VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has revealed that some United Party for National Development (UPND) members want to expel their president Hakainde Hichilema for allegedly failing the party.
And Mr Kunda has said Government is disappointed with the Livingstone City councillors for their involvement in alleged immoral scandals which led to the suspension of the council.
Mr Kunda said the UPND members of Parliament are allegedly preparing to hound out Mr Hichilema and replace him with Mazabuka Central MP Gary Nkombo while Siavonga MP Douglas Siakalima will assume the position of deputy president.
Mr Kunda said some UPND MPs are discontented that Mr Hichilema has offloaded the party to the Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata where Mr Hichilema has been sidelined.
Mr Kunda made the revelations to some MMD cadres and Government officials who braved a rare downpour after his arrival at the Livingstone International Airport yesterday.
“The opposition like the UPND has serious internal problems. Mr Hakainde Hichilema will soon be expelled from his party by his members of Parliament. Mr Gary Nkombo will be appointed the president of the UPND while Mr Douglas Siakalima is going to be the deputy.
There are also problems in the PF-UPND pact where there are two leaders both aspiring to be adopted as presidential candidates for the 2011 elections. MMD has one leader and let us move as one,” he said.
But Mr Nkombo has denied that he will take over the UPND presidency.
Mr Nkombo, who was monitored on Radio Phoenix last evening, said he was loyal to the party and president Hichilema.
He said there was no way he could take over the party presidency.
Mr Kunda said the MMD should take advantage of the imminent cracks in the UPND and the PF/UPND alliance to embark on a massive recruitment exercise of members.
He reiterated Government’s commitment to developing the country by focusing on economic growth despite the persistent attacks and criticism from the opposition.
Mr Kunda said the opposition have run out of serious matters to criticise Government on and have resorted to malice and innuendoes.
He said the opposition have even extended their verbal tirade to former President Frederick Chiluba who has thrown his support behind President Banda.
Mr Kunda said the opposition have no alternative economic policies and that Zambians should not vote for them in the 2011 elections.
“The government will continue concentrating on matters of economic growth and expansion and its stability. The opposition have nothing to offer in terms of alternative economic policies.
Their concentration now is on insulting traditional leaders and they have now extended their verbal attacks to our former President Dr Chiluba,” he said.
Mr Kunda commended the cadres and Government officials who for over an hour stood in the rains to welcome him and listen to what he had to say.
And Mr Kunda has expressed disappointment at the calibre of councillors at the Livingstone City Council.
He said it is strange that instead of concentrating on development, councillors seem pre-occupied with bickering.
Mr Kunda said councillors in the tourist city should be above mediocrity.
He said Government is looking forward to having councillors who can understand their roles in service delivery.
Mr Kunda said councillors at the Livingstone City Council should devote their energies to developing the tourism sector and avoid moral scandals and pettiness.
He said Livingstone is important not only to the tourism sector but also to the country as a whole as it has been significantly contributing to the overall growth of the economy.
“Of course, we are disappointed with the suspension of the Livingstone City Council on grounds of getting involved in scandals. Livingstone is a tourist city and it should be a model.
We want serious minded councillors and we cannot afford to have civic leaders engaging in scandals and squabbles at the expense of service delivery,” the Vice-President said.
Mr Kunda said Government is looking for civic leaders who have a vision of developing infrastructure and promoting the ideals of the government.
He was accompanied to Livingstone by Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development Bradford Machila, Minister of Lands Gladys Lundwe and Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President Gaston Sichilima.
He was met at the Livngstone International Airport by Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning Chileshe Kapwepwe, former Southern Province permanent secretary Darius Hakayobe and Southern Province deputy permanent secretary Manuel Nchima and other senior Government officials.
Meanwhile, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has warned the MMD leadership in the province to refrain from gossip. He said the tittle-tattle among the MMD leadership in Southern Province has the potential of destroying the party.
Mr Munkombwe said the formation of the pact has been a blessing in disguise for the ruling party and that the MMD will smoothly win the elections in 2011.
“You do not grow the party by gossiping. Stop peddling lies about the MMD leadership and concentrate on building the party. The premature formation of the PF-UPND pact is a blessing in disguise for the MMD because the opposition has now been weakened,” Mr Munkombwe said.
Zambia Daily Mail