Saki refuses to rejoin UPND
Saki refuses to rejoin UPNDBy Lambwe Kachali
Thursday June 19, 2008 [04:00]
UNITED Liberal Party (ULP) president Sakwiba Sikota yesterday said UPND president Hakainde Hichilema is not honest in his offer of reconciliation because he has failed to deal with tribalism in the party. Responding to Hichilema who on Tuesday invited him to rejoin UPND in the spirit of national unity and development, Sikota said Hichilema's offer to the leadership and membership of ULP to rejoin UPND was not genuine and was laced with thorny issues.
Sikota accused Hichilema of playing to the gallery by using the press without apologising to the people that suffered at the 2006 UPND convention and those who were still affected by the alleged tribalism in the party. He said if Hichilema really wanted him to re-join UPND, he should have raised the matter with him privately without using the press. Sikota charged that Hichilema wanted to use ULP to cheat Zambians.
"Mr Hichilema is not being honest in his offer of reconciliation because he has failed to acknowledge and deal with many serious issues of tribalism, intimidation, bribery and violence that made us leave UPND to form the United Liberal Party. We have met with Mr Hichilema at several public events, at no time has he ever shown any remorse or apologised for the blatant tribalism, violence, corruption and bribery that characterised his campaign before, during and after the UPND convention of 2006," Sikota said.
He wondered what message he would send to Zambians if he rejoined UPND. "Wouldn't we be telling the people of Zambia that it is okay for Mr Hichilema to harbour serious tribal sentiments and still aspire to run for public office?" Sikota asked. "We have a moral responsibility to ensure that those that use tribalism, intimidation, bribery and corruption to gain favour in public office are exposed for what they are."
Sikota said even those who gave Hichilema a benefit of doubt after the UPND convention indicated that tribalism and intimidation was rife by the top leadership. He cited Patrick Chisanga, then UPND vice-president and Frank Tayali, then national youth chairperson, who resigned because of alleged tribalism and intimidation from the top leadership.
"In case Mr Hichilema has forgotten, we would like to remind him and the nation of his tribalism. Before the UPND convention in July 2006 at a meeting attended by Honourable Jack Mwiimbu, MP for Monze, Honourable Eileen Imbwae, MP for Lukulu West and Mr Wynter Kabimba, Patriotic Front (PF) chairperson for local government, Mr Hichilema was asked on why he wanted to become UPND leader and as to why Honourable Sikota would not be the right person? His response was purely tribal and we quote; 'I have decided to go for the UPND presidency because a Lozi person can never win the presidency of the Republic of Zambia'," Sikota said.
"Another sad incidence which was also reported in The Post Newspaper that confirmed Mr Hichilema's tribalism was at a public rally he addressed in Kaoma during campaigns in 2006 elections. In reference to our pact with PF in the 2006 elections, he (Hichilema) said, 'Don't vote for ULP because Sakwiba Sikota has sold you to the Bembas'. It is also tribal on the part of Mr Hichilema to ask the people of Western Province not to vote for ULP because of the Bemba people."
Sikota said that if Hichilema was serious about abandoning his tribal sentiments and reconciling with ULP, he should have approached him in person rather than rushing to the press for window dressing.
"If he is truly interested in working with the leadership of the United Liberal party, he should apologise to the people of Zambia for the tribalism and then come to join the ULP," said Sikota.
And ULP Lusaka provincial leadership stated that they would not accept to rejoin UPND.
In a statement signed by provincial treasurer Charles Kalimba, Lusaka district chairperson Roseline Chipasha and constituency trustee Rex Mataa stated that Hichilema's offer was fake and covered with a dark cloud of desperation.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, SAKWIBA SIKOTA, ULP, UPND
posted by MrK @ 3:31 AM
2 Comments:
Politics of anger, hunger and desperation will never develop zambia. Sakwiba condenms hichilema for rushing to the media and the question is "did he himself approach hichilema privately?" He also rushed to the media and hence making the same mistake he condenms his friend for. Zambians, lets learn from the mistakes others make and not try to be public heroes in the media. Being a leader requires humbleness and putting people first. when are we going to have leaders that have the people at heart? Zambians are wallowing in povert and all you do is trade insults in the media. leadership recquires wisdom and its clear that this is a lacking component in zambian politics.
pray for wisdom and trust God to use you to lead his people. We are tired of insults!!
By S.S st petersburg, Russia
Politics of anger, hunger and desperation will never develop Zambia. Sakwiba condemns Hichilema for rushing to the media and the question is "did he himself approach Hichilema privately?" He also rushed to the media and hence making the same mistake he condemns his friend for. Zambians, lets learn from the mistakes others make and not try to be public heroes in the media. Being a leader requires humbleness and putting people first. When are we going to have leaders that have the people at heart? Zambians are wallowing in poverty and all you do is trade insults in the media. Leadership requires wisdom and its clear that this is a lacking component in Zambian politics.
Pray for wisdom and trust God to use you to lead his people. We are tired of insults!!
By S.S, St. Petersburg, Russia
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home