Zambians urged to reject Sata

LUSAKA – Zambia’s largest newspaper, The Post, has urged voters to reject controversial opposition leader Michael Sata who is the main challenger to President Levy Mwanawasa in next week’s election.

The privately owned daily said in a half-page editorial that the veteran politician, Sata, had no principles and was working with former president Frederick Chiluba and several others who were on trial for corruption. The newspaper warned Zambians that should Sata win the September 28 presidential elections, corrupt former officials who served under Chiluba would return to office and once again loot the country’s resources.The editorial entitled ‘Don’t allow thieves to govern’ said: “As for Sata, he will say or do anything to get himself into power.He is a populist who will say what he thinks his audience wants to hear.”It said: “He has no morals to defend and no principles to fight for.If he thinks violence will get him to State House, Sata has no qualms in unleashing violence.”The paper held off from specifically endorsing any of the other presidential candidates.The Post newspaper and its editor, Fred M’membe, had championed the fight against corruption for many years and both Chiluba and Mwanawasa’s government arrested and charged its staff for critical reporting on a number of issues.But Chiluba on Sunday, in an apparent attack on The Post, urged Zambians to vote for Sata and “show the world that power does not belong to newspapers and their editorial opinions”.Zambia would hold presidential, parliamentary and local government elections next on Thursday.Mwanawasa was facing four challengers for the presidency, including Sata and dark horse candidate Hakainde Hichilema.Nampa-AFPThe newspaper warned Zambians that should Sata win the September 28 presidential elections, corrupt former officials who served under Chiluba would return to office and once again loot the country’s resources.The editorial entitled ‘Don’t allow thieves to govern’ said: “As for Sata, he will say or do anything to get himself into power.He is a populist who will say what he thinks his audience wants to hear.”It said: “He has no morals to defend and no principles to fight for.If he thinks violence will get him to State House, Sata has no qualms in unleashing violence.”The paper held off from specifically endorsing any of the other presidential candidates.The Post newspaper and its editor, Fred M’membe, had championed the fight against corruption for many years and both Chiluba and Mwanawasa’s government arrested and charged its staff for critical reporting on a number of issues.But Chiluba on Sunday, in an apparent attack on The Post, urged Zambians to vote for Sata and “show the world that power does not belong to newspapers and their editorial opinions”.Zambia would hold presidential, parliamentary and local government elections next on Thursday.Mwanawasa was facing four challengers for the presidency, including Sata and dark horse candidate Hakainde Hichilema.Nampa-AFP