Maravi

Rupiah wants HH to lead MMD-UPND pact

Rupiah wants HH to lead MMD-UPND pact
By Roy Habaalu
Mon 24 Oct. 2011, 14:00 CAT

RUPIAH Banda is scheming support for UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to lead a pact with the MMD and field him as the two parties' sole candidate in the 2016 presidential elections.

Well-placed sources who attended a meeting held between former president Banda and MMD officials this week said Banda had insisted that the UPND president leads the UPND/MMD pact in a scheme also aimed at ensuring Banda's protection from possible prosecution.

Sources said Banda during the meeting also refused to have Lunte member of parliament Felix Mutati lead the pact as president once he hands over party leadership following Hichilema's assurance and his clear opposition to Sata's rule.

"The boss (Rupiah Banda) is pushing that they give Hichilema the presidency for him to stand in 2016 representing the MMD and UPND. Rupiah Banda is the one influencing that they should give HH the presidency because of problems he is having. Besides himself, he openly said he is having sleepless nights over his children and not so much for himself. He even said: ‘The biggest worry is not me as Banda but I am worried for my children, the deals they were involved in, they can't come out of them they were too big'. The president himself has complained that his children went in too much they can't wash their hands. That is his biggest worry," sources said.

[In other words, he wants to get back into power again, so he can provide cover for his and his family's corrupt deals. I say: let the prosecutions begin. - MrK]

"He wants HH to take over from him so that before the next elections they (MMD and UPND) can merge to make one party. But they are saying talks are still ongoing between UPND and MMD and it's like HH wants to hijack everything with Rupiah Banda's blessings. But now the problem is Mutati also wants to become party president and the one pushing Mutati is Catherine Namugala. Kabinga Pande also wants it.

Rupiah Banda is saying let's put HH to be our president because he has already spoken to him and has agreed to take care of all the MMD members and former ministers will be considered when he forms government.

And some would be given full cabinet positions that's the deal they have clinched on one condition that HH should support Rupiah Banda so that he doesn't go in (jail). Banda is saying give HH because he is clean."

The sources further disclosed that under the scheme, the Bemba vote would be secured by giving recalled Ambassador to Canada Nevers Mumba to serve as Hichilema's deputy in the pact.

"Nevers' job is to get the Bemba vote and will be helped by Mutati. They feel Hichilema will win them North-Western, Western and Southern Provinces and parts of Lambaland while the Bemba vote will be secured by Nevers together with Mutati, although Mutati has not bought into this plan yet."

During the meeting both parties felt they would emerge strong together and were resolved to frustrate the PF government's programmes using the remaining huge sums of money collected from sympathizers who financed the extravagant election campaign which saw their defeat.

"They are also planning to engage some strong lawyers to derail any convictions, delay and buy time before the next elections," the sources further disclosed.

Sources said the scheme however has not gone well in the party because Banda has been meeting with Hichilema leaving out key senior party members, a move that has caused cracks within the MMD's top leadership.

"Last week you saw the resignation of our great legal mind Bwalya Chiti. He cited these same problems, where Rupiah is trying to protect himself from prosecution using the party hence these unholy alliances with small parties like UPND," the sources said.

"You also saw the position taken by the MMD Youth chairman, Moses Muteteka over the relationship with UPND. The members are simply not happy."

The meeting was attended by Hichilema, president Banda, MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe and national chairman Michael Mabenga.

Responding to recent revelations on the meetings, the UPND leader has maintained that there was nothing wrong with having an alliance in the opposition to offer checks and balance

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Labels: CORRUPTION, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MMD, NEOLIBERALISM, NEVERS MUMBA, RUPIAH BANDA, UPND

posted by MrK @ 3:37 PM