Gideon Thole and Timothy Sichela
13 November 2009
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said the MMD will hold its national convention to elect new leaders contrary to allegations that the party does not want to do so.
President Banda said on arrival at Solwezi Airport from Chipata yesterday that the MMD was still consulting and had not refused to hold a convention as was being said by some people.
The president said the MMD was only being careful not to be detracted by issues of the convention when it was supposed to focus on strengthening the party and delivering development.
"The MMD is preoccupied with repairing the economy and distributing farming inputs as at now and holding the convention will be discussed later after consultations.
"I would also like to urge the opposition who have not held conventions to do the same so that their members can have confidence in them and help to build democracy," Mr Banda said.
He said the MMD was not scared of the Patriotic Front-United Party for National Development Pact because the Government had a bigger alliance with the people of Zambia.
Later when he addressed a rally at Solwezi High School grounds, Mr Banda said the alliance between PF leader Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema was headed for failure because it was founded on hatred that the two leaders had for him.
He said Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema were bitter that he beat them to take the Republican presidency on his first attempt when the two had made previous attempts and failed.
Mr Banda urged Solwezi residents to vote for MMD candidate, Albert Chifita in the November 19 Solwezi Central by-election.
Earlier, Mr Banda held private talks with Libyan leader, Muamar Gaddafi's special envoy, Mokhatar Elgans at Solwezi Airport.
Mr Elgans said he had come to Zambia to deliver a special message to Mr Banda from the Libyan leader who was consulting the president on a number of bilateral issues, including the African Union summit.
The president also paid a courtesy call on Chief Kapijimpanga of the Kaonde people in Solwezi.
Mr Banda stopped and mingled with marketeers at Kyawama and Solwezi main market.
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But Mr Banda seems to have forgotten the legacy of his predecessor about the minerals and oil that lie un-exploited in the province. North Western is one province that has remained underdeveloped since independence and yet potentially the richest in Zambia because it has all major economic boasters such as oil, diamonds, copper, emaraulds,uranium, Gold, and has rivers and rapids for electricity generation etc The oil disocvery was a chance to exploit the development of the province and Zambia as a whole but alas, there is silence now. Where is the legacy?.