20 SEPT POLLS: COBRA DIPS INTO PANIC

BY SUFZ STUFF

As President Rupiah Banda announced the date of the 2011 tripartite elections on Thursday 28^th July, 2011, Patriotic Front (PF) was gripped with panic following delays to finalise the selection of the parliamentary and local government candidates.

Insiders at the PF Secretariat said the PF Leader had failed to find candidates in vast areas of Western, North-Western, Eastern and Central Provinces which forced him to send his vice Guy Scott to embark on the tour of these areas.

President Banda said that the 2011 presidential and general elections will take place on September 20, 2011.  He also announced the dissolution of the cabinet and the national assembly.

The PF was still holding interviews for candidates as late as Sunday 24^th July, 2011 when Sata’s preferred candidate for Munali Constituency, Professor Nkandu Luo, the first cousin of incumbent Mumbi Phiri, was being interviewed.

The decision by Mr. Sata to conduct special interviews for Luo comes in the wake of Mumbi Phiri falling out of favour with Mr. Sata.

Prof.  Luo was interviewed at the PF secretariat in Villa Elizabetha and constituency, district and provincial leaders had to be ferried to the secretariat at the instigation of Mr. Sata who is determined to field the former minister of health despite wide rejections from the constituency and ward officials.

And as objections grew against Luo in the PF some ward officials including Munali Constituency PF youth Chairman Felix Chewe were grilled by the provincial executive committee on allegations of accepting interviews from the public media.

Mr. Sata directed that investigations be conducted to establish who leaked information to the Times of Zambia about the rejection of Prof. Luo.

Addressing the nation live on both Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) radio and television, President Banda said he remains the head of state and commander –in-chief of the armed forces of the Republic of Zambia.

“I have today 28^th July, 2011 signed the electoral (general) elections (date of poll) declaration order – statutory instrument no. 76 of 2011.

Further, I have also signed the local government elections (date and times of poll) order – statutory instrument no. 77 of 2011.  This means the local government elections will be held together with the parliamentary elections.

I can now announce to the nation that the elections will be held on Tuesday 20^th September, 2011,” president Banda said.

He noted that Zambia has a proud history of democracy which must be built and that during the campaigns, all political parties and candidates for the positions of councillor, Member of Parliament and president must conduct themselves with integrity, honour and fairness.

President Banda appealed to Zambians to avoid lies, smears, political thuggery and negative campaigning.

“The revised electoral code of conduct of 2011 sets out quite clearly the rules and regulations covering the coming election period.  So I urge all candidates and all bodies covered by the code to adhere to it,”” President Banda said.

Mr. Banda said he did not want the 2011 tripartite elections to be marred by any irregularities and reminded all Zambians that election observers would be invited and that the eyes of the world will be upon them.

“I know that the parliamentary session of 2006 to 2011 has been good for Zambia.  A lot has been good for Zambia.  A lot has been achieved,” President Banda said.

The President said announcing the date of the elections was part of his constitutional privileges despite the speculation and anxiety.

One of the constitutional privileges of the office of president is that the final decision on announcing the date of presidential and general elections is my responsibility.  I have consulted with officials from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and other relevant bodies to ascertain the most suitable date for the elections,” Mr. Banda said.

The President said most of the logistics for the holding of elections were now in place and had been informed by the ECZ that the final voters’ register would be ready by the end of this month.

He said no matter what happens during the coming months, he was privileged to serve as President and feels honoured but remains ready to continue serving the nation as Head of State if re-elected.

“Even though I shall be seeking re-election, may I also take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to all candidates seeking elected office at presidential and indeed other levels,” President Banda said.