Zambian President on His Attitude Toward Successor

Zambian President Frederick Chiluba said Saturday he did not bow to pressure that was mounting in the country on who would succeed him.

"When dealing with such issues, there is need to observe all important rules of democracy," he said.

Speaking at a national rally of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) in the northern mining city of Kitwe, Chiluba said that he delayed announcing his successor Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, because if he had acted under duress, the results of his decision would have had no impact.

Chiluba officially introduced the presidential candidate of the MMD for the presidential elections scheduled to be held late this year and told the gathering that when Mwanawasa left the ruling party as vice president, he had never insulted him and had not committed any crime in the party.

He pointed out that whenever the ruling party wanted to move forward, it critically scrutinized its members and their role in the party and that Mwanawasa had played an important role in the party.

The MMD was today the strongest party in the country hence it should not fail this year's elections, Chiluba said.

He called on the party to rally behind Mwanawasa and fight the battle with him, emphasizing that he (Mwanawasa ) needed their support.

Chiluba described Mwanawasa, a prominent lawyer and state counsel as a leader who could be trusted and relied upon, adding that he was democratically chosen by the MMD national executive committee.

He advised those who were bent on hurling insults at the government once they left the party to desist from their actions because they would have nowhere to run to.

"He will not run this election alone, if the party does not fight for him. The party must wake up and rally behind him," Chiluba said.

Mwanawasa, a 53-year-old veteran politician, was selected as MMD's presidential candidate last month.

He emerged victorious from among six contending leading officials including incumbent Vice President Enoch Kavindele after two rounds of secret voting by members of MMD's policy-making national executive committee.

Vice President Pledges to Back Ruling Party's Presidential Candidate

Zambian Vice President Enoch Kavindele Saturday pledged to support the ruling party's presidential candidate Levy Mwanawasa, a former vice president.

Mwanawasa was democratically elected, and the election was fair and in line with the rule of law, Kavindele said at a national rally of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) held in the northern mining city of Kitwe.

Since there was no way that all members of the MMD national executive committee (NEC) could be elected as presidents, a choice had to be made and Mwanawasa was the best, the vice president said.

Kavindele revealed that all NEC members were consulted during and after the elections hence the claim by Michael Sata that Mwanawasa was imposed on the MMD was false.

Sata, who resigned from MMD national secretary last week, was among six aspiring presidential candidates including Kavindele.

After Mwanawasa was elected MMD presidential candidate, Sata wrote to President Frederick Chiluba, charging the party vote was rigged.

Zambia is scheduled to hold its general elections in December this year.






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