Zambians Celebrate Sata’s Election Victory, assemble for inauguration

By Dr. Kaela Mulenga and Malama Katulwende

WILD celebrations of great jubilation have characterized the election of opposition leader, Michael Chilufya Sata as Zambia’s 5th republican president.

Mr. Sata has won Zambia’s presidential election after two days of vote counting following a highly contested race with incumbent Rupiah Banda.

Chief Justice Ernest Sakala declared Sata the winner at around 01.30 hours today after the opposition leader polled 43% of the vote with just seven constituencies left to be counted.

Prior to the final announcement of the winner this morning (23rd September 2011), the election had been marred by riots in several parts of Zambia. Notable was the capital, Lusaka, the mining towns of Solwezi, Kitwe and Ndola. The border town of Nakonde was also affected.

The irate protestors – who were mostly youths who vowed to die rather than be ruled under Mr. Rupiah Banda’s government – were angered by a ban on the media announcing results not verified by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

According to the ECZ, however, the media black-out had been prompted by the hacking of its website by some people who posted false information to record a landslide win for Mr. Sata.

Michael Sata’s victory has been celebrated everywhere in Zambia by car honking, singing, dancing and partying. Huge crowds have assembled at the High Court grounds in anticipation of Sata’s inauguration.

Until this morning, Zambia had been ruled by the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) for 20 years. Mr. Rupiah Banda, who was Zambia’s fourth president, presided over a government which was reputed for corruption, intolerance, election rigging and abuse of public resources.

Sata’s election victory had been spurred by social, political and economic discontent of the majority of Zambians whose fortunes have not benefitted from the boom in metal prices that the country had been enjoying for some time.

Sata, 74, exploited the urban poverty and promised Zambians “lower taxes, more money in your pockets”. Yet perhaps the most revolutionary slogan of the Patriotic Front was the “Don’t Kubeba” which meant, literary, “don’t tell them”. The slogan was intended to urge Zambians to accept all manner of bribes from Banda’s MMD but keep the secret of their vote in their heart.

Mr. Sata, who lost the last election in 2008 by just 35,000 votes has been the most consistent critic of the MMD government and battled them over high taxation, unemployment, corruption, poverty and inefficiency. He is perhaps the most charismatic politician Zambia has ever had.

President Michael Sata started politics as municipal councilor and served as governor of Lusaka under Zambia’s first President, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. When he read the mood of change Sata resigned from Kaunda’s United National Independence Party in 1991 and joined Dr. Frederick Chiluba’s newly-formed MMD party.

Sata was MMD minister of local government, labor, and health, and later minister without portfolio. He created a reputation for being “a man of action”. In 2000, however, Sata fell out of favor with the late president Dr. Frederick Chiluba and formed the Patriotic Front in 2001.

That year the PF leader lost the election to late president Dr. Levy Mwanawasa. Mr. Sata again lost in 2006 and 2008, respectively, but on every occasion increasing the vote count and number of Members of Parliament (MPs) from one to forty seven. The PF has now won over seventy seven MPs out of a hundred and fifty.

During the reign of MMD’s Rupiah Banda, Michael Sata suffered daily insults, defamation and harassment from the state media and Zambia Police Service. Mr. Banda unleashed a wave of propaganda using public media such as the Times of Zambia, Daily Mail and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).

He was called an homosexual, evil, a mad man, and an anarchist who was not fit to run the affairs of the country. These public institutions never said anything positive about Sata. Chanda Chimba’s Stand UP for Zambia, which was secretly funded by the Banda’s MMD, was a tool which peddled lies against Michael Sata.

Despite the MMD’s abuse of state resources during its campaign and noted serious media bias on the part of the state broadcaster, ZNBC, Daily Mail and Times of Zambia, Sata’s promises of more jobs, better education, compelling mining companies to pay taxes, decentralization and dealing with corruption and the Barotseland Agreement has endeared him to the electorate.

Zambians have demonstrated their faith in Sata. They have cast their votes, slept at polling stations and fought running battles with the police or anyone who they suspected of trying to rig the elections.

Sata’s election is truly a popular uprising that equals the 1990 anti-UNIP protests and vote which ended Dr. Kaunda’s 27 year old reign. This election has cut across ethnicity, gender, religion and race.

Zambia election: Sata wins presidential race

After his victory was announced, Sata's supporters celebrated on the streets of Lusaka

Zambians celebrate Sata and PF Victory

Opposition leader Michael Sata has won Zambia's presidential election after two days of vote counting following a tight race with incumbent Rupiah Banda.

Mr Sata was declared winner by Chief Justice Ernest Sakala after polling 43% of the vote with just seven constituencies left to be counted.

The election had been marred by riots in Zambia's northern mining region.

The anger had been prompted by a ban on the media announcing results not verified by the electoral commission.

The electoral commission said it had taken the step after its website was hacked to falsely record a landslide for 74-year-old Mr Sata.

Mr Banda's Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has ruled Zambia for 20 years and this was the fourth time Patriotic Front (PF) leader Mr Sata had run for the presidency.

He lost the last election, in 2008, by just 35,000 votes which sparked rioting by some opposition supporters in the party's urban strongholds.

'King Cobra'

However, they were in jubilant mood after the victory announcement early on Friday morning. The BBC's Louise Redvers, in the capital Lusaka, said parties were expected to continue into the night.

Michael Sata - Profile

· Started in politics as municipal councillor and served as governor of Lusaka under Zambia's first President, Kenneth Kaunda

· Resigned from Kaunda's United National Independence Party in 1991 and joined Frederick Chiluba's newly-formed MMD

· Served as MMD minister of local government, labour, and health. Was later minister without portfolio, the third-highest post in government

· Formed Patriotic Front in 2001, losing an election that year and in 2006 and 2008

Mr Sata, who reportedly used to sweep floors at London's Victoria Station, has had a lengthy career in politics. He served as an MMD minister for local government, labour and social security, and health before quitting in 2001.

Known as "King Cobra" for his venomous tongue, foreign mining firms - often from China - have frequently been the target of his criticism about labour conditions.

While the party has disputed media reports it is anti-Chinese, it is likely to shake up the way contracts are awarded, our correspondent said.

There were suggestions Chinese firms were bankrolling Mr Banda's re-election bid in the run-up to the poll, with PF candidates expressing surprise at the amount of funds available to the MMD.

Meanwhile, international election observers criticised the MMD for abusing state resources during its campaign and noted serious media bias on the part of the state broadcaster.

However, the PF's promises of more jobs and better education appear to have won over the electorate.

Time to Deal with the Chinese

Chinese investors brought both investment and nonsense to Zambia. Much as their investments would have made sense, they felt like they owned Zambia to extent that the relationship between Zambia and China amounted to servitude. The Chinese have employed Zambians whom they have literary been ridding on their backs, for little pay and extremely poor conditions of service. The Chinese investors totally disregarded Zambian Labour laws with impunity. But, as the adage goes, every dog has its day and that day came today after The Patriotic Front dealt MMD a deadening blow at the September 20, 2011 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections that were fiercely contested.

It's now time to address all the wrongs that Rupiah Banda has caused the people and the nation by throwing this country in the hands of Chinese vultures. Such nonsense as allowing Chinese labourers to take jobs that Zambians should be doing including such enterprises as chicken selling buy Chinese people that should ideally be left in the hands of Zambians. It will be important for the new PF Government to define which businesses foreigners can engage in. All the land dubiously and corruptly given to the Chinese must be given back to the State until such a time as it is re-allocated to indigenous Zambians. There should be no single Chinese person engaging in jobs that can be done by Zambians. The mines involving corrupt RB and the Chinese urgently need to be straightened out introducing policies that will benefit Zambians.

RPT-'King Cobra' Sata wins Zambia presidential race

RPT-'King Cobra' Sata wins Zambia presidential race

Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:05pm GMT

* Sata received 43 percent of vote

* Sata victory may cause concern among investors

* Riot police, youths square off in Copper Belt

By Chris Mfula

LUSAKA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata was declared the winner of Zambia's presidential election on Friday, ousting incumbent Rupiah Banda as the leader of Africa's biggest copper producer in polls marred by public violence.

Sata, 74 and nicknamed "King Cobra" because of his venomous tongue, toned down his rhetoric against foreign mining firms, especially from China, in the closing stages of the six-week campaign but his victory could still cloud the investment outlook.

Chief Justice Ernest Sakala declared Sata the winner after he received 1,150,045 votes compared to Banda's 961,796 with 95.3 percent of constituencies counted. Sata received 43 percent of the vote.

Rupiah Banda, 74 and leader of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) party that has run Zambia since one-party rule ended in 1991, is expected to make a statement early Friday about the vote.

Earlier youths fought running battles with riot police in the towns of Ndola and Kitwe, 250 km (150 miles) north of Lusaka, setting fire to vehicles and markets in the normally peaceful southern African country's mining heartland.

Hackers who hit the Election Commission's website overnight, posting false results showing Sata on course for a landslide, added to the confusion and tension of what was already a neck-and-neck run-off between two old rivals. (Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Marius Bosch)

Change is Coming

We all know that when the winds of change begin and continue to blow hard, it is inevitable Change will come. Probably unoblivious of this dictum, the MMD lead by RB and his cohorts, have been caught napping. They tried all means of rigging in their arsenal but continue to show signs of failing. One thing is true, Zambians are more aware of their right and they know what they want. The delay to release the genuine results by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and MMD injunction barring the media from reporting elections results as they receive them is still not favouring the ruling party. ECZ just released have 994,090 votes for PF and 800,008 for MMD. If the trend continue with unwaivering vigilance by the opposition parties observers, the MMD should start packing their bags and prepare for prison terms for the mess and theft of public funds. For RB to win at this stage, he must resounding get all the remaining votes from the 34 Constituencies. It is a tall order and practically impossible feat of a crook.

No matter how much the MMD try to rig the results this time around, there is no chance of getting a rigged win. Change must come and it is coming.

Why is the West Quiet on Zambia Elections?

Elections in Zambia have been marred by widespread vote rigging and manipulation by the ruling MMD party. The MMD party in league with the Electoral Commission of Zambia are busy scheming ways to rig the results again like they did in 2008. In spite of all this, the West is particularly is not saying anything to ensure that the democracy the West espouses in upheld. We expect the USA, UK, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Japan and other democratic countries to step in and urge Rupiah Banda to concede defeat to avert violence.

PF Takes Early Commanding Lead

The Patriotic Front (PF) have resoundingly won both Parley and Presidential elections with emphatic leads in the Copperbelt, Lusaka, Northern and Luapula provinces. These have been won with significant leads. MMD is doing very well in North Western, but has lost substantial votes in Eastern though it remains ahead there.

PF is also doing quite well in Western taking leads in Mongu on ballots counted so far. UPND is ahead in Southern Province as expected.

The picture there as it stands is that the Patriotic Front (PF) look set and poised to form the new government, but these are early days.

QUOTE OF THE DAY FROM MMD :”Only ECZ have the final say so for us we shall wait,” MMD National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe.

QUOTE OF THE DAY FROM PF : “Mr Sata is comfortably ahead by 51 percent of the votes so far” PF Mobilization Chairman Charles Banda.

Detailed Results:

PF Wins

Kaputa, Bwacha, Kabwe Central,Mkushi North,Kapiri Mposhi, Nchanga, Kalulushi,Chimwemwe, Kanfinsa, Kwacha, Nkana, Wusakile, Luanshya, Roan, Kankoyo,Kantanshi, Mufulira, Bwana Mkubwa, Chifubu,Kabushi, Ndola Central, Chama North, Mpulungu, Nchelenge, Lumenzi, Kawambwa, Mwansabombwe, Chembe, Mansa Central, Mwense, Luapula, Kafue, Chawama ,Kabwata, Kanyama, Lusaka Central, Mandevu, Kasama Central, Mpika Central, Lunte, Mporokoso

PF have snatched Livingstone, Kafue and are leading in Kazungula.

MMD Wins

Mkushi South, Petauke, Chipata, Chongwe, Kafulafuta

UPND Wins

Katuba, Sesheke, Kaoma central, Mazabuka,  Monze, Choma, Kalomo, Namwala, Siavonga,  Gweembe, Dundumwezi, Mapanza.

No Amount of Rigging Maneuvers Can Prevent Change

So the die is cast in yesterday's tripartite elections in Zambia. The MMD has been excessively busy scheming ways to rig this year's elections just as they have been doing since 1996. The party has exhibited several glaring instances of rigging, from playing on simple minds of rural illiterates to virtually unplanned capital infrastructures expenditures in the country. Nothing less than what one would term last kicks of a dying dog. There is a large population that has been fooled into believing that RB wholeheartedly desires to develop the country, but the truth is that he merely wants to ensure that he wins elections by all means. But we all know that this is unacceptable and we must not allow him to rig this time around.

Yesterday a truckload of pre-marked ballot papers was set ablaze in Lusaka's Lilanda Township by vigilant opposition supporters. Chawama in Lusaka also experienced a fair share of MMD onslaught aimed at sneaking in pre-marked ballot papers. There eyewitness reports of elections monitors hanging out at Wimpy when they were supposed to be standing by polling stations doing what they were in the country for. reports from Luapula also say that one Chief's Palace was set on fire because his Palace was being use by MMD to mark ballot papers. There have been numerous similar eyewitness reports concerting MMD trickery. We hope vigilant opposition supporters will continue to thwart MMD trickery. If Change is meant to happen this year, no amount MMD rigging tactics will prevent the long awaited change to take place.

Uninspiring Sale of Finance Bank Zambia Limited

The Sale of Finance Bank to First Rand National Bank (FNB) did not come as surprise to many as signs were already in the air that politics was again at play. What is utterly surprising is the token price of US$5.5 million that the bank was given away at. The question is "Did the Zambian Government act responsible enough in pushing ahead for the sale of Finance Bank?" We believe that many people would disagree with that.

The MMD Government has shown numerous times that they lack understanding of economics and pricing of business and their assets. Does anyone know how the decision to sell the Bank for a chicken feed amount? The whole process is a scam that needs to be investigated, especially by the, hopefully, new Government that will take over from MMD next week.Everyone knows that Finance Bank was worth more than what these stupid people decided to discard it for. The impression one gets from this kind of pricing is that they don't appreciate the value of a dollar when translated into the Zambia currency. The problem is that even the Bank of Zambia has had the tendency of looking at the value in Zambian Kwacha and converting it to dollars. If anything, this approach is idiotic and illiterate. If First Rand National Bank were to sell the newly acquired Bank, the price would shoot out through the roof. For goodness sake, we should learn to give good value to our Businesses and Assets like learned people would or in the manner things are done in economies that attempt to be transparent.

The sale of the Bank clearly shows that the MMD leadership did not and not learnt from the mistakes the Chiluba government made is disposing the mines and other key industries for a bunch of songs. It hurts to see how uncaring successive and current MMD leadership has been and still conducts business. Maybe it is also time we started voting indigenous Zambians into power and not allow foreigners to continue ruling us and in the process mess up things for us all. But then, it is time bid farewell to a corrupt government.

No one can stop the change people want - chief Muchinka

From The Post

By Roy Habaalu in Chitambo, Serenje Sun 11 Sep. 2011, 14:00 CAT

Text size Print

PP vice-president who is also Lusaka Central parliamentary candidate Dr Guy Scott with chief Muchinka of Serenje at Chansa when the two met for a brief meeting on Friday - Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza

THERE is no one who can stop the change people want, says a traditional leader.

During a meeting with a Patriotic Front (PF) delegation led by vice-president Dr Guy Scott that is on a campaign trail of Central Province, chief Muchinka of the Lala people of Serenje district said no traditional leader could stop the people's desire for change of government.

He said though he welcomed every political leader to campaign in his chiefdom, people had made up their minds on who to vote for this year.

"Even here (Serenje) people are after you (PF), people want change. I am a chief and I welcome and support all of you because you are my subjects but in my heart I know what I want, who I'm going to vote for," chief Muchinka said while pointing at his heart.

"Am happy to see you (Scott). People are waiting for you as you can see they (people) want change," he said.

Chief Muchinka said it was gratifying to see Scott visit his area after two years, unlike other leaders who when voted into office abandoned people that put them into office.

He wondered why people were fabricating stories about PF leader Michael Sata.

"How is my president (Sata), when is he coming here? Is he not attending our ceremony? Chiefs from Serenje and Mkushi are waiting for him at the ceremony," he said.

And Scott said having travelled round the country, it was clear that people were tired of MMD's 20 years of lies.

He said even in Chipata, the perceived stronghold of President Rupiah Banda, people wanted change of government.

"Let's change, try us. MMD has run out of ideas, all that is remaining is mischief making, just lies. I hear they are telling people that we'll not buy maize, that's lies," Scott said.

And addressing a rally in Chitambo to drum up support for Patriotic Front candidate Chanda Mutale on Friday, Dr Scott asked the residents to work with PF to clean up Zambia.

In an apparent reference to the shooting of Jack Musaka, a PF cadre in Chitambo, Scott said MMD had become poachers of men.

He said the MMD had run out of ideas hence resorting to insulting and wishing Sata death.

"I know Mr. Sata very well, I eat with him. He's more fit than me but I'm more fit than (Vice-President) George Kunda who can be swept away by wind and can't speak English properly," Scott said.

"Where is the development he should have brought here? Is he Vice-President for Muchinga Constituency only or the whole country? In Nyanja we say vulikani wire, vulikani manso (think properly, open your eyes)," he said as the crowd shouted ‘there is no development'.

He said Zambians had not benefited from the country's tourism sector.

"You are made to look after the animals here (in Kasanka National Park) for tourists and the money collected remains in Lusaka while you here are suffering. Not even the chief gets his allocation, all the money is in Lusaka shared among themselves (MMD)," he said.

Meanwhile, Mutale said the MMD government had sold land in Chililo ward to foreigners.
He said villagers were subjected to paying K500,000 per year for fishing in streams located on the bought land.

"Mr. vice president, the MMD has sold our land in Bangweulu to Scandinavians and these people you are seeing here will be paying to do the fishing...and if you vote for MMD they will sell the remaining ground you are stepping on," warned Mutale.