RB is right man says Tetamashimba

President Banda is the best candidate for the ruling party to contest the 2011 general elections. MMD information and publicity chairperson, Benny Tetamashimba, said in Livingstone yesterday in an interview that it will be difficult for the MMD to win the 2011 tripartite elections without Banda.

“President Banda has no choice but to accept the party decision to adopt him as presidential candidate in the 2011 general elections. President Banda is wrong to state that he will consider accepting the party’s adoption because he is the only capable person who can lead the party to victory in 2011,” he said.

Banda on May 19 said he would be ready to be adopted as presidential candidate in the 2011 tripartite election but emphasised that his adoption would have to be on merit. But Tetamashimba said the MMD was banking on Banda for the 2011 presidential election battle.

“The MMD has no any other candidate for the convention and for the subsequent general election in 2011. It will be impossible for the MMD to win the elections without President Banda. The President was wrong when he said he will consider accepting the party’s decision to adopt as presidential candidate. As far as the MMD is concerned, he is the only one. He is the man we are going to vote for at the convention and we shall adopt him as our presidential candidate,” Tetamashimba said.

He said it would not be a matter of choice or consideration for Banda to accept the adoption because the party has “already” resolved. Tetamashimba said it would be difficult for the MMD to sell any other candidate other than President Banda.

He alleged that those aspiring to contest for the MMD presidency are only working at destroying the party. He said the MMD was happy that President Banda does not want the ruling party to adopt him without other contestants. He said the president was a democratic leader who wants to be adopted on merit and not on the basis of being unchallenged.

“Whether the President wants it or not, he will be the one to lead the MMD to victory in 2011. The other people who want to contest the MMD presidency will just destroy the party. For now Banda is the most suitable candidate the party has and we are not going to risk by thinking of adopting someone else,” Tetamashimba said.

He said every part of the country is looking up to President Banda to lead the party in the next general elections.