Written By:PMPS, Posted: Sat, Sep 24, 2011
The celebrations went on in Lusaka long after the results were announced.(Photo BBC) |
Kenya
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has congratulated newly elected President
of Zambia Mr Michael Sata and lauded the country's outgoing leader Mr
Rupiah Banda for conceding defeat.
Speaking
in London on his way to the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, Mr
Odinga congratulated Mr Banda for steering his party into conceding
defeat, and for steering Zambia through a second democratic, largely
peaceful transfer of power from one party to another.
"I
join other leaders in congratulating President Sata on his decisive win
in the just concluded polls, the outgoing President Banda for showing
statesmanship and providing leadership at the critical moment in the
life of his country and the people of Zambia for choosing peace and
democracy in the ballot as a means of changing leadership. I wish the
people and their new leader well in the years ahead, "Mr. Odinga said.
"For
those of us who refuse to buy the idea that Africa is a lost cause, who
cling to the hope that the 21st Century could be Africa's, every
democratic election and peaceful transfer of power on the Continent
emboldens our belief and presents us with the reason to hope even more
that our struggling countries are on the right path towards a full
transition to democracy. The people and leadership of Zambia have done
the continent proud and given us hope by what they achieved in this
election, "Odinga added.
He appealed to the people
of Zambia to put aside whatever differences that may have cropped in
during the electioneering period and join hand in rebuilding their
country, now that the elections are over.
The PM
said Zambia could play a significant role in helping stabilise the
southern Africa region and aiding the spread of democracy in that part
of the continent.
He said the people of Zambia
should have no problem working together, saying outgoing president Banda
had shown them the way by conceding defeat, congratulating the winner
and wishing him and the country weel.
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