UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema has admitted that there is a leadership crisis at the top hierarchy of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Speaking through his spokesperson, Charles Kakoma yesterday, Mr Hichilema said the UDA was a united front at the grassroots level but the problems in the alliance were brought mainly by the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD).
As for UNIP, he said the problems were not as rife as those with the FDD.
The UPND and UNIP have been able to discuss and resolve some of the differences whereas the FDD seemed to be in an uncompromising mood.
He explained that problems had arisen as a result of the FDD complaining that the UPND was
poaching its members.
Mr Hichilema said the UPND had never poached any members from either the FDD or UNIP, saying the members had voluntarily resigned from the two parties.
He said most members decided to join the UPND because of the inclusive leadership that he had provided.
Many were leaving the FDD because they did not agree with the leadership style of party president, Edith Nawakwi.
“The problem is the FDD which wants to pullout of the UDA and some of its members are saying if you pullout, we will go with the UDA. They want to remain in UDA,” Mr Hichilema said.
He said at the moment, the leaders in the alliance should not be in a hurry to go it alone but ensure that the problems were resolved.
He warned that if the FDD pulled out of the alliance it would be creating problems for itself.
“It is only at the top that we are seeing some conflicts but the strategy we are employing is to tell everybody to hold their fire. FDD are too much in the hurry to move,” Mr Hichilema said.
I disagree with you. Indeed, I?m not giving a ringing disagreement, but just sayin? what I think. I have my opinion, you have yours.