5 September 2008
RWANDESE President Paul Kagame has implored Zambians to elect a leader that will promote peace and stability as well as enhance economic development.
General Kagame said that the best leader for the nation would be somebody like late President Levy Mwanawasa who enhanced peace, stability, democracy, rule of law and above all stirred economic growth.
Gen Kagame, however, told journalists in Lusaka yesterday shortly before departure for his country that the responsibility of electing such a leader was solely in the hands of Zambians.
"It is really for Zambians to choose the right leader for themselves. They should do this bearing in mind the stability, economic growth and peace that the late leader promoted not just for this country but the region," he said.
Gen Kagame who was in Zambia to attend the burial of President Mwanawasa, which took place on Wednesday, earlier held a closed door meeting with acting President Rupiah Banda for close to 30 minutes.
He said Zambia had been able to export 50 per cent of the sugar consumed in Rwanda and he was happy the Zambia had continued to supplement his country in meeting the demand for sugar.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has said that despite his differences on political opinion with late President Mwanawasa, the two leaders still remained close friends.
Mr Mugabe said that it was important for people to realise that it was not all the time that close friends would agree on any matter but that did not warrant them becoming enemies.
"A difference of opinion does not amount to such differences as would make enemies harm each other. You still remain brothers and brothers can quarrel but they still remain brothers," Mr Mugabe said.
The Zimbabwean leader was speaking on a special Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) programme at the Lusaka International Airport before departure for his country.
Mr Mugabe said that he admired Dr Mwanawasa's political philosophy, particularly with regard to looking after former leaders. He said Dr Mwanawasa impressed him most by ensuring that former leaders were properly looked after.
He said he discussed a number of development projects with Dr Mwanawasa like the Batoka Hydro power generator and the best ways of promoting tourism between the two countries.
On the standoff between his party and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Mr Mugabe said the opposition leader had been dillydallying in accepting to sign the memorandum of understanding.
"If Tsvangirai does not want to sign by tomorrow (yesterday) we would certainly put up a Cabinet to start running the country," Mr Mugabe said.
He accused the British government of being behind Mr Tsvangirai's delays in signing the MoU.
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