Maravi

Former president Banda, Hichilema meet

Former president Banda, Hichilema meet
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 02 Oct. 2011, 14:40 CAT

RUPIAH Banda on Friday held a meeting with fellow opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, to finalise their parties' voting pact in Parliament, sources close to the two leaders disclosed.

The meeting which was held at former president Banda's temporary residence 8 Reedbuck Road in Kabulonga, was aimed at among other issues, finalising the voting pact which is directed at frustrating the ruling PF key policies that may come up in Parliament.

The meeting that was closed to the press and other party structures saw Hichilema arriving at the venue incognito in a Toyota Harrier, accompanied by a driver and a woman.

"The two met for 1 hour and 20 minutes. The way the meeting was arranged, they made sure few people knew who was coming. Even HH was not using his usual known vehicles," the source said.

The two parties have also been meeting on the possibility of floating former parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga as Speaker of the National Assembly.

Under the scheme, the UPND would be allowed to propose a name for Deputy Speaker and be supported by MMD, while the position of Chairman of Parliamentary Committees would go to Chifumu Banda.

The two parties have been meeting quietly to take advantage of the ruling PF's lack of a clear majority in Parliament.

However, PF seems to have made headway in the ‘battle for numbers' as they have attracted some opposition MMD members of parliament into government while several others are expected to formalize their moves to the ruling PF.

The loose pact between the two parties has been reported with recent events having been the MMD helping to distribute campaign materials for the UPND prior to elections.

Prior to the elections, former president Banda had projected a win for himself but with few numbers in Parliament, prompting him to go into a pact with the UPND.

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MMD, PARLIAMENT, RUPIAH BANDA, UPND

posted by MrK @ 12:31 AM