Ignore PF-UPND, urges Veep

Vice President George Kunda has urged MMD members in Western Province to ignore recent developments in the Patriotic Front-United Party for National Development (PF-UPND) pact and concentrate on strengthening the ruling party.

Mr Kunda said this yesterday when he addressed scores of MMD supporters and Mongu residents who welcomed him at the airport.

The Vice-President is in Mongu to grace this year’s Kufuluhela traditional ceremony for the Litunga of Western Province.

He is also in the area to drum up support for MMD candidate in the August 5 Luena parliamentary by-election, Mwangala Maopu.

“Those who read newspapers, you must have heard an in-depth analysis of what is going on in the pact. There are certain developments in the pact which are of interest to the nation.

“But President Banda who has sent me here has given us instructions that we should not be bothered or concerned with what is happening in the pact. What is happening in the pact is very interesting and it is like you’re reading a novel,” Mr Kunda said.

The Vice-President said instead of paying attention to the emerging cracks in the pact, the MMD should concentrate on strengthening and mobilising the ruling party because it believes in order, peace and tranquility.

Mr Kunda said the MMD considers Western Province as its stronghold.

He said the PF and UPND are using political rejects to sell the pact in the province.

Mr Kunda said the UPND is using its vice-president for political affairs Francis Simenda who failed when he served as Mongu Central member of Parliament (MP) from 2001 to 2006.

“Because he (Mr Simenda) failed, you rejected him here in Mongu. And yet this is the man Mr Hakainde Hichilema is using to sell the pact in Western Province,” Mr Kunda said.

He said the PF is also doing the same by using the reject to sell the pact in Western Province.
[pullquote]“Those who read newspapers, you must have heard an in-depth analysis of what is going on in the pact. There are certain developments in the pact which are of interest to the nation.

“But President Banda who has sent me here has given us instructions that we should not be bothered or concerned with what is happening in the pact. What is happening in the pact is very interesting and it is like you’re reading a novel,” Mr Kunda said.[/pullquote]

Mr Kunda called on people of Western Province to be united because the area has produced formidable leaders who are currently serving both in the ruling party and Government.

He cited Mulobezi MP Michael Mabenga who is also Deputy Minister of Lands and in charge of the MMD countrywide.

Mr Kunda said other formidable leaders the province has produced are Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Communications and Transport Geoffrey Lungwangwa and Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa.

“We also have Minister of Community Development and Social Services Michael Kaingu who is doing a fantastic job when it comes to empowering women and this is the leadership which Western Province has produced for Zambia and we treasure all these MPs and ministers,” he said.

Mr Kunda said the advantage of having such leaders is that the province will receive a fair share of national resources to provide accelerated development.
He said Government will continue implementing development projects in all parts of the country.

“We shall build schools, hospitals, roads and we shall explore for oil and minerals,” he said.

Mr Kunda said this is the kind of leadership Government is providing and asked the people in the province why they should accommodate rejects.

He said Mr Hichilema is under siege in Southern Province because people there have rejected him and he wants to export that confusion to Western Province.
“Don’t allow that kind of a situation. As for Milupi, I won’t say much because I am going in the field and explain his weaknesses. We know what he is made of.

We have been with him in Parliament and for those who want to know more about him, I have a detailed dossier on Milupi,” he said.

Earlier, Western Province Minister Sikwibele Mwapela said the people of Western Province are solidly behind the MMD Government and President Banda.

Mr Mwapela said this is because people can see development projects like construction of major roads, district hospitals, the Farmer Input Support Programme, the Food Security Pack and empowerment programmes provided by the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.

Mr Mwapela said the MMD has already done ground work in Luena where it is conducting a peaceful campaign without any name-calling.

He said the PF-UPND pact has not made any impact in Luena constituency.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]