8 September 2008
FORMER Information and Broadcasting Services minister, Vernon Mwaanga has said that all members of the MMD should close ranks and rally behind party presidential candidate Rupiah Banda.
Mr Mwaanga said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that all party members should support Mr Banda so that he could win the presidential elections and continue the legacy of president Mwanawasa.
"Our country has far too much at stake to let this historic opportunity slip away. We Zambians must show our friends around the world that we are mature and determined to continue moving our country forward," he said.
He said that Zambian leaders should continue showing the world that they were capable of fulfilling the aspirations of the people while remaining united and focused.
Losing MMD candidate for Kanyama parliamentary seat, Mwalimu Simfukwe has commended the national executive committee (NEC) of the party for electing acting Republican President, Rupiah Banda as the presidential candidate for the forth-coming election, saying Mr Banda is a visionary leader who cannot divert from president Mwanawasa's policies.
Mr Simfukwe said in an interview yesterday that the policies initiated by president Mwanawasa particularly in the agriculture sector should be continued as they were bearing results. He said the decision to elect Mr Banda was a move in the right direction as he would win the party the presidential elections and eventually continue with the policies initiated by Dr Mwanawasa.
"I wish to commend NEC for the decision to elect Mr Banda, he is a leader that can carry the vision of our late president Dr Mwanawasa," Mr Simfukwe said.
And Committee of Citizens executive director, Gregory Chifire said Mr Banda was better placed to continue with the policies of Dr Mwanawasa.
In a statement in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Chifire said that Dr Mwanawasa was a visionary leader who wanted to improve the living conditions of citizens saying even Mr Banda has similar qualities.
Mr Chifire, however, said that the onus to elect such a leader was solely in the hand of the electorate. He urged the electorate to exercise levels of maturity and wisdom when voting for the successor for Dr Mwanawasa.
Mr Chifire said Mr Banda was better placed to continue with the Dr Mwanawasa's legacy and urged Zambians to vote for him.
United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Copperbelt Presbytery Bishop, Committee Njase and the Bishop's Council of the World Touch Ministries Presiding Bishop, George Kafwimbi at the weekend commended the MMD NEC for adopting Mr Banda.
Bishop Njase has since advised Zambians not to experiment, but vote for Mr Banda in the presidential elections so that he, together with the current crop of ministers, could further pursue the vision of Dr Mwanawasa.
He said he had a lot of confidence in Mr Banda and was sure that once voted into office, he would strive to sustain the legacy left by Dr Mwanawasa and urged ministers to support him in all aspects of economy and good governance.
Bishop Njase said the MMD's NEC had made a good decision to pick on Mr Banda because he was a mature, disciplined and seasoned politician who had served the country well when the late president Mwanawasa was in hospital.
"I wish to say that the MMD's NEC made a good decision to pick Banda as its presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections. I am supporting his candidature because I know Mr Banda to be a mature, disciplined and seasoned politician. He has been in politics for a long time.
"His maturity could be seen from the way he ruled the country from the time the late President Mwanawasa was admitted in hospital until when he died. I would also like to thank Zambians for being peaceful during the illness and death of our president," Bishop Njase said.
And Bishop Kafwimbi said the endorsement of Mr Banda was what was obtaining in the minds of the majority MMD grassroot as evidenced by the overwhelming support the acting President had received so far.
Bishop Kafwimbi said Mr Banda had skilfully exhibited his leadership capabilities during the illness, death and burial of the Dr Mwanawasa.
He urged Mr Banda to ensure the party was united countrywide to ensure victory in the election set for November.
Bishop Kafwimbi also appealed to those MMD members that had applied for adoption as the party's presidential candidate but could not be adopted, to ensure they fostered unity in the party. .
Meanwhile, the MMD on the Copperbelt has advised Zambians to vote for Mr Banda in the forthcoming Presidential elections because he is a patriotic, disciplined, mature and experienced politician.
Party provincial vice-chairman, Jerry Mukonkela said Zambians should vote for Mr Banda because he was an experienced politician who exhibited maturity and maintained order in the country while president Mwanawasa was in hospital.
Mr Mukonkela also advised MMD officials and members across the country to remain united and intensify campaigns for Mr Banda's candidature to ensure victory in the elections.
He said Mr Banda was the candidate whom NEC of the MMD had picked and it was imperative that loyal party officials and members campaigned for him.
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