By NATION REPORTER
HAKAINDE Hichilema is frustrated because some senior UPND officials including Jack Mwiimbu and Gary Nkombo were not helping him secure victory in the upcoming Presidential election as they have concentrated on campaigning for their respective parliamentary seats.
According to internal sources Mr Hichilema feels particularly disappointed that after personally gaining the confidence and support from the European Union and American Government, he expected more support on the ground from his colleagues.
Mr Hichilema is enraged that the party chairperson for legal, Mr Mwiimbu and other senior officials had not shown concern over the restive situation on the Copperbelt following the arrest of UPND Ndola Central parliamentary candidate, Frank Tayali and the bringing down of his billboards and posters on the Copperbelt.
The sources said the frustrations were mutual as most UPND founding members felt distant and disrespected by Mr Hichilema who among other things showed more concern to UPND Alliance partners than officials who had been with the party for a long time.
Inside sources said Mr Hichilema was not impressed that Mr Mwiimbu was vying for the Monze constituency seat and Mr Nkombo contesting Mazabuka Central still wanted to go back to parliament when they had been there for the past 15 years.
Pressure is mounting on the Copperbelt where one candidate, Mr Tayali had been arrested and police were searching for another candidate while HH posters were being destroyed.
The sources said Mr Hichilema was frustrated that only UPND Alliance partners were fighting hard to see him get into State House while most UPND candidates were busy with their own campaigns and were even unwilling to contribute financially, having done so at adoption stage.
“Mr Hichilema is not happy that Mr Mwiimbu is not showing concern over the arrest of Mr Tayali, the same goes for Mr Nkombo whom he feels should have been helping out with pertinent issues but they are all in their constituencies campaigning,” the sources said.
