[Ugnet] Zambian Politics...

FIVE opposition parties are discussing the possibility of forming a rainbow coalition in a bid to come up with one presidential candidate to challenge President Levy Mwanawasa in next year's elections.

The parties involved are UPND, FDD, Patriotic Front, Party for Unity, Development and Democracy (PUDD) and Heritage Party.

According to an executive summary of the proposal for a coalition obtained by The Post, the parties will fall under the umbrella body called Zambia Rainbow Coalition (ZRC).

The mission for ZRC is to achieve an electoral pact that will enable participating opposition parties to field one presidential candidate in next year's elections, while the objective is to promote and converge people's voices through quality elections where the wishes and views of the people are not spread among many choices of candidates.

"Registered political parties will continue to exist in their current form and structure with their management committees and party structures intact," the executive summary states in part. "The ZRC will help parties agree and separately participate in parliamentary and ward elections in places of their political strength."

The summary further stated that a co-ordinating committee and secretariat unit would be established to bring together opposition parties to agree and participate in the mission of the ZRC. The commission that would establish the secretariat is further expected to prepare The People's Conference. It is proposed that the commission be constituted by three commissioners, being eminent and non-partisan persons to run the secretariat. This commission will prepare a legitimate electoral college and convene The People's Conference with the sole purpose of electing a single presidential candidate.

"Each eligible presidential candidate or participating party will be allowed to bring 500 delegates to form the electoral college," the executive summary further states. "The winner will consequently lead the Zambia Rainbow Coalition and enjoy support from his/her colleagues and enable the ZRC field one presidential candidate. Participating political parties will use their independent platforms to campaign for this candidate."

When reached for comment, Patriotic Front president Michael Sata yesterday said his party had advanced this proposal because it could be the only answer for their political relationship with other parties.

"An outright merger is not possible because of selfishness. So an alliance of this kind is better because some parties fear to go into extinction if they merge. That is why we would rather each party maintain its identity and structures. But to succeed, we leaders have also to sensitise ourselves as opposed to only sensitising Zambians."

But FDD president Edith Nawakwi said she is yet to be briefed about the development while UPND spokesperson Patrick Chisanga said it seemed matters were moving faster than he was aware.

However, Chisanga said as UPND, they have always been concerned by calls for the opposition to unite. He said if such calls remained in only the media, nothing would be achieved.

"So we have been part of the process to initiate fresh dialogue to come up with a united front after the last attempt collapsed," Chisanga said. "But at the moment it is too early to state what has been settled for, whether it is an alliance or a merger. What is true is that a seed has been planted and discussions have started but I am not aware that there is ZRC. What I only know is that the concept of working together has been responded to."

The executive summary stated the background to ZRC was that Zambians were calling for order in the electoral process so that leaders could tackle greater and national problems of poverty, diseases and unemployment.

"Many Zambians find hope and inspiration in today's major opposition parties but mourn the division existing," the summary stated. "Sadly, these hopes and wishes are dashed by the current fragmentation in the electoral process caused by numerous competing parties for the same voice and vote. Zambians believe in Multipatyism only to the extent that the process should foster development and freedom.

"It is this realisation that has brought about the quest to bring together major opposition political parties in Zambia to a common purpose of interest. This is also to promote unity in diversity among the opposition political parties."

The question should be : how can the common Zambia Citizen determine ..rather know as a matter of fact that in coming President ( after President Levy Mwanawasa lives office...we hear the man wants to resign for having failed Zambia) will do any better???? that is the questions

Matek

[Ugnet] Zambian Politics...

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