News / National
Mugabe's self-proclaimed Disciple wins big in Zambia
23 Sep 2011 at 09:27hrs | Views
ZAMBIAN opposition leader Michael Sata praised the policies of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe on Thursday as he voted in a close poll which saw him triumph over the man credited with turning Zambia's economy around.
Sata, a fiery populist who has exploited discontent with government economic policies, has mounted a strong challenge to incumbent Rupiah Banda in Thursday's poll.
Michael Sata once declared that Mugabe is Africa's president, most analyst are asking about what is going on in the minds of imperialists, and also Rhodie settler racist farmers who took refuge in Zambia?
He hinted that, like Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe, he would stand up to both the West and foreign investors.
"What Robert Mugabe has done is sensible," a grinning Sata, told reporters after he cast his vote in Lusaka. "He hasn't roasted any white persons. He has just taken back what belongs to them (Zimbabweans)."
"KING COBRA"
Sata has won fans by promising workers a bigger stake in state enterprise, major tax cuts and a 51 percent cap on foreign mine ownership -- thrilling voters but leaving economists wondering how his government would pay its bills.
The veteran politician, known locally as "King Cobra", rejected notions that Mugabe was mistaken to have seized white-owned commercial farms to give to landless blacks, a policy many economists say has helped drive once-prosperous Zimbabwe to its knees.
"Mugabe hasn't done anything wrong. It is the imperialists, the capitalist roaders who say he is a villain," Sata said.
Sata repeated threats that his administration would get tough on foreigners, particularly "bogus investors" who fail to contribute to Zambia's welfare and western donors who seek to guide its economic policies.
Sata's Patriotic Front has won many converts among ordinary Zambians, who despite the country's economic revival have yet to see a payoff in their pocketbooks.
"I'm here to vote in order to change the system. I am a very dissatisfied citizen," said Stephen Mukuka, a 35-year-old Lusaka businessman who was at the front of the queue at one polling station. "We want better things for Zambians."
Sata, a fiery populist who has exploited discontent with government economic policies, has mounted a strong challenge to incumbent Rupiah Banda in Thursday's poll.
Michael Sata once declared that Mugabe is Africa's president, most analyst are asking about what is going on in the minds of imperialists, and also Rhodie settler racist farmers who took refuge in Zambia?
He hinted that, like Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe, he would stand up to both the West and foreign investors.
"What Robert Mugabe has done is sensible," a grinning Sata, told reporters after he cast his vote in Lusaka. "He hasn't roasted any white persons. He has just taken back what belongs to them (Zimbabweans)."
"KING COBRA"
Sata has won fans by promising workers a bigger stake in state enterprise, major tax cuts and a 51 percent cap on foreign mine ownership -- thrilling voters but leaving economists wondering how his government would pay its bills.
The veteran politician, known locally as "King Cobra", rejected notions that Mugabe was mistaken to have seized white-owned commercial farms to give to landless blacks, a policy many economists say has helped drive once-prosperous Zimbabwe to its knees.
"Mugabe hasn't done anything wrong. It is the imperialists, the capitalist roaders who say he is a villain," Sata said.
Sata repeated threats that his administration would get tough on foreigners, particularly "bogus investors" who fail to contribute to Zambia's welfare and western donors who seek to guide its economic policies.
Sata's Patriotic Front has won many converts among ordinary Zambians, who despite the country's economic revival have yet to see a payoff in their pocketbooks.
"I'm here to vote in order to change the system. I am a very dissatisfied citizen," said Stephen Mukuka, a 35-year-old Lusaka businessman who was at the front of the queue at one polling station. "We want better things for Zambians."
Source - Byo24News
