President Rupiah Banda faces a stiff challenge at this year’s elections
which could come from “any other cadre”. Chi luba has broadly been em-
braced in the MMD under Banda who regard him as their “political consult- ant”. Te reckoning of the MMD is that Chiluba will influence votes in Luapula Province where he hails from. Tat is yet to be proved.
The opposition In June 2009, there was euphoria when two of the main opposition parties an- nounced a pact. It was hoped that the usu- ally divided opposition would act as a unit- ed front. But it was common knowledge that the Patriotic Front (PF) of Michael Sata and the United Party for National Development (UPND) led by Hakainde Hichilema were strange bedfellows. Divisions later emerged but they both
comforted themselves that differences were “a normal thing in any marriage”. But there was something strange about their marriage. Tey first got married, hoping to agree on the terms of the marriage later. In recent months, there has been a bitter public exchange between the parties, with even the most politically disinclined con- cluding that the pact is as good as dead. Te history of political alliances in
candidly with its critics that economic gains have not filtered to the masses.”
hors corruption. Te example usually used is the acquittal on theft charges of the former president, Frederick Chiluba, in August 2009. In August 2010, the Supreme Court refused to register a judgement which the late President Mwanawasa’s government obtained from a London high court which found Chiluba liable for hav- ing defrauded Zambia of over $40m. Chiluba’s wife, Regina, who had been
convicted for receiving stolen property from him, won an appeal in the Zambian high court. Te couple had spent a lot of their time escorting each other to court but are now free and their joy is plain to see.
Under Mwanawasa, who waged a lively
anti-corruption crusade, Chiluba, out of frustration with his successor, turned to the opposition. But in what has been seen as payback for his acquittal, Chiluba has promised to campaign for Banda and ensure his victory. At a high-profile party function in February where both Banda and Chiluba were in attendance, the lat- ter promised to use “a few national and international tricks” to secure Banda’s victory. Tis made matters awkward for the party and within 24 hours, its national chairman, Michael Mabenga, dismissed Chiluba’s sentiment as a personal view
“ In power for 20 years, the MMD agrees
Zambia is against the parties. None previ- ously hatched has lasted. Tey tend to arise shortly before elections and disintegrate soon after. Te PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba believes the major sticking point is the choice of the presidential candidate as the parties are agreeable on other is- sues. But on the other hand, the UPND first wants the two to agree on “a social and economic programme before we start sharing positions”. At the time of going to press, the parties were due to hold their joint national council in a last-ditch effort to salvage the troubled alliance. With a constitution that provides for a
simple majority win, the MMD has previ- ously exploited the divided opposition. But the reality is that the fall of the opposition alliance is not necessarily synonymous with an MMD victory. Te PF alone has in the recent past come quite close to de- feating the MMD and they know the PF to be their most dreaded challengers.
New African April 2011 | 37
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