OBAMA PRAISES ZAMBIA

Barack Obama

US President Barack Obama congratulated Zambia Friday on its "historic" elections and said he looked forward to working with incoming leader Michael Sata.

The polls in Zambia, one of the few African countries to have the ruling party change democratically twice since independence IN 1964, were marred by sporadic violence.

But the US leader said it commended the southern African nation "for building on your commitment to multiparty democracy."

"Zambia's Electoral Commission, political leaders, civil society, and above all its citizens all contributed to this important accomplishment," Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

He also hailed outgoing leader Rupiah Banda's "contributions to Zambia's democratic development," and his "admirable acceptance of the will of the Zambian people."

Observers said the violence, which left two people dead on Thursday had not compromised the elections, and found no evidence of fraud in the voting.

Scores of police on horseback or in riot helmets stood by, but Banda's speedy concession of defeat diminished the chance of more unrest.

"The hard work of a living democracy does not end when the votes are tallied and the winners announced," Obama warned.

"Instead it offers the chance to reconcile and to advance greater security and prosperity for its people.

"I hope that all Zambians will find common ground as you address the challenges and seize the opportunities facing your country and our world."

ZANIS

ELECTIONS RESULTS ACCURATE - MULAFULAFU

The Civil Society Election Coalition (CSEC) says that the Presidential election’s results as announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) are an accurate reflection of the ballots cast on September 20 by the electorate.

Coalition Chairperson Samuel Mulafulafu said as ECZ was mandated to give official elections results, CESEC was also monitoring and observed the collation process in order to provide independent verification of the accuracy of the official results.

Mr. Mulafulafu told a media briefing in Lusaka today, that CESEC used the Rapid response Project (RRP) and ensure that separate vote tabulation was consistent with the results of the ECZ.

He explained that this was done in compliance with the provision of the laws of Zambia and the knowledge of the ECZ.

He noted that the project involved deploying trained accredited 985 monitors to a representative random sample of 710 polling stations.

This was aimed at collecting data on the conduct of the voting and counting process and the recording of the official vote count and the transmission of information to a national data centre.

He added that sample contained polling stations in all 150 constituencies of the country’s nine provinces.

Mr. Mulafulafu stated that RRP reports were sent from sampled polling stations to the data centre where they were entered in CSEC system.

“On Wednesday morning of 21^st September, the coalition had received 99 percent of the     reports from the samples, “ he said.

He further added that thus the findings of the RRP were consistent with the official results as announced by ECZ.

He said based on their findings the election process was generally smooth and peaceful hence the need for Zambians and all political parties to act responsibly and in the interest of the nation.

Mr. Mulafulafu charged that for long time Zambia has been able to demonstrate a good example for Africa for democratic elections and peaceful transitions of power.

ZAMBIA'S RUPIAH BANDA BOWS OUT WITH GRACE AND HONOUR

FAREWELL SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR RUPIAH BWEZANI BANDA,
FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA,

ON FRIDAY, 23^RD SEPTEMBER, 2011 

"I HAVE CALLED THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN OF 2011 IS OVER. THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA HAVE SPOKEN AND WE MUST ALL LISTEN. SOME WILL BE HAPPY WITH WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD, OTHERS WILL NOT.

THE TIME NOW IS FOR MATURITY, FOR COMPOSURE AND FOR COMPASSION. TO THE VICTORS, I SAY THIS: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CELEBRATE BUT DO SO WITH A MAGNANIMOUS HEART. ENJOY THE HOUR BUT REMEMBER THAT A TERM OF GOVERNMENT IS FOR YEARS.

REMEMBER THAT THE NEXT ELECTION WILL JUDGE YOU ALSO.
TREAT THOSE WHO YOU HAVE VANQUISHED WITH THE RESPECT AND HUMILITY THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT IN YOUR OWN HOUR OF DEFEAT.

I KNOW THAT ALL ZAMBIANS WILL EXPECT SUCH BEHAVIOUR AND I HOPE IT WILL BE DELIVERED. SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND MY PARTY, WE WILL ACCEPT THE RESULTS. WE ARE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND WE KNOW NO OTHER WAY.

IT IS NOT FOR US TO DENY THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE. WE NEVER RIGGED, WE NEVER CHEATED, WE NEVER KNOWINGLY ABUSED STATE FUNDS. WE SIMPLY DID WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS BEST FOR ZAMBIA. I HOPE THE NEXT GOVERNMENT WILL ACT LIKEWISE IN YEARS TO COME.

ZAMBIADESERVES A DECENT DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. INDEED, ZAMBIA MUST BUILD ON HER PAST VICTORIES. OUR INDEPENDENCE WAS HARD WON, OUR DEMOCRACY SECURED WITH BLOOD.

ZAMBIAMUST NOT GO BACKWARDS, WE MUST ALL FACE THE FUTURE AND GO FORWARD AS ONE NATION. NOT TO DO SO WOULD DISHONOUR OUR HISTORY.

TO MY PARTY, TO THE MMD CANDIDATES WHO DID NOT WIN, THE LESSON IS SIMPLE. NEXT TIME WE MUST TRY HARDER.
WE FOUGHT A GOOD CAMPAIGN. IT WAS DISCIPLINED. I STILL BELIEVE WE HAD A GOOD MESSAGE AND WE REACHED EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY.

WE TRAVELLED TO ALL NINE PROVINCES AND WE SPOKE TO ALL ZAMBIANS. TO THOSE WHO WORKED EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY, I SAY ‘THANK YOU’. YOU HAVE DONE YOUR BEST. BUT, SADLY, SOMETIMES OUR BEST IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

DO NOT BE DISHEARTENED. THE MMD WILL BE BACK. WE MUST ALL FACE THE REALITY THAT SOMETIMES IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE. SINCE 1991, THE MMD HAS BEEN IN POWER. I BELIEVE WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB ON BEHALF OF ALL ZAMBIANS.

FREDERICK CHILUBA LED US TO A GENUINE MULTI-PARTY STATE AND INTRODUCED THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO OUR KEY INDUSTRIES. ZAMBIA WAS LIBERATED BY AN MMD IDEAL BUT MAYBE WE BECAME COMPLACENT WITH OUR IDEALS. MAYBE WE DID NOT LISTEN, MAYBE WE DID NOT HEAR.

DID WE BECOME GREY AND LACKING IN IDEAS? DID WE LOSE MOMENTUM? OUR DUTY NOW IS TO GO AWAY AND REFLECT ON ANY MISTAKES WE MAY HAVE MADE AND LEARN FROM THEM. IF WE DO NOT, WE DO NOT DESERVE TO CONTEST POWER AGAIN.

THE ZAMBIA WE KNOW TODAY WAS BUILT BY AN MMD GOVERNMENT. WE KNOW OUR PLACE IN HISTORY AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN COME BACK TO LEAD AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. A NEW LEADERSHIP WILL BE CHOSEN, AND THAT LEADERSHIP WILL BE FROM THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

MY GENERATION… THE GENERATION OF THE INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE-- MUST NOW GIVE WAY TO NEW IDEAS; IDEAS FOR THE 21^ST CENTURY. FROM THIS DEFEAT, A NEW, YOUNGER MMD WILL BE RE-BORN. IF I CAN SERVE THAT RE-BUILDING, THEN I WILL.

I MUST THANK MY CABINET FOR DELIVERING ON OUR PROMISES. WE DID A LOT OF GOOD FOR ZAMBIA.  MANY OF OUR PROJECTS WILL BLOSSOM INTO BRIGHT FLOWERS. SOME OF YOU WILL BE BACK TO SERVE ZAMBIA AGAIN – I KNOW YOU WILL DO YOUR BEST FOR YOUR PARTY AND FOR YOUR COUNTRY.
TO THE CIVIL SERVANTS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH YOU. WE HAVE WORKED MANY LONG HOURS TOGETHER. WE DID IT NOT FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR ZAMBIA. SERVE YOUR NEXT MASTERS AS YOU DID ME, AND ZAMBIA WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS.

I MUST THANK MY FAMILY AND MY WIFE. THEY HAVE STOOD BY ME AND I CANNOT ASK FOR MORE LOYALTY THAN THAT WHICH THEY HAVE DISPLAYED. I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY AND I WILL ALWAYS BE IN YOUR DEBT.

BEING PRESIDENT IS HARD WORK, IT TAKES LONG HOURS OF WORK. AND BECAUSE OF IT, I HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR YOU. YET, STILL YOU WERE THERE FOR ME.

WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS THE DEPTH OF MY LOVE FOR YOU ALL. ALL I ASK IS THAT MY FAMILY CONTINUES TO SERVE ZAMBIA AS I HAVE SOUGHT TO DO.

BUT MY GREATEST THANKS MUST GO TO THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE. WE MAY BE A SMALL COUNTRY ON THE MIDDLE OF AFRICA BUT WE ARE A GREAT NATION. SERVING YOU HAS BEEN A PLEASURE AND AN HONOUR. I WISH I COULD HAVE DONE MORE, I WISH I HAD MORE TIME TO GIVE.

OUR POTENTIAL IS GREAT. OUR RESOURCES ARE IMPRESSIVE.
I URGE YOU ALL NOW TO RALLY BEHIND YOUR NEW PRESIDENT.
YES, WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS BUT WE BOTH WANT THE SAME THING – A BETTER ZAMBIA.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR VIOLENCE AND RETRIBUTION.
NOW IS THE TIME TO UNITE AND BUILD TOMORROW’S ZAMBIA TOGETHER. ONLY BY WORKING TOGETHER CAN WE ACHIEVE A MORE PROSPEROUS ZAMBIA.

IN MY YEARS OF RETIREMENT, I HOPE TO WATCH ZAMBIA GROW. I GENUINELY WANT ZAMBIA TO FLOURISH. WE SHOULD ALL WANT ZAMBIA TO FLOURISH. SO, I CONGRATULATE MICHAEL SATA ON HIS VICTORY.

I HAVE NO ILL FEELING IN MY HEART, THERE IS NO MALICE IN MY WORDS. I WISH HIM WELL IN HIS YEARS AS PRESIDENT.
I PRAY HIS POLICIES WILL BEAR FRUIT.

BUT NOW IT IS TIME FOR ME TO STEP ASIDE. NOW IS THE TIME FOR A NEW LEADER. MY TIME IS DONE. IT IS TIME FOR ME TO SAY ‘GOOD BYE’.

MAY GOD WATCH OVER THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE AND MAY HE BLESS OUR BEAUTIFUL NATION.

I THANK YOU."

VICTORIOUS PF CADRES TAKE CELEBRATIONS INTO MASS MEDIA COMPLEX

President elect Michael Chilufya Sata

With less than an hour to go before President elect Michael Chilufya Sata is sworn in as the fifth Republican President of Zambia, patriotic Front (PF) cadres and sympathizers finally managed to gain entry into mass media complex to express their gratitude through their slogans and ululations.

The Unstoppable but somewhat peaceful cadres gained entry into mass media while chanting pro-PF slogans such, “let’s go Sata, let’s go,” while police officers followed them as they went straight front the entrance to the Zambia News and Information Services’ (ZANIS) Camera Section.

Five minutes later, the excited cadres of the now ruling party peacefully in the company of police officers turned back to the exit as they continued chanting on their way out.

ZANIS and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) members of staff peep through the windows while the brave ones came to see exactly what the cadres were up to.

However, the situation turned out different as the cadres did not damage any property or cause any injury to staff in mass media but merely cause anxieties in some people while others felt threaten.

The cadres later joined their fellows who were on their way to parliament where the President-elect was set to be inaugurated.

Jubilation and dance characterised the streets of Lusaka, the country’s capital city after final results of Tuesday’s tripartite elections were announced at the national totalling centre at Mulungushi Conference Centre shortly after midnight, today.

Meanwhile streets of Lusaka are full of cadres who are jubilating the victory of the 20th September, 2011 polls causing commotion especially in roads where traffic rules seem to have been ignored.

Chief Justice Ernest Sakala who is the returning office for the office of President declared Mr. Sata winner of this year’s presidential election.

At exactly 00:34 hours today, Mr. Sata was declared winner after he polled 1, 150,045 in the 143 constituencies tallied.

Chief Justice Ernest Sakala explained that it was within the law to declare Mr. Sata president even before the other seven constituencies were tallied.

Outgoing President Rupiah Banda only managed to poll 961, 796 votes.
ZANIS

MP’S INAUGURAL INVITE

Zambia's President elect - Michael Chilufya Sata

The Clerk of the National Assembly wishes to inform all elected Members of Parliament who wish to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the  President -Elect, that there are invitation cards for them at the Members Parliament  Motel.

This is contained in a Press Release made available to ZANIS by the Clerk of the National Assembly Mrs Doris Katai Mwinga.

ZANIS

SATA IS ZAMBIA'S PRESIDENT - CHIEF JUSTICE

Opposition Patriotic Front Candidate Michael Sata has won the presidency.

Chief Justice Ernest Sakala declared Sata duly elected a few minutes after midnight.

Sata polled 1, 150, 045 in the 143 constituencies tallied.

Chief Justice Ernest Sakala explained that even before the other seven constituencies were tallied, it was within the law to declare Sata president.

Outgoing president Rupiah Banda had 961, 796 votes.