By CHARLES MUSONDA
THE entire MMD machinery and structures in Eastern province have been officially handed over to the Patriotic Front (PF) to help in campaigning for President Edgar Lungu in the August 12, 2021 general elections.
Operation Save MMD national secretary Raphael Nakacinda handed over all the former ruling party structures in the region to the PF at a meeting he jointly addressed with the latter’s provincial chairperson Alexander Miti on late Tuesday afternoon in Chipata.
Mr. Nakacinda said all MMD provinces met in Lusaka recently and resolved that there was no need to oppose Mr. Lungu’s leadership which is performing accordingly.
He said all the MMD membership in the province were asking from the PF were recognition, respect, and acknowledgement as brothers and sisters.
He said before and just after PF won the 2011 general elections the two political parties that have ruled Zambia before and still ruling, respectively, used to differ but that because of President Lungu’s leadership there is no need to fight and argue with a leader who is performing.
Mr. Nakacinda said he and UPND president Hakainde Hichilema are distant relatives who hail from the same village in Monze but that the latter’s leadership style has proven to be different from previous Southern province natives who contributed to Zambia’s liberation struggle and development.
He said past leaders from Southern Province like Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, Mainza Chona, Elijah Mudenda, Vernon Mwaanga, Bennie Mwiinga, and UPND founding president Anderson pushed for a national agenda as opposed to advocating tribalism, ethnicity, and regionalism.
And Mr. Miti said PF and MMD are the only Zambia’s political parties that have been together in times of national difficulties.
The former Vubwi MP, who served from 1996 to 2001, said despite the MMD’s unhappiness after losing power to the PF in the 2011 general elections, the two parties have been together in Eastern province province have been together as a sign of love and maturity.
Mr. Miti said he once served as UPND Eastern province vice chairperson but quit the opposition party after realising that he was being sidelined on ethnicity and regionalism basis.
He said President Lungu’s leadership is impressive and surprising in that the Head of State does not respond to regular insults hurled at him by some UPND leaders and their followers.
He commended the MMD for resolving to work with the PF in the run-up to the forthcoming general elections, adding that in Mr. Nakacinda the former ruling party has a powerful leader.
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