Opposition People’s Party has endorsed the candidature of opposition FDD President Edith Nawakwi in the forth coming elections.
Speaking at a joint media briefing in Lusaka, People’s Party President Mike Mulongoti said he has in the past supported the candidature of male candidates which he said has not benefited the people.
He says though some have performed slightly better than others the support he has rendered has not benefited the majority of the people of Zambia.
He says after extensive discussions his Party has come to a conclusion that it is politically prudent and beneficial to the nation to support the candidature of the only female in this year’s elections.
He says Ms Nawakwi’s candidature and many other female hopefuls should not be seen as a favour to the women but that it is their right to fully participate in the development of the country.
And welcoming the endorsement Ms Nawakwi said not all endorsements are valuable and that her male counterparts should learn from the US Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton who turned down an endorsement from one of the richest men in America.
She says her party waited for ideas and clarity on what the value of any endorsement be because what is important is not the endorsement but the value of the endorsement.
She says People’s Party’s endorsement is a reconnection of ideas as President Mulongoti and her were together during a number of fights for the people of Zambia including the fight for democracy and the fight against the third term.
She also condemned the continued political violence saying fighting will not deliver votes.
She says the biggest enemy the country is facing is poverty and that poverty will not be fought with broken limbs.
She further appealed to her ‘’brothers” to lay down their arms because the only time the country needed arms was during the fight for Independence saying that time is long gone.