We won’t Leave Power, says General Otafiire



Monitor online.



“Our motto remains no change. We either win or they lose” Gen. Otafiire, a bush war hero said adding that the NRM fought for power and would not relinquish it to the opposition.



IS THIS NOT ANOTHER MUGABE IN THE MAKING...?



David Mafabi







Manafwa



Local Government Minister Kahinda Otafiire has said the NRM party will not hand over power even if it loses in democratic elections.

Maj. Gen. Otafiire, also a historical member of the NRM, made the controversial remarks on Wednesday at Bubulo Girls’ school in Manafwa District while addressing NRM members in the district.



His comments continue the hardening of rhetoric between the ruling party and its opponents even as supporters of President Yoweri Museveni begin a mobilisation campaign to re-elect him in 2011.



This week it was also reported that Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale, a security apparatchik and Presidential adviser while calling for support for Mr Museveni warned what he said were coup plotters.



“Our motto remains no change. We either win or they lose” Gen. Otafiire, a bush war hero said adding that the NRM fought for power and would not relinquish it to the opposition.



“We are still here, we are going nowhere,” the he said. Gen. Otafiire, a one-time patron of the Pan-African Movement in Uganda said the opposition was not prepared to lead. While some low level NRM enthusiasts can make such remarks without causing alarm, Gen. Otafiire is a member of Cabinet and his remarks in public are expected to reflect the government thinking.



Since the promulgation of the constitution in 1995, the government is supposed to be changed through free, fair elections and suggestions that the will of the people be resisted amounts to opposing constitutional order.



“True, the greatest honour of civilisation is to resolve disagreements and contradictions through dialogue but where our opposition is not ready for this, it means that they are immature to guide this country peacefully,” said Gen. Otafiire.



He said NRM members in Manafwa District should take up all the local government offices in the upcoming LC 1 and III elections so as to be able to use their dominant position in the 2011 general election. The elections have since been put off due to lack of funding.



“Please don’t give FDC [Forum for Democratic Change] an opportunity to sell themselves. Awaken our people because FDC is a good salesman even when they are marketing nothing, don’t take them lightly,” said Gen. Otafiire.



The General also presided over the commissioning of the construction of a new Shs147 million office block to house the Manafwa Town Council. Speaking in Runyankole, on February 14, President Museveni similarly said he would not leave power because had won the privilege through a bush war.



“It is me who hunted and after killing my animal, they want me to go, where should I go?” he said in reference to the 5-year bush war that resulted in his presidency in 1986.



Gen’Otafiire’s remarks could cause ripples among the politically active population at a time when the world is struggling to convince Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe to hold free and fair elections and to relinquish power in case he loses. Mr Mugabe has said he will never hand over power to the opposition.