By 
Andyford Banda has been re-elected as People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) leader for the next five years after going an opposed during a party convention held in Lusaka.
In his acceptance speech as re-elected leader, Banda called for a complete overhaul of the current political system which embraces tribal affiliation, or party patronage.
Speaking in Lusaka on Thursday at Fallsway Centre, Banda said Zambia needs selfless leaders who have the interest of Zambians at heart and not those with selfish interest of enriching themselves and their close associates.
He noted that the country in the past had seen leaders getting rich a few months of being in office at the expense of those who elected them leading to the failure of the entire government system failing to provide social services such as, water, medicine and adequate infrastructure among others.
“In 2026, I will be running for the office of the President for the Republic of Zambia. This will be the third time I will be on the ballot, I first stood in 2016 where I came out number four and then stood in 2021 where I also came out number four,” Banda said.
He declared the party’s readiness to win the 2026 general elections on the basis of offering alternative selfless solutions and departing away from the system of embracing tribalism, party patronage among others.
Banda emphasized that Zambia needs sincere leaders who are interested in the welfare of their citizens and not those interested in their pockets.
“We do not apply the policy of meritocracy jn the appointment of people in government as a result of political affiliation, tribalism characterized in the current political system,” he said.
Banda stated that Zambia needs to learn from countries such as Singapore, China where meritocracy takes a centre stage in order to develop at a desire rate utilising it’s vast natural resources.
He added that the country needs to strengthen governance institutions in order to fight corruption which was also a major contributing factor to the country’s stagnation in terms of desired development.
“We must fight corruption, and the only way to fight corruption is to strengthen institutions of governance, bringing about honest policy reforms, and not merely rhetorical through speeches during events,” Banda emphasized.
He also noted that Zambians were still not benefitting from their mineral resources because the country continues to use the colonial system which benefit countries of investors who repatriate their entire profits.
Banda stated that Zambians should own and run mines through policy reforms, adequate incentives, empowerment in order to create the needed jobs and benefits from the country’s mineral resources.
He concluded with a call to members of the party to go flat out and begin to sell the party manifesto and mobilise on the ground in order to gunner the needed support.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments