05/04/2021
Former United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia(UPPZ) Spokesperson Francis Kope says is not going to stand as Parliamentary candidate on any political party but will campaign for UPND President Hakainde Hichilema.
Addressing journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr Kope revealed that he has been contacted by many political parties and the grassroots to contest as a Member of Parliament.
“I will not contest on any Parliamentary seat in the forthcoming general elections, but campaign for President Hakainde Hichilema because he has proved that he is committed to serve the people of Zambia.” said Mr Kope.
He told journalists that for the past one month he has been receiving requests that he stands as Parliamentary candidate from many political parties and the people on the ground particularly Kanyama, Chilanga and Mansa Central among other Constituencies.
“Am not contesting but l will campaign for UPND President Hakainde Hichilema whom the Zambian people want to govern the country.” said Mr Kope
Being a candidate in a particular Constituency can limit me to campaign for change.
This is not time for selfish interests but time to serve the people of Zambia.
As a Patriotic citizen I have joined hands with the citizens to ensure that a credible leader with a vision of serving the interests of the people wins elections.
He further says that Zambian politics today must be redefined and have people in leadership who must be servants to the people.
And Mr Kope also a Communication expert says, he will hit on the ground across the country and campaign with the structures and much more to appreciate the sufferings and misery of the Zambian people.
Meanwhile, Mr Kope urged political parties to adopt candidates based on merit for real positive change because the country’s economy has collapsed.
Adding that Zambia needs a credible leadership such as that of President Hichilema which will respect the rule of law.
” Zambia now need a tough and tasted leaders with a heart to rebuild and reunite Zambia while making lives better.” said Mr Kope.
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Lusaka~5th March 2021.
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A consortium of United Party for National Development (UPND) youths from the country’s ten provinces resolved that any manoeuvre by PF government to remove HH from the ballot will be met with serious consequences.
The consortium, which comprises of UPND provincial youth chairpersons from Luapula, Northern, Central, Copperbelt, Lusaka, Western, North Western and Eastern provinces told journalists in Lusaka this morning that plans to arrest Mr Hichilema by the PF would be met with full force.
Lyson Nyirenda, who’s Eastern Province Youth Chairperson accused the PF-led Government, told journalists that the UPND was aware of manoeuvres to try and implicate Mr Hichilema so that he doesn’t successfully file in his nominations papers next month.
He warned that there would be no elections if Mr Hichilema is deliberately not allowed to appear on the ballot, adding that whoever touches Mr Hichilema touches every Zambian.
“We people in the East are very unfortunate because we have the President, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and the infrastructure Development Minister who all hail from the east yet we are very impoverished with poor road network.
We’ve had enough hate from PF ” he charged.
In echoing Mr Nyirenda, UPND National Youth Chairperson, Gilbert Liswaniso says youths in UPND are more than ready to bite the bullet, adding that the party’s youths had resolved to stand by President Hichilema and ensure that he is ushered into state house courtesy of the Zambian people.
Lusaka Province UPND Youth Chairperson, Anderson Banda, says the PF will democratically because Zambians have suffered enough.
He said that UPND has been closely monitoring the manoeuvres and schemes of the PF to implicate Mr Hichilema and prevent him from appearing on the 2021 ballot.
In his submissions, Luapula UPND Youth Chairperson, Nelson Kalembwe warned that arresting HH on flimsy grounds would lead to wide spread chaos in the country.
He also called on the PF to build more more prisons if they wanted to proceed with their plans to bar him from appearing on the 2021 Presidential ballot.
Milner Mwanakampwe, who is the Central UPND Youth Chairperson, charged that the ECZ’s biased handling of the elections and disregard for the Electoral processes has the potential to bleed anarchy.
“Not handling the electoral process properly has the potential to bleed anarchy.
We are also giving the Police IG 24 hours to release those who are unjustly held in police cells.
We are aware that the continued holding of the four officials is aimed at accusing HH so that he is barred from contesting the forthcoming polls.
This follows statements that from PF leaders and officials that a Tonga will never rule while some say HH will never rule.
We wish to call on the PF leadership that going for HH is not the noblest of things for him to do if he wants the country to be safe,” he said.
Northwestern Province Youth Chairperson, Bruce Kanema, Western Province, Jack Mwanga, Muchinga Youth Chairperson, Brown Simbeye and Paul Mulenga of Northern Province were among the youth leaders who attended the briefing.
UPND MEDIA TEAM
LIVINGSTONE – 04/04/21
Audio –
UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says the party is overwhelmed with the number of adoption applications received from across the country at all levels of representation.
Addressing journalists in Livingstone this morning, Mr Mweetwa said all districts across the country have received applications from those who want to serve on UPND ticket as Councilors, Council Chairpersons, Mayors and Members of parliament.
“ This clearly indicates that Zambians are confident that, UPND brings with it a credible leadership that will pay attention to their plight something which the PF have failed to do,” said Mr Mweetwa.
He howewer said the huge number of applicants can also be a double edged sword depending on the management of adoptions and reactions of those who will not be adopted.
“Fellow applicants, only one candidate will be picked, we need to prepare ourselves as no drama is expected from those of us who will not be adopted, don’t use your lost status to leave the party, better leave now, “ said Mr Mweetwa.
He appealed to all aspiring candidates to prepare themselves for any outcome and avoid bringing confusions as only one candidate will be picked.
“ Let us all be principled, if you want to lead you must also be ready to be led by others, to our officials be fair, allow everyone to campaign freely , there should be no favouritism, no vote buying, let the people’ s choice prevail,” said Mr Mweetwa.
Meanwhile Mr Mweetwa has appealed to the Police to allow all political players to interact just like they have allowed the Patriotic Front to go on with rallies and campaigning.
“ Let us stand and move, mobilise and campaign please do not forget to abide by the COVID-10 health guidelines, police as custodians of the law are expected to apply the law fairly, justly and judiciously,” said Mr Mweetwa.
(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM
04/04/2021
Easter is the centrepiece of the Christian faith and the fulfilment of the rescue plan by God, of humanity. The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of Christianity that provided final and undeniable proof that Christ was really the Son of God and that He had overcome death once and for all.
The message of Easter is a message of help, hope, fulfilment and accomplishment. The death of Christ provides us a living proof and testimony of God’s love for man and His unquenchable desire to acquit us of all sin and the shame of being guilty.
Christ’s death and resurrection was a mission to reconcile humanity to His Father, and so we must use it as a trajectory for reflection, introspection and national reconciliation if we are to rightly claim our Christian values in a Christian Nation.
As we prepare for our elections in a few months time, we must draw lessons from Christ’s death and resurrection that offers love, peace and reunion by ensuring we practice fairness and justice in all we say and do. We cannot say we love Christ while we promote and preach hate speech, slander and lay traps for our neighbours, nor can we say we are His faithful followers if we rob the poor and engage in corrupt practices, or take part in acts of intimidation, manipulation, violence and falsehoods.
If we did that, then we would be guilty of hypocrisy and pretence and we would be revoking the meaning of Easter whose core message is justice, love and fair play. Happy Easter to all of you fellow citizens and may the bright light of Easter shine on all of you.
Hakainde Hichilema.
02/04/2021
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United Party for National Development Lusaka Province Chairperson Obvious Mwaliteta, has asked the PF to spare President Hakainde Hichilema and instead pay attention to the majority of Zambians who are suffering and failing to eat three meals in a day.
Speaking at the press briefing held yesterday at the Party Secretariat to welcome Steven Masumba, Mr Mwaliteta said it is so shocking that the Patriotic Front has deliberately decided to ignore issues affecting Zambians and are instead busy harassing and planning evil against President Hichilema.
” It is good that my President had totally ignored them because he is too busy planning what he will to rebuild the collapsed economy once he forms Government come 12th August 2021.” said Mr Mwaliteta.
He said President Hichilema has no business with the PF but the people of Zambia.
Meanwhile Mr Mwaliteta warned the PF against any evils plans to arrest President Hichilema as that will not be anyway be tolerated.
He said UPND is aware about all plans to arrest and torture President Hichilema but that UPND will this time give no chance to any trampled-up charges.
PF leadership and some officials have in the past told the people of Zambia that a Tonga will never rule and that HH’s name will never be on the ballot paper.
However UPND President Hichilema has for the past five years continued to enjoy support from all constituencies across the country with Zambians promising to vote for him because PF government has failed to attend to their issues as they are busy creating wealth for themselves.
UPND MEDIA TEAM
01/04/2021
Over the past few days, the digital space has been awash with tonnes of misinformation by a poorly read, poorly informed Patriotic Front (PF) media team; purporting that the latest country report by the Economists Intelligence Unit (EIU) has declared the PF and President Edgar Lungu likely victors in the August 12 General Election.
Let me state from the onset, that the purported election victory by the PF is CONDITIONAL on a set of diabolical set of circumstances falling into place, circumstances which in effect would constitute an assault on Zambia’s democracy by the PF and its leadership, effectively rendering the results of the August polls a mockery to our collective intelligence.
Here is a list of critical insights contained in the March 30 2021 report by the EIU, insights conveniently and foolishly overlooked by the regime to claim that election victory is guaranteed in their favour when Zambians head to the polls this August.
INSIGHT #1
Under the PF regime, Zambia’s democracy index is down from 5.09 to 4.86, designated from flawed democracy to hybrid regime. This means that we are no longer a recognized democracy, but a cross between a democracy and an authoritarian regime, like Benin, Uganda, Thailand.
A further downgrade of Zambia’s democracy rating is expected should President Lungu succeed in clinging on to power.
INSIGHT #2
President incumbent of the PF is designated as an authoritarian leader in the report.
I do not need to explain what this means.
INSIGHT #3
The policy focus of the PF regime to hinge on short-term, populist features to endear the masses into keeping the regime in power. This is why we have seen and overflow of money in empowerment, social cash transfer and FISP.
All this careless splashing of cash will soon be back to bite all of us.
INSIGHT #4
The report proposes or points to a possible Chinese takeover of state assets as part of a possible Chinese debt restructuring program – this could further escalate anti – Chinese sentiments in our country.
We have always warned about the lack of transparency around the quantum and conditions around Chinese debt. We think that it is this lack of detail and transparency from the regime that is escalating fears.
INSIGHT #5
Zambians must be braced for a painful austerity ahead. This could and usually means cuts may be made to critical public services – no proper funding for healthcare, education, while salaries for civil servants may be expected to become more erratic.
Already, many council workers go for several months without being laid salaries, while the widespread degeneration in critical public services was witnessed in the dying years of the UNIP regime.
INSIGHT #6
Zambia has now been cut off from external funds thanks to poor infrastructure program implementation by the PF.
We always warned that the cost of infrastructure was unsustainable, especially that this was funded by very expensive debt money.
Zambia was officially cut off from external borrowing the moment we decided we will not make Eurobond coupon payments because the PF wanted to focus on splashing money.
INSIGHT #7
Decision to abolish 2005 voters’ register seen to likely lead to the registration of more voters in ruling party strongholds than opposition ones.
We all saw what happened during the exercise to issue NRCs and voters cards, and there are numbers to back up our initial fears.
INSIGHT #8
Zambia’s functioning of governments score at 2.93, reflecting PF corruption and mismanagement of the economy and public finances, including weakening of independence of BOZ by abrupt changes in governors.
This killed confidence in the Central Bank’s ability to steer an objective monetary policy. Bad for business.
INSIGHT #9
The EIU projects that the election will neither be free nor fair as PF will be forced to rely more on Zambia’s partisan security forces to aggressively narrow the political space for the opposition.
We have seen an increasing appetite by the police to use a heavy hand when dealing with opposition political parties- arbitrary arrests, detentions and citizens being killed by police bullets.
Now, ALL this is contained in the same EIU Report the PF are using to claim victory come August.
The report is a public document and I urge people to read it and understand full well the path to nowhere the PF have set us onto.
Anthony Bwalya
UPND Presidential Spokesperson.
Thursday 1 April 2021
KAOMA town came to a standstill today as United Party for National Development Secretary General Batuke Imenda passed through the Central Business District.
And UPND has called on all party members and sympathisers to go out and encourage every Zambian to be part of the wind of change that is blowing in the country.
Hundreds of people came out to have a glimpse of Mr Imenda who was appointed as the party’s Secretary General a fortnight ago.
It took about an hour for Mr Imenda’s convoy to cover a distance of about 2 kilometers as residents ran with the vehicles to the party’s constituency office.
Mr Imenda was forced to address the masses of at the party Secretariat there was no permit to sanction the meeting from the police.
Meanwhile Mr Imenda says it is the responsibility of every peace loving and democratic Zambian to mobilize neighbours, family and friends in voting the party into government.
Mr Imenda, who is in Western Province to meet with grassroots leaders, said it was time for Zambians to give President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND and opportunity to change the economy which was in the doldrums following years of mismanagement by the PF.
And Vice Chairman for Elections Brian Ndumba urged party members to verify their votes during the on-going voter registration exercise.
Mr Ndumba said party members have the responsibility to protect their vote and must therefore register, vote and wait for vote counting to be done.
And National Trustee Ms Patricia Nawa urged the youths and women to turn out in large numbers to vote for the change of government.
Ms Nawa observed that the majority of women have suffered at the hands of the current government due to the bad management of the economy adding that they should vote them out if their sufferings are to be alleviated.
National Youth Deputy Chairman Stephen Chikota called for youths to come together to ensure there was an election Tsunami come August 12th.
Mr Chikota appealed to all party members to be united if the party has to see victory in this years elections.
(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM
Lusaka – 01/04/21
video —WZXU4332
United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema says voting for him and his party is cleansing the shame of poverty and unemployment on his shoulders in the forth coming general elections.
And Mr Hichilema has assured the nation that he will file in his nominations for Presidency as the Zambian people want him as a Candidate for Change.
In receiving, the former PF Deputy Minister of Sports and Mufumbwe Member of Parliament Stephen Masumba at the Party Secretariat today, Mr Hichilema bemoaned the current social and economic challenges, under the leadership of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, which continues to subject Zambians into a sea of abject dehumanizing misery.
On the political landscape, President Hichilema said it is not fair that the Zambian people are abused with their own money PF is dishing to them in a bid to buy them off.
And Stephen Masumba vowed to campaign for the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema for change.
He says it is unfortunate that PF has been governing the country with lies and unfulfilled promises citing lack of employment and empowering the foreigners at the expense of the locals especially in the mining sector.
He further said it will be difficult for PF to penetrate North Western Province as he contributed to popular politics when he was in MMD and PF.
(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM
Lusaka~28th March, 2021.
We have made amendments to some of the rules governing qualifications to stand as Member of Parliament, Mayor, Council Chairperson and Councillor, says UPND Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa.
Mr Mweetwa stated that the party had earlier demanded that those who wished to contest on its ticket needed to have been members of the party for a period not less than 2 years.
Addressing the Press at the UPND secretariat , Mr Mweetwa, who is also Choma Central MP, stated that the party had waived off the two-year membership for those intending to contest on its ticket.
He said the move is aimed at allowing a wide pool of aspirants to have a chance to bring their political aspirations forward.
“In line with what the UPND Elections Chairperson, Hon. Nkombo stated (last week) that we had extended the application period. We, have since, as UPND made amendments to some of the rules and regulations to stand as MP, Mayor, Council Chairperson and Councillor. Remember, we had put a rule that for anyone to contest on the party ticket, we had put the rule of 2-year membership. The party has since waived or abolished that rule,” said Mweetwa.
Mweetwa also disclosed that UPND has an overwhelming response over the adoption as it had an average of four applicants for each constituency.
He stated that the move was an indication of the party growth and height that the largest opposition political party has attained, adding that the party had “become of age to take the reigns of governance!”
UPND MEDIA TEAM
28/03/2021
UPND Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa says President Hakainde Hichilema has set the repealing of infamous Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Bill NAB2 as his number one priority once he is ushered into office on August 12.
And Mr Mweetwa has called on party members across to be wary of sharing information that has the potential to land them in trouble with the authorities.
President Edgar Lungu last week hurriedly assented to the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill NAB2, a move aimed at shrinking the media space in the country.
“We want to tell the nation that HH has committed to repeal the Cyber Security [and Cyber Crimes Bill]. That’s one of the things he will do ever. He has committed to that. Look! The freedoms of the people of this country have been invaded,” he said.
He has also alleged that the PF has turned the public media into its tool for propaganda, accusing the ruling party of feeding Zambians on a menu of lies.
“When you talk about the public broadcaster, it is not what people say that should be heard, it is what the State want people to hear. Feeding the nation on a menu of lies. The only platform that remained for people to communicate information was social media and now they have gone into that space to shrink it,” charged Mweetwa.
Meanwhile, Mr Mweetwa has announced that he would not be recontesting his seat, attributing the move to his desire to dedicate more time to campaign for President Hichilema ahead of the August 12th polls.
He warned that being the gate keepers of information, journalists were likely to be affected by the enacted BILL
UPND MEDIA TEAM
