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(LUSAKATIMES) Don’t underrate opposition financial sources, RB urges MMD

Don’t underrate opposition financial sources, RB urges MMD
Thursday, December 16, 2010, 9:19
By Lusakatimes

President Rupiah Banda has advised MMD members not to underestimate the financial muscle of the opposition warning that doing so would kick the ruling party out of governance in next year’s general elections.

Speaking at the MMD fundraising dinner dance in Lusaka yesterday, President Banda told party members that the MMD was not the only party with financial resources. President Banda urged officials to emulate the opposition’s financial mobilization skills by bringing businessmen and women closer to the party.

He said MMD needed to broaden and decentralizing its fundraising efforts to include grass-root members and the general public contributions to fundraising activities.

“Don’t underestimate our opponents, don’t think you are the only ones with resources because you don’t know where the opposition get their resources from. We have to work hard at being in good terms with the business community. Listen to them, understand their problems and do something about it.

He observed the need for strengthening his party and expressed worry that if his party exhibited complacency, a united opposition would take over the country.

“I want to state that it is incumbent upon us members of the party to realize that the more we achieve, the more people will oppose us because they want to takeover and claim these achievement. So we have to work very hard and remain united. We should not be confused because we are going towards elections and everybody wants to contest positions. Let’s do it in a sensible manner so that we don’t split our party,” He said.

And party chairman Michael Mabenga said he would ensure that President Banda stands as the party candidate at the 2011 elections. He said the party is convinced that President Banda would bounce back as republican president with a fresh five-year mandate.

Meanwhile president Banda who has welcomed the court’s decision to nullify the Mufumbwe parliamentary election results in which opposition UPND’s Elliott Kamondo was elected MP, said he would not defend any party members that would be found wanting for promoting electoral violence.

Labels: CORRUPTION, ELLIOTT KAMONDO, FINANCE BANK, MICHAEL MABENGA, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:22 PM