MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya has described Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Winter Kabimba's remarks that President Rupiah Banda went to China on a tourism stint as unproductive and baseless.

Ms Siliya said in an interview yesterday Mr Kabimba should not be politicising President Banda's trips because the president was concerned about Zambian issues contrary to Mr Kabimba's statement.

Ms Siliya said Mr Kabimba's utterances gave an incorrect impression of the president's national duties and should not take such assignments as a campaign strategy for his party.

Mr Kabimba was quoted in The Post newspaper this week as having said that President Banda was in China on a tourism stint and was an irresponsible and playful old man.

"Mr Kabimba should stop insulting President Banda. His remarks are just so unproductive and baseless because the president is so much concerned about the welfare of Zambians," Ms Siliya said.

President Banda recently went to China after an invitation from his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao for a State visit.

Ms Siliya advised Mr Kabimba to be mindful when addressing the Head of State because unnecessary utterances from the opposition PF secretary general would be deemed as insulting the president.

And MMD national secretary Katele kalumba said recent outbursts by Mr Kabimba reflected a critical failure of political good sense.

Dr Kalumba in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Kambimba, who was a learned lawyer, had resorted to using less than civil language to conduct his political discourse.

He said the MMD would ignore the outbursts and wait for a more intelligent debate from Mr Kabimba and the PF, especially when answering questions that touch upon the the integrity of party president Michael Sata.

"Mr Kambima should clear the air surrounding the very disturbing assertions against Mr Sata's claim of having a clear record. Mr Kabimba's statements so far on the matter have failed to clear the assertions," Dr Kalumba said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Works and Supply Mike Mulongoti has urged opposition political parties to partner with Government in ensuring that development was done in councils where they are dominant.

Mr Mulongoti, who is MMD chairperson for elections said his party accepted that some councils were being led by the opposition and would remain committed to supporting any development ideas they suggested.

Speaking when he featured on Radio Phoenix's 'Face The Media' programme yesterday, Mr Mulongoti also accused the opposition-led councils of failing to come up with prudent ideas on how they could generate money for their councils.

He said the MMD accepted that it lost control of some councils to the opposition but was, however, willing to work with them to deliver services to the people.

And Mr Kabimba said the challenges the councils faced were enormous.