Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) HH questions MMD’s desire for Pact

HH questions MMD’s desire for Pact
Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 13:34

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has thwarted moves by the ruling MMD to haul his party into an alliance saying those calling for an MMD-UPND Pact are wasting time. Mr. Hichilema said his party has never had discussions with the MMD for a formation of a Pact and wondered why senior government officials were insisting on calls for a Pact that would never take place.

“There is no such talks with the MMD, those claims that chiefs in Southern Province are calling for a formation of a Pact are lies. It is cheap propaganda and it should be condemned with the contempt it deserves. This only shows that the UPND is an attractive party. But there is nothing like that,” he said.

Mr. Hakainde said the only job his party had was to strengthen the alliance with the PF.

“What the Zambian people want is a Pact between the PF and UPND so that the MMD can be taken out of power, and the only thing that is important now is to work on this Pact,” he said.

Yesterday ZANIS reported that Southern Province Minister Elijah Muchima reaffirmed the ruling MMD’s call for a Pact with the UPND.

Speaking when he officiated at the Mwemba Area Development Association (MADA) day in Sinazongwe District in Kanchindu area, yesterday, Mr. Muchima said the ruling party’s doors was open for the opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema to enter into a pact..

Mr. Muchima advised the UPND leader to reconsider his party ‘s position in the pact with the Patriotic Front (PF) saying Mr. Hakainde’s should instead partner and work with the ruling party to bring development to all parts of the country.

The provincial minister insisted that there was no way Southern province could remain in opposition, since independence, instead of developing the nation.

He urged the gathering that Southern Province should change the way of doing politics to ensure that they join the rest of the country in embracing development instead of focusing on tribal politics.

“Hakainde should join MMD because the intention is good and develop our area. Sata chased the Anderson Mazoka from MMD and now today you want to join Sata who chased our loved man.”

“Politics should not divide us let us work as one. Let us support each other so that next time they will also support you,” Mr. Muchima said.

Speaking at the same function, Mwemba Area Development Association (MADA) day organizer Ngande Mwanajiti said Sinazongwe people should not continue to remain in opposition.

Mr.Mwanajiti said meaningful development could not be attained if people in Southern Province remain in opposition.

“Unless we take are rightful role in issues of development. Exclusion is a social evil. It becomes impossible and unacceptable for any person and individual to argue that you continue doing wrong,” Mwanajiti said.

Meanwhile Centre for Policy and Dialogue (CPD) has warned that the reputation of UPND would be ruined should the opposition party decide to go into an alliance with the MMD.

CPD executive director Neo Simutanyi said Mr. Hichilema risks losing his credibility if he defies all he has stood for all along and decide to form an alliance with the MMD.

Dr Simutanyi however said it was very critical for Mr. Hichilema not to ignore the sentiments coming from southern province because his party does not control the entire southern region.

He advised that the best thing to do was to go to Southern Province to investigate who was really behind the claims of a looming UPND-MMD alliance.

He told Qfm that the MMD would gladly work with the UPND but that the opposition party would have more to lose than gain in such an alliance.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, DR NEO SIMUTANYI, MMD, PF-UPND

posted by MrK @ 2:18 PM