Banda Assures of Transparent Polls

2 June 2011

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has assured Zambians that the country will hold transparent and credible elections and expects to win praise from the international community and the Zambian people.

And new Ukrainian Ambassador to Zambia Valery Hrebenuik has predicted victory for President Banda in this year’s elections because of the economic development and growing confidence in him by the Zambian people.

Speaking when he received credentials from five diplomats accredited to Zambia in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Banda said the country would hold transparent and credible elections.

When he received the letter of credence from newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yhou Yuxiao, Mr Banda said the elections would be conducted under a peaceful environment because Zambians were peace-loving and friendly people.

“As we head for elections this year, I wish to assure you that they will be conducted in a free, fair and peaceful environment characteristic of how our country has conducted all its previous general elections,” he said.

The president said Zambia and China had maintained strong partnerships that should be nurtured for the benefit of future generations.

And presenting his letters of credence and those of recall for his predecessor, Ukranian Ambassador, Mr Hrebenuik said the people of Zambia had shown confidence in Mr Banda as a result of the development projects going on in the country and it was clear that he would win the elections.

Others who presented their letters were Goran Vujicic from Serbia, Mathew Keith Neuhaus from Australia and Joao Da Camara from Portugal.

The president told Mr Vujicic that Zambia and Serbia cooperated in the areas of defence and security and regretted that such collaboration had become inactive.

Mr Banda also said Zambia’s relations with Serbia should improve further to promote trade and the exchange of other economic benefits.

On Portugal, President Banda said the ministries of Foreign Affairs from the two countries were in the process of concluding a memorandum of understanding on regular political consultations to foster better understanding.

He said he was keen to see that Portuguese language was taught in Zambia because two of Zambia’s neighbouring countries, Mozambique and Angola were Portuguese-speaking countries.

Meanwhile, President Banda said he would vote at Nyakutwa School in Chipata in this year’s presidential and general elections.

The president said during a media briefing that he would not discriminate against regions where the MMD performed poorly in the previous presidential elections because regardless of politics,Zambians were brothers and sisters and should remain united.

Mr Banda said for all his achievements, he wanted the people of Zambia to remember him for promoting unity and ensuring more development.

He condemned former Zambian ambassador to Botswana Milton Phiri for telling lies that his parents were foreigners.

President Banda said Mr Phiri was a big liar because he had not even written any letter to the chief justice.

He said even if he hailed from another country, he would still have qualified to stand as president and advised Mr Phiri to manage his bankrupt status well after squandering his opportunities when he served in various influential Government portfolios.

AllAfrica – All the Time