and West Phiri respectively.
[ Times of Zambia ]

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said Zambians should not be misled by anyone that what is happening in the Middle East and North Africa can happen in the country because Zambia witnessed winds of change in 1991 and is now a role model of democracy.

Speaking before departure for Chipata at City Airport in Lusaka yesterday, President Banda said he regretted what was happening in Libya.

He, however, said it was wrong for some people to take advantage of young Zambians who may not understand the country’s history and suggest that the crisis in Egypt would spread to Zambia because the country was already enjoying democracy.

The president said while the democracy may not be perfect, Zambians were working hard to refine the system.

“What is happening in Libya is very, very sad. I think that all the governments must listen to people, but thank you for the question, let me just extend a bit to Zambia.

“It is wonderful to have peace here and in any case what they are going through now, what is happening in the Middle East is what we went through in 1991.

“Zambian people are actually role models, and the Zambian Government is actually a role model. The democracy that we are practising here is what they are fighting for,” Mr Banda said.

He said as a way to strengthen democracy, Zambia had introduced the Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue to allow people with different political persuasions to express their views and improve the systems of governance.

President Banda said Zambians had confidence in the country’s electoral system and it was the reason why they refused to be used by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata after the 2008 elections.

“Those who are talking and taking advantage of young Zambians who may not be aware of where we are coming from must understand that to refer to Egypt is wrong. These people are behind us. We went through that already, and we are a democratic country.

“You know after the elections in 2008 when I was elected president, because of the gap between myself and Mr Sata he really believed that the Zambian people will rally behind him,” he said.

Mr Banda said in 1991, first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda conceded defeat to the MMD when he lost the elections.

He said those who lost elections should learn to concede defeat to uphold their dignity.

[Times of Zambia]

GALLANT Youths of Zambia National co-ordinator Henry Mulenga has branded Mbita Chitala a liar for refuting reports that he advised President Banda to concede defeat to the Patriotic Front (PF) during the 2008 presidential elections.

Mr Mulenga said in an interview in Lusaka on February 23 that he was present when Dr Chitala advised President Banda to concede defeat to PF president Michael Sata during the 2008 presidential election.

He said Dr Chitala is the one who is telling lies because he (Mr Mulenga) was present at the meeting held at Government House on September 30 or October 1, 2008.

Mr Mulenga said he recalls that Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda was also present during the meeting.

He was reacting to a story in The Post edition of February 23 in which Dr Chitala denied asking the President to prematurely concede defeat to Mr Sata when he was trailing by 80,000 votes.

Mr Mulenga said it was disrespectful of Dr Chitala to call the President a liar when he knows that what the head of State had said was true.

“It is insubordination for Dr Chitala to call the head of State a liar,” Mr Mulenga said.

Mr Mulenga said he was part of the MMD team that was working with Dr Chitala, who was the national campaign executive secretary, at the totalling centre at Government House.

He said when Dr Chitala saw that the Electoral Commission of Zambia was taking too long to announce the final results and that Mr Banda was trailing Mr Sata, he allegedly asked the team to accompany him to where President Banda was waiting for feedback.

“When he looked at the block figure and saw the deficit between Mr Banda and Mr Sata, Dr Chitala tried to persuade Mr Banda to concede defeat. I was there and Mr William Banda and other people were also there.

“We did not agree with him that Mr Banda should concede defeat and we went outside to call the campaign manager, Mr Vernon Mwaanga, who was at the campaign centre in Rhodes Park. I personally called him and told him what Dr Chitala was trying to persuade Mr Banda to do,” Mr Mulenga said.

He said Mr Mwaanga directed the team and Mr Banda to wait for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to announce the final results.

“We waited until results from the last three provinces, which included Eastern and Western, where the MMD was strong, were announced. The MMD rapidly caught up and even surpassed the PF,” Mr Mulenga said.

He advised Dr Chitala to be honest enough and tell the truth.

“Dr Chitala should be honest enough and should not deny what he said,” Mr Mulenga said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The United Party for National Development (UPND) says the fielding of different candidates in the Mutaba ward local government by-elections was as a result communication breakdown within the pact.

UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mwitwa says lack of proper communication within the pact is resulting in the two parties to act without consultation.

Mr. Mwitwa says it is unfortunate that things are happening like this as it is contrary to the Memorandum of Understanding between the two political parties.

He, however, says the adoption of different candidates in the area by the pact members is good as it will give a clear indication on what the people on the ground think of the pact.

The memorandum of understanding signed between the two parties forbids them to compete against each other in the by-elections leading up to the forthcoming general elections.

Contrary to the memorandum of understanding, the two parties have separately fielded candidates in the forthcoming by-elections in Masaiti District on the Copper belt.

According to a statement made available to QFM by the electoral commission of Zambia (ECZ) the PF is fielding West Phiri while John Tuseko is contesting on the UPND ticket.

The ruling MMD is being represented by Gilbert Kayindu.
[ QFM ]