Tayali eyes Lusaka mayoral position

I WILL contest the forthcoming Lusaka mayoral by-election so that through the position I showcase my zeal and leadership qualities to Zambians before they could entrust me with a bigger responsibility of leading the nation in 2021, says Chilufya Tayali.

In an interview with the Daily Nation yesterday, Mr Tayali who is Economic and Equity Party (EEP) president confirmed that he would contest the position of mayor of Lusaka on his party’s ticket.

Asked if he will relinquish his position as EEP leader, Mr Tayali said he will continue being the president of an opposition political and offering checks and balances for the good of the country.

“I’m aware that mayorship is a lower position compared to Presidency, however, it is not about the position but service. We should not be egocentric and proud to look at positions as if they are the end in themselves. As far as I am concerned, I am ready to assume any position as long as I have an opportunity to serve even one person.

“I want to inform you that, this position will just be an opportunity for me to learn something more on leadership, while I showcase my zeal to serve. It is always good to learn something, test power in a lower position so that you are not confused when you are in the big seat,” Mr Tayali said.

Mr Tayali said he wants to win the confidence of Zambians through what he will deliver as a mayor so that he would be entrusted with a bigger responsibility of President in 2021.

He added, “In other words, I will stand as President in 2021 but I want to have something to refer to for the decision in 2021.”

The EEP leader pointed out that being a mayor is not a Presidential appointment for him to be a bootlicker to the current regime saying he will never appease any political party because, under the constitution he would have been voted for directly by the electorate in Lusaka.

Mr Tayali said the task for the mayor is more enormous than that facing some Members of Parliament since the Mayor will have to campaign and win in more than one constituency to stand a chance of being the city father

“I will only be answerable to the people and the constitution, and I shall follow “ADEDE’, Accountability, Discipline, Efficiency, Development and Equity so that I put Lusaka in order and make it shine as a capital city,” he said.

The Lusaka mayoral position fell vacant after the death of Lusaka mayor Wilson Kalumba, 54, who died at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) on Tuesday, May 15 this year after an illness.

The late Mr Kalumba was in 2016 elected mayor of Lusaka on the PF ticket after polling 270,151 votes beating his closest rival Maureen Mwanawasa of the UPND who received 150,807 votes.