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Opposition Ponder Mergers For 2016 Elections
SEVERAL opposition political parties say they will seek mergers or support candidates of other parties in next year’s presidential election to ensure the winner gets a 50-percent-plus-one-vote threshold required to get into State House.
Some, however, say they will still give it a shot although they know that the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Edgar Lungu is a clear favourite.
People’s Party (PP) president Mike Mulongoti said in an interview that political parties need to work together ahead of next year’s elections.
He said his party will choose a preferred presidential candidate and political party it will support in the 2016 polls.
Forum for Democratic Alternatives President Ludwig Sondashi said he will not contest the election but choose one formidable and relevant party to support.
“It is not good for all political parties to contest the 2016 elections, especially after the adoption of the 50-percent-plus-one-vote clause,” Dr Sondashi said.
Christian Democratic Party president Dan Pule said the possibility of political parties merging ahead of next year’s elections cannot be ruled out because of the passing of the 50-percent-plus-one-vote threshold.
“The 50-percent-plus-one-vote has brought a challenge to all of us as politicians. We can’t rule out the possibility of merging or supporting one preferred candidate ahead of the polls,” he said.
Dr Pule said his party will have to make a decision on whether to support a preferred candidate or contest the general elections.
He also supports the running mate clause and dual citizenship clause, which he described as progressive.
Dr Pule said the running mate clause has worked well in countries like Nigeria and Malawi.
Zambians for Empowerment and Development president Fred Mtesa said it is possible for a well organised political party to have its candidate win the election under the new law.
Dr Mtesa said it was, however, too early for his party to state its position on whether it would support a particular candidate or contest elections.
National Revolution Party president Cosmo Mumba said he would contest next year’s presidential election.
Dr Mumba said he knew President Lungu would win the election but he (Mumba) will still contest.
Green Party president Peter Sinkamba said he would contest the election.
UNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda and Alliance for Development and Democracy president Charles Milupi said they would state their positions later.
Posted by
mj banda
December 21, 2015 at 3:44 am
Just support the winning teams
peters
December 21, 2015 at 5:38 am
political parties have you ever seen HH suporting other parties? Its only him to be suported. Tongas did not suport sakwiba, Mwanawasa, RB, Milupi, Tilenji, Sata and lungu. Why should you always suport what can not suport you? lets vote like them. Kalomo central HH 2000 lungu 11. petauke central HH 6 lungu 32000
B.J
December 21, 2015 at 11:03 am
PETER,I SUPPORT ON MOST OF YOUR COMMENTS.
HH ONLY WANTS TO BE SUPPORTED AND NOT TO SUPPORT OTHERS.
THEY WERE CLAIMING TO BE MORE POPULAR IN 2011 AND WANTED HH TO LEAD THE PACT BUT THANK GOD THAT THEY WERE DEALING WITH SEASONED POLITICIANS.
VOTING PATTERN WILL KILL UPND NEXT YEAR AND THEY SHOULD THINK ALL IS WELL.
EVERY BODY TALKS OF THE SAME THING OF THE WAY THEY VOTED IN JANUARY.
BUT LEARN TO LOVE BECAUSE THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE FROM TONGA LAND AND IT IS YOU WHO CAN HELP THEM NOT TO BE TOO TRIBAL AS YOU PERCEIVE THEM.
kakolwe
December 21, 2015 at 6:16 am
The funny thing, though, is getting mergers with people like Danny Pule, Cosmo Mumba, Mutesa, Eric Chanda and the like. Its like merging with one person!!
Just talk about Nawakwi and Nevers! Abashala ma one-man party.
Judge Joe Bidden
December 21, 2015 at 7:05 am
Interesting
Uncle b
December 21, 2015 at 7:24 am
The good thing is that we are likely to remain with three strong political parties that’s the might upnd, fdd and the finished pf.
Onyx power @vampiros
December 21, 2015 at 7:28 am
The in failure indeed. His fifth lose awaits him next year
Onyx power @vampiros
December 21, 2015 at 7:28 am
The mighty in ….
muzo
December 21, 2015 at 7:47 am
five lungu!pf for ever!if u can’t fight them join them all the way it’s lungu!lawer tewakwangala ko!
the mighty egg-head
December 21, 2015 at 8:04 am
Just got back from kasama. I wish gbm knew what pipo think of him there. They view him as a fool. Ati nichi bank chesu, umwakusungila amafi ne fisushi.
peters
December 21, 2015 at 8:14 am
lets vote like Tongas katombola cons HH 12000 Lungu 120. Ndola Central const. HH 23 lungu 45000. If Tongas lets do it next year.
New Educated Zambia©❤√
December 21, 2015 at 8:40 am
Kikikikiki 😂 who writes these articles. Is it fatherless frank bwalya because he is good at giving pf false hope. Have these idiots forgotten that lungu only won by single digit percent kikikikiki. Now it is even worse because he has failed to achieve anything this year. All I can say is good luck to pf. Rb analila. Lungu aza kagwa
sunta sunkutu
December 21, 2015 at 8:48 am
Word has it that there is a mating dance going on between nevers mumba and the eternal alliance prostitute of zambian politics, hichilema. Three barriers blocking them is the issue of mmd’s support of the constitutional bill and how they are suppose to work togather given the difference in positions. Apparently upnd are determined to use this as a campaign issue while mmd are convinced they did good for zambia. The second issue; ba nevers wants to be running mate which will eventually lead to vice presidency of the nation. This leaves hakainde in a difficult position because how does he deal with expectant canicius banda and gbm? chiza kana chi gbm.
The third issue is that, though hh is the undisputed chanpion of alliances, this time around he is so confident of winning the elections that he feels he doesnt need anyone else. So he is negociating from a very high position that nevers thinks his pomposity levels are too high. Hh is also questioning what nevers is bringing to the table seeing that the rb camp has dessipated the mmd.
spear ngozi
December 21, 2015 at 8:55 am
There Is No Triblism In Southern.The Trible Issue Is Just Used As A Blackmail So That Tongas Fails To Vote For HH For Fear Of Being Called Tribalist.
New Educated Zambia©❤√
December 21, 2015 at 8:56 am
Indeed
spear ngozi
December 21, 2015 at 9:20 am
In Politics,just Like Preaching Of Gospel In Christianity,you Need To Consider The Culture Of The Place.The Message That Was Well Received In One Area Cannot Be Received Everywhere.For Example During Camgains In Last Elections,HH Promised Pipo Of C/belt Heifer Loans,then Kambwili Reminded Him That C/belt Was Not A Farming Community But A Mining One.In The Same Way The Pf Thinks That Because Of Improved Road Infrastructure,Tongas Will Vote For Them Not Knowing That What Matters Most To Tongas Are Deep Tanks And Farming In Puts.Issues Of Triblism Are Myth,pf Has Just Failed To Preach The Right Message.Chiluba Was Not Tonga In 1991 When Almost Entire Province Voted Him.
Hello Haters
December 21, 2015 at 10:10 am
@Spears Ngozi that for that, i guess we still have men in this country,imagine the same guys who castigated HH on the issue of agricultural loans today are in the forefront preaching diversification in agricultural sector on the copperbelt, stupid double silver tongued devils.
Jo Breaker
December 21, 2015 at 11:20 am
spear ngozi and edu,i just want to say thank u for your contributions,we honestly wouldnt know what to do without guys like you,we have come to appreciate your opposing thoughts because it gives us an idea of what upnd has to offer and where pf needs to polish up,mr ngozi sir contrary to your belief i too think tongas vote on tribal lines,im yet to see otherwise and trust me i will be shocked if that day come,mr edu sir we thank you for wishing pf good luck,its really kind of you,to all the pf supporterz i say to u next year HARDER NABENA!!!!
Jo Breaker
December 21, 2015 at 11:53 am
freemansons? nah that wouldnt b a right thing to do,i think thats why he was so so against zambians praying and fasting and breaking any evil alters controling zambia..guys 2016 HARDER NABENA,bakeshiba shani
sunta sunkutu
December 21, 2015 at 12:35 pm
spear ngozi, your assessment of 1991 elections and tonga voting is a very flawed one. only its so bad that only nez can risk agreeing with it. Firstly, 1991 was a revolution. it didn’t matter which province you came from relative to where chiluba came from, the whole nation was resolved to remove Kaunda.
Question for u: who was the Tonga candidate in 1991? what about 1996? the truth is Tongas had no options. The ugliness started in 2001 when a Tonga option emerged. Some of us didn’t even know Marcha Chilemena was Tonga until we saw his behavior when he thought Mazoka had won. It was appalling. I remember my Bemba friends who worked so hard to campaign for mazoka with me were disturbed listening to our Tonga colleagues turning on them saying “yes we have allowed these Bemba Monkeys to rule us for so long, now its time for a Tonga, bazachiona”. That was the beginning of problems for UPND and the nation suddenly gave birth to regionalism. everyone witnessed their behavior when they were at the thresh-hold of victory. They finally had their own son as a candidate, so u cant use 1991 as an example of how tongas voted for a non-tonga, ulabeja!! they had no option. your example is redundant.
Nikambeko
December 22, 2015 at 8:48 am
Well said. This is a good account of what caused problems for UPND. The behaviour of their supporters is appalling when they feel like they are winning. A similar thing happened in January 2015. Threats like ‘muzachiona’ were their even at places of work when it looked like HH was winning. Given a Tonga option on the list of people vying for presidency, most Tongas will even turn a blind eye to reality and voluntarily go for their own. Shame!!! Zambia is one, and everyone should consider real issues when making a choice of a leader. Spear Ngozi ulabeja.
Manix
December 21, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Tell them!! under 5 politician they want to justify there stupid partern of voting.
Jo Breaker
December 21, 2015 at 1:12 pm
awe kwena ba sunta mwalanda…funny thing is they the tongas know themselvs to be tribal,its only now after realising that they cannot win the seat minus other tribes,that they seem to be involving childish people like gbm,only now have the tongas gone silent on the issue of tribes in the hopes that they can woo some other people.but a zebra remains a zebra even if u paint it white,its a relief that 50+1 might be used in next years election,my interest isnt in pfs win its the margin at which it will win that has my curiosity at heart..
kanchine
December 21, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Upnd chaps will not listen just let them keep on dreaming, ifwe ni Lungu baane cause bembas are not tribal they gave it to a nsenga man from east with one heart so let upnd give it to a namwanga, lozi, kaonde, nyika or any other tribe apart from Tongas.
Tola Pound
December 21, 2015 at 4:59 pm
@Sunta Sunkutu,you are 100% right,sometimes I wonder why do we forgate so easly? we all know how HH was appointed to replace Andy( mhsrip )to lead UPND, for those who may not remember, let them ask Chisanga and Saki why they left the party after Andy’s death?
Nikambeko
December 22, 2015 at 8:55 am
I can remind them. HH became president of UPND on the premise that “UPND can only be led by a Tonga”. Saki and Chisanga left the party when they realised that the qualification for UPND presidency was eternally not attainable for them.
observer
December 21, 2015 at 8:22 pm
The wise thing to do for these opposition leaders is to disband and join the two most likely to win the elections.and in doing so they must be patriotic enough to just support no strings attached.
montana
December 21, 2015 at 8:36 pm
harder nabena
Batata
December 21, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Let us put tribes aside and vote upnd for a progressive Zambia.
Let the drunken master rest.
Nikambeko
December 22, 2015 at 8:59 am
The so-called drunken master seems to be far much better and more matured than HH. Why should I take the risk Batata?
JOE
December 21, 2015 at 10:24 pm
Ba opposition bamu Zambia, kuwayawayafye.
Kapps
December 22, 2015 at 8:52 am
@ Batata you are a moron how do you call bakateka ifyo iwe! You freemanson will never rule this country because he is a fool.