Maravi

Sakwiba is bitter for nothing, says HH

Sakwiba is bitter for nothing, says HH
By Lambwe Kachali and Agness Changala
Saturday June 21, 2008 [04:00]

OPPOSITION UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said he does not want to engage in politics of hatred with United Liberal Party (ULP) leader Sakwiba Sikota. In an interview on Thursday from Milanzi Constituency where he had gone to drum up support for UPND candidate Chimwala Phiri, Hichilema said he had insisted on inviting Sikota to his party because he harboured no grudge against him. Hichilema said Sikota's statement was malicious and misleading because he (Hichilema) had met him on several occasions over the need to reconcile.

"I think, as leaders, we need to be honest and sincere. Before the 2006 convention, I met Hon Sikota at Pamodzi Hotel and this meeting was presided by Hon David Matongo Pemba member of parliament in which we discussed that each of us should accept the outcome of the convention. And after the convention, I met him at Dr Kenneth
Kaunda's residence and we discussed many issues.

There have been many emissaries used between these two years to have us come together so that we deliver this country forward," Hichilema said.

"So, it is clear that my brother Saky is bitter for nothing. You know, I believe in honesty and sincerity and it will be important that Hon Sikota accept that. We cannot be perpetrating enmity for two years. That's not constructive politics."
Hichilema said UPND's invitation to Sikota was genuine and that he had never issued tribal sentiments as alleged.

He said people promoting issues of tribalism lacked important issues to talk about because UPND believed in unity regardless of people's affiliations.

"This is not the first time Sikota has issued such derogatory tribal statements against me. He has been circulating many statements which I have not reacted to because I believe they are not worth reacting to," Hichilema said. "As politicians who seek public office, we should not promote hatred the way Sikota does. Anyway, Zambians will judge at the end of the day."

He said if Sikota was against the idea of reconciliation, he should not use lies.
"Even if Sikota is trying to insult me, I will not insult back because we have been vindicated since the majority of ULP members have come back to their original party, UPND. So there is no need to argue with such a person," he said.

And Hichilema complained that The Post editorial comment, which was carried in the Thursday edition was discriminatory and injurious to his party.
Hichilema said The Post had no authority to question UPND's campaigns because they were at liberty to do so across the country.

He said newspapers should not be used as tools of oppression against other political parties.

"If there is something wrong I have done against you The Post, please call me and we can resolve," said Hichilema.

And former ULP chairperson for elections Lawrence Nyambe said Hichilema's olive branch to ULP members to rejoin UPND was genuine.

Nyambe, who recently resigned from ULP to rejoin UPND, said the call for Sikota to rejoin the party was based on Hichilema's strong desire to unite Zambians to work together and achieve social and economic development and reduce poverty in the country.

Nyambe said tribal sentiments at the UPND convention were uttered by Ngande Mwanajiti and Syacheye Madyenkuku and it was unfair to ask Hichilema to apologise over the sentiments.

On Tuesday, Hichilema asked Sikota to join UPND in the spirit of national unity and development but on Wednesday Sikota said the UPND leader's invitation was not genuine.

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, SAKWIBA SIKOTA, SATA, ULP, UPND

posted by MrK @ 3:39 AM