By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
UPND alliance partners were not snubbed by Hakainde Hichilema as they were consulted over the selection of Ms Mutale Nalumango as his running mate, the alliance spokesperson Mr Leslie Chikuse has said.
Briefing journalists yesterday, Mr Chikuse, who is also Republican Progressive Party (RPP) president dismissed assertions that other political parties were not involved in the selection of a running mate.
He said the Alliance has remained united even after choosing Ms Nalumango because all partners agreed.
“The issue was not about a leader coming from these other political party, the issue was having a credible leader. The alliance partners were well involved in the management of the entire process. President Hichilema in choosing the alliance running mate did not do it alone even when the discretion was on himself, he was highly consultative and he made a good choice,” he said.
He said gender was also an important aspect when choosing the running mate as there was need to have women taking up influential positions.
And Mr Chikuse said the decision by former National Democratic Congress president Chishimba Kambwili to ditch the alliance was actually a blessing in disguise.
He said more people have joined the alliance such as Movement for Democratic Change president Felix Mutati and Kelvin Fube Bwalya.
