Congratulatory messages pour in as Zambia’s Sata takes over office

Congratulatory messages poured in for Zambia’s President Michael Sata as China cautiously endorsed the opposition leader’s election.

President Sata, 74, was declared Zambia’s fifth President on Friday after a Tuesday election where he defeated incumbent Rupiah Banda.

President Sata garnered about 43 per cent of the total votes cast against Mr Banda’s 36.1 per cent.

State-run newspapers, Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia, known for their fierce attacks on Mr Sata over the last 10 years when he was opposition leader on Friday and Saturday carried banner headlines, even on sports pages, praising him.

The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) dedicated its main news on Friday praising President Sata.

Mr Sata had always quarrelled and stormed ZNBC, Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia newsrooms protesting over what he described as bias and negative coverage against him and his party.

During the campaign period, ZNBC and the two newspapers — that were pro-Banda at the time — broadcast and published stories that Sata was ill and had collapsed, claims the president denied.

A state-media journalist, who sought anonymity, said: “We work with the government of the day.”

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon congratulated President Sata and praised Zambians for showing Africa and the world that change could be brought about peacefully when democracy is allowed to flourish.

Peaceful and orderly

Mr Ban congratulated Zambians for holding elections in an environment that was overall peaceful and orderly, state-run news agency — ZANIS — reported.

Mr Banda’s chief campaigner and former vice president Enoch Kavindela also congratulated President Sata, urging him to address youth unemployment and high poverty levels.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s Rupiah Banda on Friday solemnly conceded defeat to populist opposition leader Michael Sata and congratulated him for the “historic victory”, describing him as “our president”.

Addressing the nation at State House in Lusaka, Mr Banda — looking distraught and wiping away tears with a handkerchief — said Zambians had spoken and “we must all listen”.

“Speaking for myself and my party, we will accept the results. We are a democratic party and we know no other way,” said 74-year-old Banda.

He said it was time for him to step aside.

“In my years of retirement, I hope to watch Zambia grow. I genuinely want Zambia to flourish. We should all want Zambia to flourish. So, I congratulate Michael Sata on his historic victory,” Mr Banda said.

“I have no ill feelings in my heart; there is no malice in my words. I wish him well in his years as president. I pray that his policies will bear fruit.

“Now it is time for me to step aside and for a new leader to take over,” said Mr Banda, adding: “My time is done. It is time for me to say good bye.”

He urged President Sata and his Patriotic Front (PF) party to treat those they had defeated with respect and humility.

“This is not the time for violence and retribution. This is the time to unite and build tomorrow’s Zambia together. Only by working together can we achieve a more prosperous Zambia,” he said.

Mr Banda said his Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) party had done “a good job on behalf of all Zambians” during its two decades in power.

He urged civil servants and other government officials to serve President Sata diligently.

At least 5.2 million Zambians had registered to vote, but only about 2.8 million turned up at the ballot on Tuesday.