VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has urged the ruling MMD to remain focused and defend President Banda from detractors of development so that he is re-elected in next year’s presidential elections. And MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya has said that the ruling party will not allow anyone to ascend to leadership positions through violent means.
Speaking on arrival from South Africa at Lusaka International Airport yesterday, Mr Kunda said he will continue to “hammer” the opposition because they were bent on discussing trivialities and peddling lies.
Mr Kunda said while Government officials are occupied with fostering development and addressing issues affecting the people, the opposition are preoccupied with violence and destabilising the country.
He urged MMD members to remain focused and promote ideals of the party.
“We should remain focused and ensure that our President is re-elected in 2011. With my party I shall continue to hammer them, because our opponents do not talk about development and the economy anymore. They are dedicated to creating instability and tension in the country,” Mr Kunda said.
He said the people of South Africa where he had been for three weeks, were patriotically united in their preparation for the 2010 World Cup and promotion of tourism.
Mr Kunda said there is unity among the people of South Africa on how their hosting of the 2010 World Cup could benefit their economy.
He said these are the issues Zambians should be discussing because the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC) could partake in the spiral benefits of the 2010 World Cup.
“We should not spend time on idle talk. Of course we in Government are talking about development everyday. Unfortunately, the opposition here is not offering any constructive alternative,” the Vice-President said.
And Mr Kunda said he is saddened that homosexuals in Zambia have joined the campaign to make Zambia a secular state.
He said he strongly believes that Zambia should remain a Christian nation.
“From what I read in the daily news in the (Zambia) Daily Mail, I am concerned that some homosexuals have joined the crusade of fighting the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation. They want a secular state,” Mr Kunda said.
He said rumour mongering, sadism, satanism and hatred behaviour will take centre stage if Zambia loses its Christian values.
And Ms Siliya said in Ndola during the launch of the MMD Ndola district card renewal exercise that no one should be allowed to get into leadership positions through violent means.
She also received 15 Patriotic Front (PF) members who include acting Masaiti district PF chairperson Bill Mulonda, who have defected to the ruling MMD.
“The violence in Mufumbwe is disturbing, that is why we have resolved to petition the election. We believe that nobody should get into leadership positions through violent means,” Ms Siliya said.
She said if the voters decide that they don’t want the MMD, regime change should be effected using peaceful means so that the nation can remain peaceful.
Ms Siliya said the MMD expects a landslide victory in next year’s tripartite elections.
“The landslide victory will only come through extra commitment by us leaders in the MMD. Let us remain committed and ensure that the branches are strong because that is where the voters are, if there are any campaign materials, the wards should have them first,” Ms Siliya said.
He said the MMD leadership has the right vision for the country and that it is important for party members to continue recruiting new members.
She commended first President Kenneth Kaunda for his sentiments that the MMD is the right political party to be in Government.
Ms Siliya was also concerned that MMD members are not effectively defending Government programmes and policies from attacks by opposition leaders who claim that the MMD is not doing anything to address the various problems that the nation is facing.
Ms Siliya said Government provides grants and Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to opposition-dominated councils but that the councils have failed to maintain township roads.
She charged that Mr Sata has poor leadership qualities.
Ms Siliya said the PF leader has alienated his members of Parliament from Luapula because he is intolerant of divergent views.
And Mr Mulonda said Mr Sata cannot be republican President.
Meanwhile, CHIMWEMWE MWALE reports that Chief Chisunka of the Ushi people in Luapula Province has dismissed media reports and assertions that the scheduled visit by former President, Dr Frederick Chiluba to the province, is a campaign for President Banda.
Chief Chisunka, who is also provincial chairperson for the Luapula traditional leaders, said in an interview yesterday that the meeting which will also be attended by members of Parliament is meant to discuss developmental programmes in the province.
“The former president is not coming for political meetings. He has been invited by the area MPs and all we want to discuss is development for our subjects. He is not coming to campaign for President Rupiah Banda,” he said.
He wondered how the former head of state could team up with traditional leaders and some opposition MPs to campaign for President Banda who has not been elected at the party convention as a presidential candidate for the 2011 elections.
Chief Chisunka said traditional leaders in the province have also resolved not to allow cadres from any political party at the meeting, saying the chiefs are non-partisan.
“Let them wait for the outcome of the meeting. We can also have a meeting with them because we embrace everybody because all we want is development through interaction with various stakeholders,” Chief Chisunka said.
[Sunday Mail]