Jostling for power in the ruling MMD worries Levy

President Levy Mwanawasa has expressed worry over the jostling for power that is going on among the top MMD leadership. 

Speaking on arrival at Ndola international airport this morning, Mr Mwanawasa said it was wrong for leaders in the ruling party to start jostling for power at such an
early stage at the expense of development.

The President who arrived from Mongu where he had gone to attend yesterday's Kuomboka veremony, said it was probably his mistake to have allowed those that had
intentions of assuming the party's top position to reveal their intentions.

He said the  development of the country was a priority and that nothing should hinder that.

Mr Mwanawasa said  that he will suggest to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the MMD that the party convention be held a year before the elections instead of the
current 2 and half years.

He explained that holding the convention a year before the elections would help slow down the bickering that was currently going on.

The President who is in Ndola to officially close the Finance Bank 2007 Zambia Open Golf tournament which ends today, said he  was happy that a tournament of such
magnitude was being held in the country.

Mr Mwanawasa said such an event needed to be given the importance it deserved adding that the golfers that had come to participate in the tournament would go back to
their countries as ambassadors of Zambia.

Meanwhile, Copperbelt Province Patriotic Front (PF) mayors this morning boycotted  to receive President Mwanawasa at the Ndola international airport.

The mayors who initially were at the airport to receive Mr Mwanawasa, left before the president arrived.

When reached for a comment at Ndola Civic Centre, Ndola Mayor Anthony Katongo who was in the company of other mayors, said the atmosphere  at the airport was not
conducive.

Maayor Katongo said the MMD cadres were insulting PF leaders through their songs.

He said this was not the first time such an incident was happening and that the PF mayors had officially complained to the MMD leadership who had assured them that the
practice would be stopped but to no avail.

Mr Katongo said the mayors were surprised today to find that the practice had not stopped as per promise.

He said the mayors were willing to perform their civic duties but under a conducive environment.
ZANIS