Hakainde Hichilema Blog

The UPND would like to distance itself from communiqué issued by the Patriotic Front Secretary General Winter Kabimba suggesting that we have agreed that the PF will get the Presidency of the PACT and 60% of the Parliamentary seats and the UPND will get the Vice Presidency and 40% of the parliamentary seats.

The position of the Party is that we requested the PF that we convene a Joint National Council meeting at which various contentious issues should be addressed.

The proposal which Mr Kabimba is / was referring to was one coming from an individual member of the Party Prof Clive Chirwa and does not represent the Party position.

The communiqué should thus be dismissed.

Hon. Charles Kakoma

The government of Japan has commended United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema for the cooperation between Japan and Zambia. In a letter of appreciation conveyed by Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura to Mr. Hichilema recently, the Japanese government expressed its wholehearted gratitude to Mr. Hichilema and the government of Zambia for the kind support and cooperation. The letter of appreciation was signed by former Prime Minister of Japan, Dr. Yukio Hatoyama.

In conveying the letter of appreciation Japanese Ambassador Mr. Mitamura wrote “I have the pleasure to convey to you, as attached hereto, the letter of appreciation from H. E. Dr. Yukio Hatoyama, the former Prime Minister of Japan, which expressed the appreciation of H. E. Dr. Hatoyama for the cooperation between Japan and Zambia during his tenure as the Prime Minister of Japan. Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my high consideration.”

And the former Prime Minister of Japan said he was convinced that the relationship between the two countries would continue to develop even further. He said he would endeavour to do his best in promoting the two countries’ friendly and cooperative relations. Dr. Hatoyama wished the UPND President good health and further success.

“I am writing to inform you of my resigning from the post of Prime Minister of Japan. I sincerely express my wholehearted gratitude to you and your government for the kind support and cooperation continuously extended to me during my tenure. Since my appointment as Prime Minister of Japan on 16th September, 2009, I have made my utmost efforts to promote relations between Japan and the Republic of Zambia and to promote peace and prosperity in the international society,” the letter read in part. Since his election to the position of UPND President, Mr. Hichilema has received several praises and recognition from major world leaders. Mr. Hichilema has in the past few years also been officially invited to visit the United States of America, China, Norway and France. He is widely regarded as an emerging leader in the world.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has appointed Professor Clive Chirwa as its Chairman for International Relations.

Announcing the appointment in Lusaka today, Party Spokesperson Charles Kakoma said the National Management Committee decided to appoint Professor Chirwa to the policy making body in recognition of his vast knowledge and experience in international issues. He is Professor of crushworthness and based in Europe.

Professor Chirwa resigned from the MMD and joined the UPND in January last year. When joining the UPND last year, Professor Chirwa said he had decided to join the party because it had people who were serious about moving Zambians out of poverty for good. Professor Chirwa was an aspirant for the MMD Presidency.

“Based on the goals and policies for the regeneration of our country, I hereby decide to join the UPND in the struggle to liberate our people from the current inept government.

“Today is a great day for me and my ambition to see Zambia occupy a place at the high table of international society where it dictates its future, where its people have ample food, good schools, best hospitals, best infrastructure and an economy magnetized by industrialisation. That day is quickly approaching as UPND helps Zambia achieve that. The policies UPND is pursuing are right for Zambia and they are in keeping with what I have always said to my fellow Zambians in lectures, speeches and writings,” he said in a Press Communique.”

Meanwhile, Professor Chirwa arrives in Zambia on Monday 31st January, 2011 to beef up the UPND campaign team. He is expected to hold a number of meetings with party officials and members of the public.

For more news visit us: hakainde.com

P R E S S R E L E A S E
20TH JANUARY, 2011

UPND CLARIFICATON ON THE PACT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

1. The UPND is aware of, appreciates and understands the anxiety among many Zambians on when a PACT Presidential candidate will be chosen. In response to these querries we wish to clarify and inform the public as follows:

2. On 4th June 2009, UPND and PF signed an agreement which saw the birth of the PACT.

3. The basis of the PACT was to:

• answer the call of many Zambians to work together in unity of purpose;
• win the election with majority votes as opposed to the minority MMD governments, following the 2001, 2006 and 2008 elections;
• foster legitimacy to leadership; and
• govern the country better to improve lives of Zambians.

4. Following execution of the agreement, various organs of the PACT were established (Joint National Council, Working Group and Nine Subcommittees) whose main aim was to harmonise programmes of the two parties in order to arrive at a Joint Programme for the country.

5. The UPND strongly believes that a good Economic and Social action programme in various areas, as an instrument for improving lives of Zambians, is of paramount importance. The aforesaid includes reaching consensus on:

• harmonizing our manifestos covering economic and social sectors such as mining (including windfall tax), agriculture, tourism, commerce and industry, education, health,nfrastructure (roads, telecoms), water etc;
• size of government. In particular to run a lean and prudent government, i.e, cost control and optimisation of government revenue and expenditure;
• running a non politicised and professional civil service;
• sharing responsibilities in government;
• allocation of Local Government (Councillors) and National Assembly (MPs) seats country-wide between UPND and PF;
• devolution of power to the regions of Zambia.

6. We also believe that a number of other important issues should be agreed. For example, there is need to commit to generally acceptable good governance tenets, in particular:

(a) give the citizens of Zambia the long awaited people driven constitution:

• 50% + 1 for winning President;
• Presidential running mate;
• option of coalition government;
• separation of powers with an independent judiciary;
• independent Electoral Commission including non abuse of public resources by political parties before, during and after elections;
• a progressive Bill of Rights and;
• reduction of Presidential powers.

(b) commit to a non selective and professional fight against corruption including reinstating the abuse of office clause in the Anti-Corruption Act.

(c) agree to independence and strengthening of the office of the Auditor General.

7. While it is true that choice of the PACT Presidencial candidate is important, the Joint Economic, Social and Good Governance programme is even more important as this is the basis upon which the citizens of Zambia are pinning their hopes on for a better Zambia.

8. UPND believes that reaching consensus on the joint Economic, Social and Good Governance programme and the choice of Presidential candidate (together with other positions) should be taken as a package, not in isolation. In any case, the UPND’s considered view is that whoever is chosen to be PACT Presidential candidate should commit to the agreed Economic, Social and Good Governance programme.

9. Learning from Zambia’s past mistakes, we believe that the developmental needs and interests of citizens are important and should always take centre stage. In addition, the need to build effective and well functioning institutions should take precedence and not the usual rush for sharing positions without agreeing a clear programme for running the country.

10. In our view, the PACT provides a good opportunity to unite Zambia, secure majority leadership, consolidate the rule of law and ensure good governance tenets and practices.

Without agreeing on the issues outlined above, it will be pointless to proceed to choose a PACT Presidential candidate in isolation or abstract.