Banda in peaceful election call
Zambia's ex-president Rupiah Banda (centre) leaving the Lusaka magistrate court on March 26, 2013, after pleading not guilty to a charge of abuse of power linked to an oil contract signed while he was in office. Banda has urged presidential contenders to be magnanimous enough to concede defeat in the January 20, 2015 election. PHOTO | JOSEPH MWENDA |
What you need to know:
- The contest has eleven political parties seeking to replace the late 77-year-old Sata who only ruled for three years.
- Mr Banda, 77, was seeking a rebound, but was blocked by the Supreme Court for illegally ousting leader of his former ruling party Movement for Multi-party Democracy Nevers Mumba.
- Meanwhile, interim Zambia leader Guy Scott, who two days ago reconciled with his faction inside the party, said the party was determined to ensure the “make up” was “real”.
LUSAKA
Former Zambia President Rupiah Banda has urged presidential contenders to be magnanimous enough to concede defeat in the January 20, 2015 election.
The election, caused by President Michael Sata’s death on October 28, was now a clear race between the governing party’s Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Edgar Lungu and opposition United Party for National Development’s (UPND) Hakainde Hichilema.
The contest has eleven political parties seeking to replace the late 77-year-old Sata who only ruled for three years.
COUNTRY'S INTEREST FIRST
Mr Banda, 77, was seeking a rebound, but was blocked by the Supreme Court for illegally ousting leader of his former ruling party Movement for Multi-party Democracy Nevers Mumba.
The former televangelist was now the official contender on the party ticket. In a statement, Mr Banda, who is Zambia’s fourth President, called on the contenders “to remember that Zambia is bigger than all of them and that the nation’s interests override any personal ambitions they may harbour”.
“For the sake of the country, all the candidates should pledge to be magnanimous enough to concede when defeated in the January 20 election,” read a statement issued by his office.
“President Banda has appealed to all his supporters to respect the Supreme Court regardless of the view they may have on interpreting the constitution of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy.
MAINTAIN ORDER
He has urged the MMD to remain united in order to participate effectively in the elections with its chosen partners,” said the statement.
Mr Banda did not speak about his benefits, which government said was withdrawing due to his return to active politics.
Meanwhile, interim Zambia leader Guy Scott, who two days ago reconciled with his faction inside the party, said the party was determined to ensure the “make up” was “real”.
This followed media reports that the reconciliation was “cosmetic” and he did it after being blackmailed by army chiefs that “if he did not the country will experience unprecedented violence”.
