No prominent party can ignore China, says HH

No prominent party can ignore China, says HH
By Lambwe Kachali and Chibaula Silwamba
Monday April 21, 2008 [04:00]

THERE is no prominent political party that can ignore China, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said. In an interview at Lusaka International Airport before his departure for China last Saturday, Hichilema said he expected to meet a number of people including officials from the ruling Chinese Communist Party in order to learn how that country’s economy was growing so well and at a fast rate.

Hichilema’s comments follow reports that he is set to sign a bilateral agreement with the Chinese Communist Party amidst opposition from the party’s National Management Committee (NMC) and parliamentarians. Hichilema said it was not his first time to travel abroad to meet professionals from developed countries.

He said a country on its own could not develop without learning from other countries’ economies.

Hichilema said he had never faced resistance from the members of NMC because he was a transparent leader whose aim was to serve the people of Zambia diligently.

He said there was nothing sinister about his trip to China since it was his party’s vision to learn from developed economies as it prepares to serve Zambians better from 2011 and beyond.

He disclosed that he had so far visited Norway, United Kingdom, and France among others and was now visiting China to learn more in economic, social and political areas.

Hichilema said UPND could not ignore the importance of associating with developed countries and that China was no exception.

He said many prominent presidents from developed countries had visited China and it was not true that whoever visited that country signed bilateral agreements with the Chinese Communist Party.

“Nicolas Sarkozy French President was in China, Gordon Brown British Prime Minister was in China, so what’s wrong with Hakainde going to China? I visit so many places and China is just one of the best countries I am visiting, but I am not going to China to sign what people call bilateral agreements with any political party. What I can tell you is that I am going to China, Hong Kong to be specific on professional grounds,” Hichilema said. “I am a professional man; I am sure by now you understand me.”

Hichilema said there were a number of programmes UPND was carrying out in readiness for 2011 elections, which he said had been kept confidential.

He said not everything a genuine political leader was doing was for public consumption.

He said leaders seeking public office must have an element of confidentiality.

Hichilema said the problem in Zambian politics was that there was no credibility and confidentiality.

Asked to clarify reports that seeking financial help from the Chinese Communist Party for 2011 campaigns was on his agenda, Hichilema responded: “You know that UPND is financed by the people who what change in Zambia, not anybody from outside. You should be financing UPND because you are a Zambian.

This is why we want funding of political parties to come through the budget to avoid such suspicions. So there is nothing like that.”

But reliable sources last week said Hichilema’s trip had been initiated and sponsored by the Chinese Communist Party.

The sources said some senior party members were opposed to the bilateral agreement arguing that it was not in the best interest of the UPND.

The sources said the trip was also opposed because of China’s current record especially its investors in Zambia.

“President Hichilema will be travelling to China on 20th April to sign a bilateral deal with the Chinese Communist Party but there has been a lot of resistance among top party members,” said the sources.

“It’s not in the best interest of our party. We don’t have a clear policy on China and politically, Chinese policies are not the best especially the way Chinese investors treat Zambians.”

Currently, the UPND has bilateral agreements with the Norwegian Liberal Party and the Liberal Democrats of the United Kingdom.
The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has a partnership with Scotland’s ruling party and the Scottish National Party (SNP) through the West Minster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).