Former MMD national secretary, Vernon Mwaanga, has appealed to party members to maintain the focus of the party's campaign for the forthcoming elections on issues which are important for the people of Zambia.

Mr Mwaanga said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that the MMD should not descend to the level of anarchists whose campaigns were based on character assassination.

"We should remain focused and refuse to be drawn into trivialities, insults, half truths and outright lies, which add no value to our campaign for the peace, progress and prosperity of our people," he said.

He said the MMD's opponents were confused in the aims, methods and approach and would stop at nothing to frustrate the ruling party candidate and acting president, Rupiah Banda, from winning the October 30 elections.

He said the MMD should be proud that it was the only party, which elected its candidate through a transparent democratic process and had a clear programme for the future of the country.

Mr Mwaanga said the national executive committee (NEC) of the MMD recognised that Mr Banda was an intelligent, mature, stable, hardworking and competent person and MMD members should stand by him and ensure he is elected.

He said Zambians must realise that the destiny of the country was at stake and the issue of Mr Banda's election was too great to be frustrated by the enemies of the acting president and the MMD.

"In our country today, this is not the time for looking back or for being sentimental. This is not the time for bitterness, threats and vindictiveness. It is a time for looking forward with faith, determination and hope for a better future.

"We must show the world that we have faith and the will to complete what we began in 1991 as reaffirmed in our manifesto in 2006, which carried our vision for 2007 up to 2011," Mr Mwaanga said.

He said the forthcoming elections were about giving the people of Zambia choices and Mr Banda was an experienced, trustworthy and reliable leader who would guide the nation to a new level of public service using MMD programmes.

"If our policies and programmes of our opponents are better than ours, then they will win. If ours are better than theirs - as I believe - then our party shall remain in office until 2011 and beyond," he said.

He noted that the MMD's support, which enabled it to win four consecutive elections in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006, came from the masses of Zambia in whom the party must place its greatest support belief and faith not to let them down.

Mr Mwaanga recalled that when the MMD first came to power in October 1991, Zambia's economy was on its knees and there was a critical shortage of essential goods like bread, soft drinks, washing powder, cooking oil and sugar.

He said donor programmes were also on hold and the country had a huge debt burden.

He said the country had no public transport worth talking about and nearly 80 per cent of the economy was state-owned.

Mr Mwaanga said the MMD embarked on an ambitious privatisation programme, which led to recognition of the private sector as the engine for economic growth, cancellation of the debt and growth in all sectors including politics, democracy and constitutionalism.

He said the MMD had offered Zambia the way forward in all fields, including agriculture, private sector development, investor confidence, privatisation, fiscal policy, monetary policy, public debt, tourism and wildlife, roads, energy, science and democracy.

Mr Mwaanga urged MMD supporters not to be discouraged by the party's enemies and remain vigilant, with only genuine sympathisers of the party spearheading the campaign.