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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.

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.

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.

HH on Arrival

The UPND President Hakainde Hichilema today arrived from the USA to a thunderous welcome from a multitude of UPND Supporters and  residents of  Lusaka.
Mr Hichilema was in the USA at the invitation of  the American Government and attended a series of meetings on how to deal with international Security.
Speaking with the media at the International airport in Lusaka Mr Hichilema said the meetings were successful and good for Zambia
‘I was invited by the US government for a leadership programme on how to deal with international security because the world has become a global village. I went to the USA at the back of the mufumbwe violence in which an election was badly managed by the Electoral Commission of Zambia, government and the police. We recognize that without stability and security, it is not possible to focus on development and cooperation. The tour was extremely useful and relevant to Zambia, SADC and the world at large” he said