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Misanet.com / The Post / afrol News, 7 April - "I'm determined to fight on and win the battle against those opposed to my third term," Zambian President Frederick Chiluba has declared. According to State House sources, President Chiluba made the declaration when he met Mpezeni, the paramount chief of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province, to draw up a campaign programme for his third term bid amongst traditional leaders in the province. Frederick Chiluba's bid for a third term in this year's presidential election has causes massive protest in Zambia. According to the Zambian constitution, a president is only allowed two terms, but Chiluba and his party, the MMD, are campaigning for an amendment to the constitution. Chiluba, who in general has been observed as a "good democrat", shocked broad parts of civil society in Zambia by his decision to go for a third term. During the discussions, Mpezeni attempted to draw the President into his marital difference with Vera, but President Chiluba cut him short. He told Mpezeni that he was not ready to reconcile with a wife who had teamed up with Vice-President Christon Tembo and MMD vice-president and education minister Godfrey Miyanda to oppose his continued leadership. However, he informed Mpezeni that he was determined to fight on and win the battle against those opposed to his third term bid. President Chiluba said the only threat to his bid was Miyanda and that he would ensure that he was isolated before the party's forthcoming national convention. - He said Gen. Tembo is not a threat because he can easily talk to him but Gen. Miyanda will need to be isolated urgently before he gains ground, the source said. President Chiluba further informed Mpezeni that he had already worked out something that would soon see Miyanda lose ground in his Kabwata constituency. President Chiluba pledged to provide all the chiefs in Eastern Province with new motor vehicles on condition that they supported his continued leadership. President Chiluba and chief Mpezeni agreed to mobilise other chiefs in the province so that they could come back to Lusaka and surrender their loyalty on behalf of their subjects to his leadership. They also resolved that all the chiefs would denounce the two generals - Tembo and Miyanda - for opposing President Chiluba while in Lusaka. President Chiluba is expected to officiate at a United Church of Zambia function where he is scheduled to launch his Kabwata constituency development programme. MMD vice-national secretary Paul Tembo was also expected to join the President by launching a similar programme at a Catholic Church in the same constituency. The source also revealed that President Chiluba two weeks ago, met Lusaka councillors at State House where he informed them of his decision to adopt Kabwata and Chawama constituencies for his presidential assistance. The councillors from the two constituencies were asked to submit their budgets and President Chiluba directed presidential affairs minister Eric Silwamba to ensure that developmental activities began in the two constituencies. Miyanda last week announced that his constituency development committee was undertaking five developmental programmes. He named Kamulanga market shelter, Balovale compound sewer system, Kabwata hostels sewer system, Libala police post and New Chilenje sewer as some of the projects being undertaken by the committee. Miyanda also announced that Kabwata received K32 million from government that it was going to use in financing of the five projects.
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