Maravi

Ililonga quits UPND over Pact squabbles

Ililonga quits UPND over Pact squabbles
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Wed 13 Oct. 2010, 03:59 CAT

MUYUNDA Ililonga has quit the United Party for National Development (UPND), citing the squabbles between PF and UPND. And Ililonga has said the PF-UPND pact had frustrated its own chances of winning the general elections next year.

Ililonga, who was the UPND candidate in the recent Luena parliamentary by-election, in a statement indicated that recent developments in the PF-UPND pact had “painfully made him to realise that there was more shame than honour in belonging to a bickering opposition grouping”.

He said it was regrettable that the Pact, which was the only way of the opposition getting into power, had been frustrated by individuals with selfish interests in the Pact.

Ililonga said it was distressing that the Pact had frustrated its chances of winning the elections next year because it was clear that neither PF nor UPND could win the elections single-handedly.
He said the Pact was a charade doomed to fail.

Ililonga said the acrimony displayed during the adoption of the Chilanga parliamentary candidate would become a permanent feature in the PF-UPND pact relations whenever the opportunity to adopt a candidate arises.

“If there is anything that the pact had managed to achieve is to deepen competition rather than cooperation between the two parties,” he said.

Ililonga said the Consumers International had endorsed his stay at the Zambia Consumers Association (ZACA) and had already gone back to the association as executive secretary.

He said the Consumers International had extended his stay at ZACA for the next 12 months.
Ililonga said he would concentrate on pursuing career opportunities outside partisan politics.

“I extend sincere gratitude to the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema for according me the rare opportunity to contest the Luena parliamentary elections on the UPND ticket. I also thank the voters of Luena who supported me during the elections,” Ililonga said.

But UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma expressed disappointment with Ililonga’s decision, saying he needed to believe in the party and the Pact.

“We have not yet received his resignation letter but if that’s what he has done, then it’s very unfortunate because his reasons are misplaced. The Pact is intact and those squabbles are normal in every alliance,” Kakoma said.

He said there was need for PF-UPND pact members to learn to find ways of addressing their concerns instead of rushing for decisions.

Kakoma claimed that contrary to Ililonga’s claims, the Pact was still formidable in the political arena and had a great future.

Last week, UPND Kalulushi district chairman Lieutenant John Mwape resigned from the party, also citing the problems between PF and UPND.

Lt Mwape stated that he had resigned from UPND because the opposition had continued to play to the gallery over the Pact and there was no sincerity from either party.

He stated that it was disheartening that people in the Pact were not being sincere and were failing to practice democratic norms and were disregarding the wishes of the electorate.

He stated that the PF-UPND pact lacked discipline and seriousness.

posted by MrK @ 2:47 PM