The United Party for National Development (UPND) has expressed displeasure at the manner the top leadership of the MMD in the has handled the Mufumbwe by-election consultative process.
In a statement released to ZANIS in Livingstone yesterday, UPND deputy spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo, said the party is deeply disappointed with the unprofessional and deceitful application of arm-twisting tactics being applied by the MMD top leadership over the matter.
And the UPND has noted that the former ruling party caused the forth-coming by election through the defection of its member, Steven Masumba, to the ruling party Patriotic Front (PF).
Mr Lifwekelo advised the MMD to be concerned about its MPs who have continued to accept ministerial appointments with nine of its MPs currently serving in the PF government.
He stated that UPND MPs have remained intact even after extreme provocation and intimidation from the PF.
“While UPND and its leadership have demonstrated total restraint in the discussions, the MMD top leadership has continued to undermine the process by disregarding the rules of engagement with impunity rendering the whole process an academic exercise”, the statement read in part.
The deputy spokesperson charged that the MMD top leadership has continued to attack and ridicule the UPND leadership every time they have been given an opportunity to talk to the media.
Mr Lifwekelo noted that it has become clear that the current discussion with the MMD faces an enormous crisis of credibility following continued attacks on the UPND leadership by its top brass.
He appealed to the MMD top leadership to give a chance to the process and stop undermining and demonizing the UPND leadership.
“Our advice to the former ruling party, MMD, is that UPND reserves the right to exist as a political party and the fact that we want to work with the MMD on matters of national importance in parliament should not be taken as a sign of weakness”, he said.
He observed that the party is under extreme pressure from its general membership to go it alone after coming under heavy criticism from the MMD top leadership.
Mr Lifwekelo added that the UPND and its president, Hakainde Hichilema, remain committed to the process and the MMD must remain susceptible to the rule of engagement.
[ZANIS]
IT CANT WORK MMD CANT BE IN ANY POLITICAL UNION WITH UPND-mufumbwe who is putting in a candidate????????????????
coz both UPND and MMD can do better although not better than the ruling party PF will win the seat in mufumbwe.
UPND – can you please go it alone and reap the results. And please stop these marriages of inconveniences and concentrate on recruiting new members?
Leave MMD for the Dogs or Bananas and concentrate on your own battle. epela!
Ba UPND just give chance to MMD like they gave you Chongwe and Livingstone
Iwe – these no more time for getting into Pacts with Devils like MMD!
Wapya Munzi! They are all selfish political parties and PF will get it if these squables continues between MMD and UPND
From MMD vuvuzela to attacking MMD without ever having had a fall out that we know of. Politics of poverty. If PF could have accepted him he would be singing their tune.
Nevers sold that seat to PF the day he was walking hand in hand with Sata. Fintu nibwangu! That is why they are insisting to field a non sellable candidate so that they lose the seat to PF. Mark these words.
In short UPND hasnt agreed with all its heart to let MMD go for mufumbwe. iam reminded in the olden days wen will give up something reluctantly not coz we want to. excatly Lifwekelo,s words there.
Upnd wats yo interest is to save the country or yo tribal party u shud so stupid to think we seeing wat u up to wake up u morons
OK. Twanvela. But I Can’t Hide Behind Condoms
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT LIFWEKELO ALALIFYOKOLA ILYABULA INSEKE. NANGU LILYA BETA ATI KABULA MBUTO NTOTELWA KUMASEMBE.
You cannot give MMD the chance due to principle, their candidate caused the by election so UPND should take this one honestly MMD should remember that they are not in power anymore that is the only reason they won by 50 votes. UPND should field a candidate or else Masumba will take the day.
Lifwekelo is a fool with William Banda these are the chaps who are cheating HH, MMD is aware that today Monday 8.10.2012 WILLIAM BANDA organized hooligans to demonstrate at UPND Secretariat over MUFUMBWE but why demonstrate here in Lusaka using those former MMD THUGS BOBOs and MAINZAs when the by-election is in Mufumbwe and Mufumbwe has its own people on the ground. Its up to HH to continue to use such confused political liars in the name of LIFWEKELO AND WILLIAM BANDA. Its time UPND came to the reality that MMD has National character UPND has Regional Character. WILLIAM BANDA when defected to UPND he promised to finish MMD within 1 month and promised to take UPND to Eastern Province within 1 month has he done that? the answer is no. so its common sense that u can not trust such pipo
Thumb Edwin,I see alot of sense & wisdom in u.UPND should consider putting in a strategic position in the party.
yes, politics of poverty at play here. who would believe that lifwekelo would one day turn against the mmd?
LT, PLEASE EMPLOY SOMEONE WHO CAN WRITE GOOD ENGLISH. EVERY ARTICLE IN YOUR ELECTRONIC PAPER HAS GRAMMATICAL, SPELLING AND WHATEVER ERRORS. DO NOT EMPLOY YOUR GRADE 7 DROP OUT SON. YOU ARE DEALING WITH SERIOUS MATTERS HERE.
Give Mufumbwe to MMD they gave you livingstone and chongwe UPND should not be selfish after all MMD is a bigger party. you are very power hungry indeed.
The MMD is just fo.olish, how can they think they are in a pact with a pompous for nothing UPND?? UPND is selfish you dull MMD if you don’t know. Even come 2016, they will field HH as the PACT president against all olds. MMD just start organizing your party alone than with a useless pact with UPND. Gauge your strength in Mufumbwe period.
And this Lufwenkelo is a sebana wikute man. Just yesterday he was supporting MMD but since MMD is out of power and can’t pay Lumfwenkelo handsomely, He decides to lick UPND!!!! What a politically lost man.