Chiluba’s successor to be known by month-end

The ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) would announce President Frederick Chiluba’s successor later this month, Information and Broadcasting Minister Vernon Mwaanga announced on Tuesday.

The ‘Post’ quoted the minister as saying at a press briefing that the MMD national executive committee was still consulting over a new candidate. “I take this opportunity to assure the people that we will not depart from what we promised them, that our presidential candidate to succeed President Chiluba will be announced this month,” he said.

Commenting on the withdrawal of Radio Phoenix’s operating licence, Mwaanga said: “When you are operating a radio station, there are legal requirements that you have, such as to renew your operating licence at a stipulated period - failure to which it will be withdrawn,” Mwaanga was quoted as saying. “Radio Phoenix’s operating licence expired at the end of February this year and they were supposed to renew it in March but have not. This is an unacceptable state of affairs because if we allow institutions to violate the law then we are creating anarchy.”