general miyanda on sata

General Miyanda refutes media reports on endorsing Sata
By Chris Habeenzu
As Zambia slowly but steadily nears the 2011 tripartite elections, a number of politicians have sprung up to endorse some political front runners to govern the country. While that is happening some political parties are positioning themselves and are into discussions to either go into political alliances while others are flexing their muscles to show how popular they are.
Recently Opposition Heritage Party leader Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda featured on a privately owned radio station, radio Phoenix and said he admired how popular Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata's popularity a statement that was misunderstood by even some media organizations.
The misunderstanding was much to displeasure of the general whose phone was on Thursday flooded with calls of his sympathizers who wanted to find out whether he truly issued the statement.
"I only came to know about that misrepresentation of facts when some people even as far as Mansa were calling trying to find out whether I issued that statement to say that I had endorsed Mr. Sata, he said, adding"I can't support Mr. Sata."
The General Miyanda revealed that in 2008 Presidential by elections the PF leader alleges that he was bribed K100M for him to take part in the polls.
The HP leader adds that he wrote to the Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ) to complain over the matter to the electoral body has not responded to up to now.
"In 2008 by elections Mr. Sata injured me by alleging that i was bribed hundred kwacha for me to contest in the election so that i can splitting the votes and i demanded for an apology from him and up to now he has not responded. I also wrote to the ECZ to complain about the matter but to my disappointment the ECZ forged a document that I had withdrawn my complaint which i didn't," General Miyanda said.
The Heritage Party leader further states that prior to the 2008 presidential by elections, Mr. Sata was instrumental in hounding him together with others from the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) among other much more sensitive matters which the general decline to mention.
He said though he is a forgiving person the statement and Mr. Sata's deeds can't warrant his support and endorsement for this year's elections.
And the Heritage Party leader revealed that his party is currently engaged in discussion with other political parties on the possibilities of coming together in the upcoming general elections.
General Miyanda says he is discussing with some political leaders among them Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD)'s Charles Milupi and UPND's Hakainde Hichilema.
"What i can say is that we are engaged in discussions with some political leaders on how we can work together until such a time will be able to inform our supporters on the way forward," he revealed.