Maravi

UPND should avoid being selfish - Nyangu

UPND should avoid being selfish - Nyangu
By Allan Mulenga and Tilyenji Mwanza
Thu 18 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT

UPND members must avoid advancing selfish interests, says MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu. Reacting to UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa's statement that UPND will no longer deliberate with the former ruling party in future elections because there was no pact between the two opposition parties, Nyangu urged the UPND not to be emotional about the decision by the MMD to defy an agreement not to contest nine local government elections.

"But going by what our colleagues are saying, that 'it is the last time we are going together', we will not take that as a final decision. I think they were talking out of emotions," he said.

"They UPND are being emotional. Let them think twice and look at the bigger picture and not looking at just smaller picture. Let them look at the bigger picture. If they look at themselves, they will see the real things. They shouldn't be emotional. They should look at issues that will benefit the greater opposition, not just looking at themselves. There was no proper planning; let's plan well next time."

Nyangu said the UPND had faced "rejection" at the grassroot in some areas.
"It was a rejection at their UPND grassroot. It became difficult for us to reverse those decisions except in a few wards like Mukaika, Chavuma and Chibombo. They dragged us and we said, 'okay fine, let us leave it to our colleagues, since we are in a working relationship,'" he said.

"That was not our problem, it was the problem with our colleagues the UPND because the decision for them not to contest in Mufumbwe came too late. Then an afterthought of saying, 'no okay if that is the case (MMD contesting in Mufumbwe) then give us all the wards'. It was too late.

We did not do it deliberately, but that is the situation; it was too late and our organs had already made their own arrangements and it was difficult to reverse."
Nyangu blamed the confusion which ensued between the two opposition parties on improper planning.

But MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe said the former ruling party would not use the media to discuss its relationship with UPND.
Major Kachingwe said the party had strict principles not to discuss its relationship in the media but would instead address their matters using indoor discussions.

"I can say please when you are in relationship you don't go out broadcasting. It's like in a marriage, you do not go out broadcasting who was doing what in the bedroom. You sort out the problems in the bedroom," he said.

Major Kachingwe admitted that there had never been a pact between MMD and UPND, but said they were cooperating partners who had a good working relationship despite being different entities with different manifestos.

"Yes, there has never been a pact but we have a very good working relationship and we meet in round table conferences, we discuss and move forward and we like the way we go.

"And it's true we are different entities, with different manifestos but we come for a common purpose of providing checks and balances to the ruling party," Maj Kahingwe said.

He said he had good relationships with both UPND secretary general Winstone Chibwe and UPND president Hakainde Hichilema.

"Yes we will still work closely together, yes, I have no problem with what is in the papers. If the secretary general wants to talk to me he merely just picks up a phone and talks to me, and even the president. For me it's just you newspapers wanting to sell," Maj Kachingwe said.

Asked to appeal to UPND to stop issuing statements, Maj Kachingwe said he was not a dictator and doing so would be over-stepping his boundaries.
Maj Kachingwe said he had issued strict instructions to his party not to give any statements pertaining to their relationship with UPND.

He added that he did not know the implications the statements in the media would have on the two parties' relationship.

Mweetwa on Monday said UPND will no longer deliberate with the former ruling party in future elections because there was no pact between the two opposition parties and that the Mufumbwe case was a unique circumstance.

Labels: CHEMBE NYANGU, CORNELIUS MWEETWA, UPND

posted by MrK @ 8:11 PM