President Rupiah Banda of Zambia

And Mr Banda has declared that the MMD cannot afford to lose the forthcoming presidential elections because there is a lot at stake.

Accepting his election, Mr Banda said MMD could not afford to lose the forthcoming presidential election and called for unity and hardwork in the party to ensure they retained the presidency.

Mr Banda said he was humbled by the NEC and party members' gesture to bestow him with the honour of standing on the party ticket during the elections.

Mr Banda said victory for the MMD and the nation was assured if the party remained united adding that on his part, he is ready to work with everyone including those who had stood against him.

Mr Banda said all the party members were equal and there would be no one who would be more equal than others.

The placard-carrying MMD members, mostly women, who were joined by University of Zambia students, broke into a frenzy whenever Mr Banda came out of the conference room.

He said Mr Banda had proved that he was well placed than any other candidates and advised that those who lost in the NEC elections should rally behind Mr Banda in order to help him carry out his duties.

On the economic front, Mr Banda says his administration would seek to build on the late president's pro-market economic policies, that had led to significant achievements in almost all sectors.

I think Banda is the right choice because he has a high level of maturity and good credentials for economic management," said Oliver Saasa, an economist and political commentator based in Lusaka.

Banda was born in the town of Miko, Gwanda, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe); his parents had come from Northern Rhodesia to find employment prior to his birth, and he was sponsored by a local Dutch Reformed Church preacher (and later, the family of B.

Banda married his wife, Hope Mwansa Makulu, in 1966 and the couple has five sons together.

During his brief stint as Foreign Minister (1975–1976), Banda was occupied by the task of attempting to broker a cease-fire in Angola.

Banda was elected as a Member of Parliament for Munali Constituency in 1978 and was re-elected to that seat in 1983.

Prior to a planned summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in August 2007, Banda was sent by Mwanawasa to improve relations with neighboring Zimbabwe following Mwanawasa's criticism of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Banda was sworn in at State House on the same day, using his speech on the occasion to call for unity.

Zambian acting President Rupiah Banda was elected as president of the ruling party -- the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) on Friday.

In 1978, Banda was elected as a Member of Parliament and served in the National Assembly until 1991 when the Kaunda regime lost its power in Zambia's first multi-party elections.

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has pledged to fight poverty and improve the living conditions of all Zambians irrespective of their political or religious affiliations.

In his inaugural speech soon after being sworn in as the country’s fourth president, Mr Banda said his main goal would be to fight poverty.

Mr Banda said he did not want people to think of Zambia as a Third World country with a begging bowl.

Mr Banda said he would ensure that the dream of making Zambia a middle-income nation by 2030 was realised.

Mr Banda said he was going to tackle corruption head-on because the vice sapped investor confidence.

President Banda said foreign investment helped to generate revenue used for, among others, modernising the communication facilities, rehabilitating roads, improving the energy sector, and construction of more education and health facilities.

Mr Banda said because of the realisation that farmers play an important role in reducing poverty, the Government would continue to support them in producing food.

And Vice-President Banda said President Mwanawasa was receiving treatment for hypertension in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Percy Clamart Military Hospital in Paris, France.

And addressing the congregation, Vice-President Banda said the government was comforted by the great outpouring of love exhibited by all sections of society to President Mwanawasa over his illness.

May I take this opportunity to thank the Christian church in the country for making it possible for all of US to be together to ask our Lord to help US by healing our President," Vice-President Banda said with a cracking voice.

I believe that God will hear our prayers," Vice-President Banda said as he left the altar for his seat.

Rupiah Banda has been rejected by his own party.

He maintained that he would not accept 'rigged' election results and that Vice-President Banda was using Dr Kenneth Kaunda's language of detaining people without trial.

Rupiah is panicking, says HHBy Zumani Katasefa in ChingolaSaturday October 18, 2008 UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that Vice-President Rupiah Banda is panicking to win the October 30 presidential election.

In an interview on Thursday after he addressed a series of rallies on the Copperbelt, Hichilema said the government's decision to reduce the price of fertiliser was a clear indication that Vice-President Banda was panicking to win the election.

Rupiah Banda is panicking, he is just emulating the UPND manifesto.

He said Vice-President Banda had demonstrated that he had good leadership qualities, unlike Sata whose only record was that of being a colonial constable.

If any manipulation has taken place the law is there.

President Rupiah Banda has mulled, the general public has anticipated, and the eligible have worn their behinds for sitting too long on the edge of their seats in consternation and expectation.

Good old Banda has finally put US all out of our misery by appointing his cabinet and naming those who will sit in his séances.

It appears President Banda is now bent on having his own imprint on the presidency, in a furtive departure with the mantra of “I will toe Levy’s line.

While Banda had a fleeting advantage of incumbency, which put state resources at his disposal in his crusade, the other had secret affluent well wishers; the third had deep pockets.

Somehow, Banda was confident in what he was doing in his decision and resolute to take a shot at the presidency.

Banda has already put it that he will work with them all for the good of the country.

2008 Lusaka (Zambia) - Acting President Rupiah Banda has won Zambia’s presidential election, defeating challenger Michael Sata by a narrow margin, the country’s electoral commission announced on Sunday.

It is unclear what Mr Sata and his supporters will do now that Mr Banda has been declared the winner.

Mr Banda has a degree in economics and is also a prominent businessman.

After Mwanawasa fell out of favour with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe for calling Zimbabwe a “sinking Titanic” in 2007, Banda was dispatched to Harare to smooth ruffled feathers.

Mr Banda said MMD policies had made Zambia one of the stable economies on the African continentHe said government would continue to welcome foreign investors on condition that they obeyed laws and regulations of the country particularly those protecting the workers.

President Banda said investment was the engine that would make industrial and agricultural sectors more productive and create more jobs and better wages.

Mr Banda said he would like to open up Luapula and Northern provinces, which have beautiful water sceneries to attract visitors.

State House, the office of the Zambian head of state, has denied that President Rupiah Banda had offered jobs to seven imposters who have been masquerading as newly appointed diplomatic.

He also disclosed that President Rupiah Banda had directed his ministry to make sure that all townships were upgraded and was.

Rupiah Banda said GOVERNMENT was going to ensure that the miners losing employment in the mines.

National Marketing Board of Zambia.

President, replacing Lupando Mwape who lost his bid for a Parliamentary seat.

Rupiah Banda is Zambias Fourth President | LusakaTimes.

Acting vice president Rupiah Banda will be declared the winner of the presidential by election today after taking the lead for the first time since the presidential poll results were first released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia on Friday.

President Rupiah Banda is expected here tomorrow to attend an emergency one day heads of state and government summit on the Burundi peace process.

Acting leader Rupiah Banda is likely to be declared the winner of Zambia's presidential election on Sunday.

LUSAKAActing President Rupiah Banda has won Zambia’s presidential election, defeating challenger Michael Sata by a narrow margin, the country’s electoral commission announced on Sunday.

Rhodesia, but he has has Zambian nationality.

Mr Banda is expected to be sworn in later on Sunday.

Mr Banda took over from President Levy Mwanawasa who died in August having suffered a stroke a few months earlier.

His Excellency, Rupiah Banda was sworn in as the fourth President of the Republic of Zambia at Parliament Buildings by Chief Justice, Enerst Sakalaon Sunday, 2nd November 2008.

Rupiah commutes 53 death row sentencesVICE-President George Kunda yesterday announced that President Rupiah Banda had pardoned and commuted sentences of 53 prisoners on death row at Mukobeko Prison in Kabwe.

var RTR_ArticleBlurb = "By Shapi Shacinda LUSAKA (Reuters) - Centrist politician Rupiah Banda was sworn in as Zambia's president on Sunday, vowing to keep doors open to foreign investors after a disputed election victory over his populist rival.

LUSAKA (Reuters) - Centrist politician Rupiah Banda was sworn in as Zambia's president on Sunday, vowing to keep doors open to foreign investors after a disputed election victory over his populist rival.

We will continue to welcome foreign investors in mining and other sectors, for as long as they obey our laws, by continuing with our sound policies," Banda said to cheers from supporters after taking the oath of office.

Godfrey Miyanda calls elections free and fair Apathy characterized presidential vote Our prediction is based on results at vote stations, Teta Elections have been rigged- Sata Rupiah Banda is Zambia's Fourth President.

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has admitted being forgetful.

And President Banda has told ministers and other senior.

Rupiah Banda took the oath of office as Zambia's president, saying his administration would continue to welcome foreign investors and fight corruption.

Rupiah Banda is pictured as he is sworn in as Zambia's fourth president in Lusaka on November 2, 2008 after a narrow election win over opposition leader Michael Sata, whose supporters rioted during the night over alleged vote fraud.

Banda was sworn in just two hours after election officials declared him the winner with 40.

In his inauguration Sunday, Banda said that fighting poverty would top his agenda, saying: "Too many Zambians have been left behind.

Banda has promised to follow the pro-growth policies that won Mwanawasa praise from Western donors.

Economic policiesOn the economic front, Mr Banda says his administration would seek to build on the late president’s pro-market economic policies, that had led to significant achievements in almost all sectors.

Without the media’s active involvement in the burial programme of the late president, Mr Banda said the public would have been starved of the vital information that was required to keep them updated on all the funeral events.

It was at this point that Banda came into the picture.

Until Mr Banda came in, we had not had a Zambian rising to be number onecontender in the WBC.

It is said that Banda was one of the fans who watched the “Rumble in the Jungle” of 1974 when Muhammad Ali defeated champion George Foreman to reclaim the world heavyweight title in the showdown held in Kinshasa.

Despite his immense contribution to sport, Banda has always been a man who likes taking a low profile and not harping about his achievements.

Zambian President Rupiah Banda has announced plans to nationalise foreign-owned copper mines that have closed down because of the global recession and the fall in copper prices, state radio reported on.

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has called on opposition political party leaders not to politicise mealie meal prices.

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said that former intelligence chief, Xavier Chungu, who surrendered to the police on Wednesday after four years in self-imposed exile, will be treated in accordance with the law.

The Times of Zambia 26 November 2008 PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has directed the Ministry of Justice and the Gender in Development Division to speed up the process of auditing legislation on the elimination of all.

The Times of Zambia Bob Sianjalika PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has challenged his newly appointed Cabinet ministers and their deputies to be determined and tackle the global issues that have affected most countries.

The Times of Zambia ANALYSIS Kennedy Limwanya IT had a resonance of Martin Luther King Jr's famous I Have a Dream speech delivered on August 28, 1963 in Washington before 200,000 civil rights supporters.

In Zambia, Rupiah Banda has been sworn in as president after being declared the winner in Thursdays presidential election.

Rupiah Banda is pictured as he is sworn in as Zambias fourth president in Lusaka, 02 Nov 2008Rupiah Banda took the oath of office as Zambias president, saying his administration would continue to welcome foreign investors and fight corruption.

Banda was sworn into office two hours after Zambias Electoral Commission declared he won Thursdays presidential election with 40 percent of the vote, to opposition leader Michael Satas 38 percent.

Banda was granted against the post newspaper and Mr.

Banda is a former Zambian diplomat and Foreign Affairs Minister in the first administration whose current age is 71.

Following the sudden departure of Levy (MHSRIP), the MMD is going to get a sympathy vote and Rupiah Banda is likely the next CEO of the Zambian Enterprise.