Maravi

(LUSKATIMES), HH has accepted to be Pact Veep — RB

HH has accepted to be Pact Veep — RB
Monday, May 31, 2010, 7:56

President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has now agreed to be vice-president of the UPND/ Patriotic Front Pact.

President Banda said he had information that Mr Hichilema had now agreed to be vice-president of the UPND/PF Pact, allowing the PF leader, Michael Sata to be the presidential candidate in the 2011 general elections.

Mr Banda said in a statement released by his special assistant for Press and public relations, Dickson Jere in Nice, France yesterday that this was contrary to what Mr Hichilema had promised the people of Southern Province.

He advised the UPND leader that the people of Southern Province had the right to choose a leader of their own choice.

He said Mr Hichilema could not, therefore, decide on behalf of the Southern Province and impose his political preference for a president on them.

He said there was nothing wrong with the statement attributed to Parliamentary Chief Whip, Vernon Mwaanga that some districts in Southern Province had resolved to support the ruling MMD.

President Banda said Mr Hichilema was not the spokesperson of the people of Southern Province and should not impose his political views on innocent people.

And President Banda said he was shocked to read comments attributed to Mr Hichilema that president Mwanawasa was a good leader.

He called on politicians to avoid using the name of the late president in order to gain political mileage.

Mr Banda said the late president had asked to work with Mr Hichilema and the UPND when he was alive but the opposition leader refused, saying president Mwanawasa was an incompetent leader.

“Mr Hichilema and his supporters called the late president all sorts of names and refused to work with him when he was alive,” he said.

He said Mr Hichilema abused the late president when he was alive by constantly attacking his performance and personality.

He said it was clear that Mr Hichilema had now become very desperate and power-hungry to the extent that he had forgotten what he used to say about late president Mwanawasa.

“It is, therefore, surprising that Mr Hichilema is now trying to exploit the name of the late president to advance his political career,” he said.

But speaking at the Newsmakers’ Forum yesterday, Mr Hichlema said President Banda was feeling terminally ill because he was worried about the pact, like Vice-President George Kunda himself.

‘‘We have said as a pact, we shall choose the president and his deputy at the right time and for now, that issue has never been discussed,’’ Mr Hichilema said.

He said he did not know the source of information, adding that President Banda’s aides should advise him correctly.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF-UPND, PRESIDENCY, VICE PRESIDENCY

posted by MrK @ 9:10 PM