MATHEWS MALAZIKA,
MARY LEMBA
Lusaka
DUE to progressive development policies championed by the UPND Alliance, five opposition political parties have joined the coalition, bringing the total membership of the grouping to 15.
The new UPND Alliance partners are the Miles Sampaled Patriotic Front faction, United Progressive Party led by Saviour Chishimba, Peter Chanda’s New Congress Party, UNIP led by Henry Miyoba, and Charles Chanda’s United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia.
President Hakainde Hichilema received the new alliance partners at the UPND secretariat yesterday with the call for unity to foster national development.
And President Hichilema announced that his administration has successfully refinanced the Eurobond B, which will see the cost of servicing Zambia’s debt reducing.
The head of State also announced that the Kwacha has been voted the best-performing currency in the world.
Mr Hichilema said there is value in working with others to reach out to the masses in all parts of the country.
“I thank the UPND for allowing us the leadership to do what we have been doing by bringing other political parties to work with us,” he said.
“I now know; you know the value of working with others.
We can reach all corners of the country much quicker, exploit, utilise the experiences and capabilities of others.”
President Hichilema said the UPND Alliance should continue to grow because there is enough room for every Zambian.
“This party, this alliance, is available to grow and accommodate more members.
Please, on the basis of that, we are happy to receive these five colleagues and their members,” he said.
The head of State implored new alliance leaders to focus on bringing on board their members, stating that no genuine leader moves alone.
He said the alliance’s agenda is to unite the country, adding that Zambia cannot continue with small groups of people who dream about dividing the country.
“We must be dreaming about how to unite the country, that is what is important.
Kenneth Kaunda and UNIP worked hard to unite this country. We climb on their shoulders; we walk the path they walked in doing what? Uniting this country, that is number one.
“A gift of unity that God gave us, a gift of dialogue, a gift of tolerance, a gift of accommodating different skills and capabilities, yet housed in one unity.
“That is it; national unity is a prerequisite to everything. Neighbours are fighting, Zambia has remained peaceful. We should never allow anyone, individual or a group of people, to polarise this country,” Mr Hichilema said.
President Hichilema also urged young people to say no to division, especially from politicians.
He said a certain opposition leader vying for the presidency failed to explain his party’s policies in one of the interviews, a demonstration that their intention once elected is to plunder public resources as they do not have a manifesto to develop the country.
Vice-President Mutale Nalumango said Government has remained confident that key economic challenges such as inflation and exchange rate instability are addressed through ongoing reforms and policy interventions.
Mrs Nalumango said programmes such as free education have fulfilled promises made to Zambians and demonstrated the UPND administration’s commitment to improving people’s lives.
UPND Alliance chairperson Charles Milupi said the enlarged coalition is focused on securing a decisive victory for President Hichilema and his running mate in the August 13 general election.
Meanwhile, Mr Sampa said his decision to join the UPND Alliance was driven by the need to promote unity and national development.
Mr Sampa said Zambia needs politics anchored on reconciliation and not division.
“We stand for love and forgiveness. They specialise in politics of hatred while I specialise in politics of love.
We have chosen to work together for the good of the country,” he said.
And Mr Miyoba urged Zambians to support President Hichilema’s re-election because the country is beginning to reap the benefits of his leadership.
For Mr Chanda, his party joined the UPND Alliance because it believes in policy consistency and economic stability.
