29 August 2008
The MMD in North-Western Province has thrown its weight behind the adoption of acting Republican President, Rupiah Banda as the party's candidate in the upcoming presidential by-election.
The party unanimously resolved during Wednesday's MMD extraordinary provincial meeting at Boma Hall in Solwezi that Mr Banda be given a chance following the death of President Mwanawasa.
The meeting was attended by national executive committee (NEC) members from North-Western Province, provincial executive committee, district, constituency committee members and members of Parliament.
A statement jointly released after the meeting by provincial chairman, James Katoka, vice-chairman, Pinakin Patel and secretary, Obet Mayambu said aspirants for 2011 general elections should continue.
"The national executive committee members who were aspiring for presidency were doing so for the year 2011, so let them carry their aspirations to 2011 general elections and not for this by-election," read part of the statement.
The meeting said that as North-Western was a good example of the development that the late President Mwanawasa embarked on, there was need for continuity under Mr Banda.
"We strongly feel that his honour understands our late president's programmes better than anyone else, having worked closely with him as deputy for the past two years. His honour possesses the maturity and experience required to maintain unity and harmony in the party," the statement said.
North-Western becomes the third province after Eastern and Northern to appeal to NEC to endorse the candidature of Mr Banda for presidency for the remaining three years.
All MMD members of Parliament from North-Western Province, including Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Labour and Social Security Minister Ronald Mukuma and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Sarah Sayifwanda endorsed the candidature of Mr Banda.
Others were Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Benny Tetamashimba, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Richard Taima, MMD deputy parliamentary chief whip Humphrey Mwanza, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Misheck Bonshe, Deputy Defence Minister Elijah Muchima and Agriculture and Cooperatives Deputy Minister Daniel Kalenga.
Meanwhile, Finance and National Planning Minister, Ng'andu Magande has said he is one of the ministers the late Republican President Mwanawasa was very close to.
He said this in an interview with journalists in Livingstone yesterday.
"I am not the chosen one but I can say that I am one of the people the president kept very close even in the last two months before his death.
"There are other members of the ruling party who must continue with their work in order to meet this vision and they will need a captain, and I am the best person to be the captain because I know how the country has reached where it is today," he said.
On calls by some MMD members to allow Vice-President Banda to contest on the MMD ticket, Mr Magande said the MMD had a system in place, which he was following, and that he had his own credentials.
On whether his presence in Livingstone and other areas where Dr Mwanawasa's body had been flown to was a campaign gimmick, Mr Magande, who seemed upset with the question said:
"Don't be detracted. Livingstone has great projects. I am here because I come from Southern Province. I have not followed the body everywhere.
"You don't want me to be with Levy now that he is dead. What do you think the body of Levy will do for me? How does that help me?" Mr Magande asked.
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Sounds-like and is the most sensible thing for the MMD to do - what the other parties do is another thing but i believe every rational zambian would let Rupiah carry "the mwanawasa era" to the end-of-term. after that whoever wins would face the wrath of the people if they did not carry on with Levy's legacy...the people have to let this tern run to its logical end! it took 44 years of independence before we got inflation back to where we are now, to stifle corruption to present levels, to stand up proud next to any sadc memeber, to… [Read Full Text]