Rupiah Banda says he cannot lower himself to be Edgar Lungu’s vice-president, having previously served as Republican President.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday after returning from Solwezi where he had gone to campaign for the PF presidential candidate, Banda said tourism minister Jean Kapata’s pledge to have him as vice-president was a joke.
“That was just some sense of humour about me becoming vice-president. The campaign should have things to laugh about. I have been Vice-President and President before, so why should I..? Vonse ni pitamo (I’ve passed through all that),” he said.
And reacting to Munkombwe’s statement that time had come for a Tonga to rule Zambia, Banda said the statement was in bad taste.
He said the country could not move forward with such tribal remarks.
“Munkombwe is always like that. He says wrong things at the wrong time. But it is unfortunate and he is spoiling the campaign for his friend. What he said is not good. This country cannot go forward if we become tribal,” Banda said.
He said logically, Munkombwe’s argument that the presidency should be rotated among all the tribes in Zambia did not make sense.
Banda said Zambians should be left to choose who they want to lead them at any given time without looking at one’s tribe.
“A good citizen will come from any part of the country, so this idea of having this particular tribe to rule at a particular time cannot work out,” said Banda.