Musician Lucious speaks in support of Atupele, calling him ‘Malawi next President’
Malawian number one musician Lucius Banda, the self-styled ‘soldier of the Poor Man’, has publicly welcomed the decision to co-opt him into the United Democratic Front (UDF) national executive committee (NEC), the party’s decision-making body, saying he is keen to serve UDF and help to propel youthful presidential candidate Atupele Muluzi to power 2014 elections.
Banda was co-opted alongside Moses Dossi and Ruth Takomana, who lost to the party’s president Atupele Muluzi during the party’s national conference on October 30. Others are Smolet Kachere, Dr Godfrey Chapola, Leornard Mangulama, Dr. Clement Chiwaya, Robert Jamieson, Austin Ajawa, Ian Kanyuka, Christopher Kanyuka and Rose Mankhwala.
UDF constitution allows the NEC to co-opt 20 members.
Speaking in an interview on Capital FM Straight Talk programme hosted by Rhodes Msonkho and monitored by Nyasa Times Thursday evening, a popular musician –cum-politician , said it is high time Malawians go for a youthful president after experiencing what old men and a woman president can offer Malawians given an opportunity to rule the country.
“A young man knows that when he is done he will be held accountable,” argued Banda adding that “old people know that when I quit or when I am done with my 10 years I will be going to heaven”.
He urged Malawians to largely support UDF and Atupele Muluzi for the party to take leadership of the country come 2014, saying youth leadership is possible.
PP regrets
Banda, 42, who until August 2006 was an MP for Balaka North, indicated recently that he had joined President Joyce Banda People’s Party (PP), but later reportedly withdrew his membership.
He however expressed regrets with the decision he made in joining PP though he described its President Joyce Banda as a “visionally leader”.
The musician denied that he joined PP looking for opportunities to enrich himself.
He said PP ideologies did win his heart and added that he realized he “was a stranger in the party”.
UDF return
Banda said his decision to return to UDF is an appropriate thing to do.
“There is one UDF led by a youngster; I will be mad to be in a party led by old men,” he noted.
Lucius observed that a “new generation” committed to serving the interests of Malawians have taken over the leadership of the party.
“We want changed politics, new things, new strategies and new crop of leadership. I have made the decision and nobody should question it,” he added.
He said he realized that UDF is a very strong party when he left it. “UDF is everywhere on the grassroots and when I tried to ditch UDF is when I knew how strong it is because wherever I went they talked about UDF,” said Banda.
The Balaka based musician wondered why people were not taking to task politicians such as Gwanda Chakwamba and Hertherwick Ntaba, among others, for ‘political prostitution.’
“I am not like these other political prostitutes who dumped their political parties to join the ruling party. I have made rare and worth appreciating decision to join UDF which is in opposition,” he said.
He has vowed to soldier on with his music career and that he will concentrate on usual business of featuring and tackling love and current affairs issues. Banda is famous for hard-hitting songs since the one-party regime of Hastings Kamuzu Banda, through Bakili Muluzi to Bingu wa Mutharika. His Life album courted controversy as it tore the Mutharika regime to pieces over its poor economic policies and bad governance. This resulted in state owned broadcaster banning his music.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
