Don’t remove MMD unless you’re sure - Sondashi

By ALEX NJOVU

 
FORMER Minister of Works and Supply Ludwig Sondashi has cautioned Zambians against voting out the MMD for the sake of change.
He said Zambians should know people who can improve the country’s economy before considering voting out the MMD.
Dr Sondashi said this in Kitwe yesterday when he launched his political party to be called the Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA).
He said it will be difficult to join the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) pact because of differences in ideologies with his political party.
Dr Sondashi, however, said he can only join the pact if he is allowed to become its president and lead it into the 2011 general elections.
Those who attended the launch however criticised Dr Sondashi for forming the political party for the sole purpose of going to State House.
This is when Dr Sondashi said he wanted to go to State House to enjoy himself.
Dr Sondashi said his children and wife, Virginia, have been suffering ever since he resigned as Cabinet minister from the previous governments.
“I want to go to State House to enjoy with my wife and my children because they have suffered following my resignations from previous governments.
I want my wife to be first lady also,” Dr Sondashi said
He said his wife rebuked him on several occasions when he resigned from his positions in government but that he assured her that one day he would make it to State House.
Dr Sondashi however clarified his statement after a Mr Nyereti wondered why the former minister had formed his party just to go and enjoy himself in State House.
“I am the only one who is ready to reduce my presidential powers when I am elected in 2011,” Dr Sondashi said.
He said the FDA would bring Zambians together and that the republican presidency would rotate from one province to another to discourage tribalism.
Dr Sondashi admitted that he was one of the leaders who created the problems that the country is currently going through and that he will not retire from active politics until he changes the situation obtaining in the country.
Dr Sondashi said he is confident that his party will remove the MMD from power in the 2011 elections.
And FDA Kafue organiser Trust Chitonge denounced PF president Michael Sata and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, saying they had no capacity to turn around the country’s economy.
Mr Chitonge accused Mr Hichilema of failing the country during the privatisation of some parastatals and that there was no way he can manage the affairs of the nation.
He also accused Mr Sata of failing to make any meaning contribution in the previous governments he served.
Mr Chitonge urged people to rally behind the FDA in 2011 if they wanted a better future for their children.