STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL SECRETARY OF THE MOVEMENT FOR MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY (MMD) AMBASSADOR MAJOR RICHARD KACHINGWE ON BEHALF OF THE PARLIAMENTARY LIAISON COMMITTEE (PLC), TUESDAY, 27TH SEPTEMBER, 2011.

"The Parliamentary Liaison Committee (PLC), of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) comprising the National Executive Committee (NEC) and MMD Members of Parliament, met in Lusaka today in the light of the recent tripartite elections held on 20th September, 2011 and discussed its performance and other related matters.

The PLC paid glowing tribute to its outgoing Republican President Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda for his dedicated and loyal service to the MMD and to the Republic of Zambia during the last three years. It recognized that without the selfless and dedicated service he rendered, most of the achievements Zambia has recorded in the recent past would not have been possible. Mr. Banda helped to rebuild and reshape Zambia at a time when the world was grappling with a serious economic crisis. He has been and continues to be a great source of inspiration to many Zambians whose lives he touched in so many ways.

It is the conviction of the PLC that Mr. Banda has left the economy in good shape having recently been reclassified as a lower middle income country with GDP growth of about 7.2% last year, US$2.6 Billion of Foreign Exchange Reserves, single digit inflation and a commendable infrastructure programme for schools, hospitals, roads etc and agriculture policies which have led to consecutive bumper harvests of maize and other agricultural products, making Zambia a food basket of Southern Africa. Investment in mining has also increased substantially during his presidency. When the history of our time is written, we are certain that it will undoubtedly record that our country and the MMD owes a far greater debt of gratitude to him. In the midst of turbulence in other parts of Africa, he has succeeded in carrying out a smooth and orderly handover of power, following MMD’s unsuccessful bid on the 20th September, 2011 to retain power.

It has been a special privilege for us to have a President like Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda, whose vision and leadership has provided a durable foundation for the MMD and for Zambia.  As he prepares to retire from active politics, we wish him, his wife Thandiwe and members of his family our best wishes for continued good health. It has also been a privilege for our party the MMD to serve the Zambian people since 1991. The last 20 years saw major economic and legal reforms most times painful for our people but in the end paying off as evidenced by the development levels in Zambia today.

FAREWELL SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR RUPIAH BWEZANI BANDA, FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, ON FRIDAY, 23RD 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.

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

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