The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) has began its retreat, with party President Nevers Mumba imploring the party membership to strive to defeat the corruption perception, which he said has now turned into a popular song in Zambia. And Dr Mumba has said he enjoys a wonderful relationship with former Republican President Rupiah Banda.

Speaking when he officially opened the party’s retreat in Lusaka’s Chilanga area yesterday, Dr Mumba said politics was more about perception than reality.

“It is how we are perceived by most Zambians that must be addressed,” he said. [pullquote]He said President Michael Sata had a lot to do with “painting the MMD black” yet he served as its National Secretary.[/pullquote]

Dr Mumba said it was the way one felt about or viewed themselves when they looked at the mirror, saying in politics it was all about perception and that voters elected leaders on that basis.

“It is true that some of the key players, if not most, who could have painted this image are no longer in the party, but the song continues to be sung that MMD is a corrupt party and we seem to have somebody who has composed that song and has sung it long enough and it has become a popular chorus in the country.

“So any politician who wants to attack MMD, they only have to play the record: MMD is corrupt, the song that’s been coined. It is being sung everywhere. It remains our responsibility to deal with this song,” he said.

He charged that most baseless accusations against some of the MMD leaders by the Patriotic Front (PF) were allegedly politically motivated and that such assertions would continue “adding verses to the corruption perception song. We must deal with this and take the ball in the right court.”

He said President Michael Sata had a lot to do with “painting the MMD black” yet he served as its National Secretary.

He said the former ruling party had gone for the retreat to, among others, disown the corruption tag and instead mount a spirited fight against any acts of corruption both in MMD and Government.

“I have confidence that the issue of perception is going to be defeated. It may take a little bit of time, but it shall be defeated. History is on my side in this regard in dealing with perception,” he said.[pullquote]“I have confidence that the issue of perception is going to be defeated. It may take a little bit of time, but it shall be defeated. History is on my side in this regard in dealing with perception,” he said.[/pullquote]

He recounted that before he joined politics, there was a strong perception that he could not be a politician as a clergyman, but that he defied the odds by proving that as long as one had a vision for the country and acceptable values to present to the greater group of the determined people of all walks of life, one could become a politician.

Dr Mumba said the reformation that was going to happen in MMD would be a great intrigue that would propel the former ruling party into the next election and give the party confidence that it was possible to bounce back into power once it was ready to face its challenges.

He said reform was necessary as without that, MMD would not survive in the current political scenario.

Dr Mumba added also that the survival of the party would be dependent on effectively changing the inherent challenge of “tokenism and nchekelako” (handouts), saying the unwillingness of some the party membership to volunteer in preference for money would be costly to the MMD. [pullquote]“MMD cannot behave and act as though we are still in Government. We must now embrace a spirit of sacrifice. We must be willing to give to the party instead of receiving from the party. If we don’t recapture the 1990, 1991 spirit of volunteering for our party, we are bound to fail by the way side,” he said.[/pullquote]

He said there was need for the Retreat to come up with a programme to help the general party membership recover from the “cultural shock” to enable them accept and understand that they were now in the opposition, warning that failure to change the mindset would result in the party not operate effectively.

“MMD cannot behave and act as though we are still in Government. We must now embrace a spirit of sacrifice. We must be willing to give to the party instead of receiving from the party. If we don’t recapture the 1990, 1991 spirit of volunteering for our party, we are bound to fail by the way side,” he said.

And Dr Mumba said enemies of the party had been using the media through “reliable sources” were trying to create divisions in the party by creating an impression that he was not getting along with former president Rupiah Banda.

“I want to clear the air that President Banda and I are enjoying a wonderful relationship. There’s no reason for me to ever doubt his commitment to this party and his commitment to the support that he has continued to give me as the new president.

“He calls me, I call him. Whenever I have a challenge, I talk to him. And the issue of saying that President Banda has stopped funding the party, I have no clue (of) what they are talking about. Like I said in that newspaper, President Banda continues to stand with us in any way and if he has any resources he will give to the party,” he said.[pullquote]“I want to clear the air that President Banda and I are enjoying a wonderful relationship. There’s no reason for me to ever doubt his commitment to this party and his commitment to the support that he has continued to give me as the new president[/pullquote]

In the retreat, he said he expected to receive views on how to reorganise the party’s leadership as it sought to reconstruct the National Executive Committee (NEC), formation of a shadow cabinet, insist on a culture of intra-party democracy, and insist on being an open door party, among others.

In another development, Dr Mumba said it was regrettable and unfair that Government decided to send PF secretary general, Wynter Kabimba to attend the burial of Ghanian President John Atta Mills instead of the Vice-President or Minister of Foreign Affairs or Home Affairs Minister, Edgar Lungu who also attended the procession together with Gender and Development Minister Inonge Wina.

He also asked Government to explain who funded Mr Kabimba’s trip, whether it was the State or the party.

Mines Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga has implored investors in the country to give priority to Zambians when recruiting employees.

Mr. Mukanga said government appreciates every investment in the country but such investments should benefit Zambians in terms of employment opportunities.

He said investors should only think of sourcing expatriate employees only for skills that are not readily available in Zambia.

The minister said jobs whose skills are locally available should be given to Zambians because it is illogical to bring people from outside just to do simple jobs that can easily be done by locals.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Mukanga who is in North-Western province to familiarize himself with the operations of mines, said this after touring Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi yesterday.

Meanwhile, the minister expressed happiness at the massive investment First Quantum Minerals has put up in the Kansanshi mine.

He said government is happy with such massive investment that will drive a lot of production.

Earlier, during a courtesy call, North-Western Province Minister, Josephine Limata said her office is not going to allow people who undermine locals because locals as owners of the land need to be proud of developments going on in their area.

Ms. Limata said traditional leaders also need to have a say in whatever is going on in their chiefdoms for the sake of harmony between locals and investors.

Patriotic Front general secretary Wynter Kabimba says the PF party policies are not so rigid that they cannot be revised.

Mr. Kabimba has told QFM news that PF as a party in government can adjust party policies in order for the ruling party to continue being effective in its social delivery system.

The party secretary general has however noted that the party still remains committed to ensuring that it delivers development to the citizens.

There have been concerns that the PF government has broken most of the promises made prior to last year’s tripartite elections.

One of them has been the increase in the number of deputy ministers that have so far been appointed.

QFM

Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) National Executive Committee member Felix Mutati has said that it is a duty for all MMD members of parliament and ordinary members to contribute money towards the running of the affairs of the party.

Mr. Mutati said this is the only way the party can survive.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it is a very difficult task for one person to be left in charge of raising resources for the party.

He said it is, therefore, important that all MMD members to contribute towards smooth operations of the party.

Mr. Mutati said it did not matter how much an individual contributes because anything makes a difference.

He also noted that it was difficult for an opposition party to raise funds from the private sector which is one of the biggest contributors to parties but stated that the MMD will continue knocking on their doors to ask for assistance in terms of funding to the party.

Mr. Mutati has further called on all well wishers that believe in the former ruling party to help fund the opposition party for it to survive.

He was commenting on alleged complaints from MMD president Nevers Mumba that he had been left alone to mobilise resources for the party.

ZANIS

Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda has granted Hakainde Hichilema a 30 million kwacha bail after the opposition leader denied a charge of publishing false news.

Mr. Hichilema, of 14/3 A Serval Road, Kabulonga will appear for mention on September 13th 2012 while his trial dates have been set between 1st and 6th October 2012.

Particulars of the offence are that Hichilema on June 11 20012 allegedly uttered false news that the PF had signed an MoU with the Sudanese government to train PF youths in militia contrary to Section 67 subsection 1,2 of the Penal Code.

UPND cadres are camped outside court waiting for the bail processing to finish.

In applying for bail, lead defense lawyer Sakwiba Sikota submitted that three UPND cadres were injured after some unruly PF cadres attacked them outside the magistrate court.

Magistrate Banda ordered that cadres be not allowed near court during subsequent court appearances.

MMD leader Nevers Mumba, ADD President Charles Milupi and ZDDM leader Edwin Sakala are on hand to offer solidarity.

Hichilema told journalists after he was formally charged at Woodlands Police that the arrest was part of President Sata’s crackdown on the opposition.