MMD leader Nevers Mumba has implored party members to ensure they remove the corruption tag associated with his party, which he said has now turned into a popular "song" in Zambia.

And Dr Mumba has said he enjoys a wonderful relationship with former Republican President, Rupiah Banda.

Speaking at the start of the party retreat in Lusaka's Chilanga area yesterday, Dr Mumba said politics was more about perception than reality.

"It is how we are perceived by most Zambians that must be addressed," he said.

Dr Mumba said members needed to work hard to change the negative perception about the MMD, especially the corruption tag which has been associated with the party.

"It is true that some of the key players, if not most, who could have painted this image are no longer in the party, but the song continues to be sung that MMD is a corrupt party and we seem to have somebody who has composed that song and has sung it long enough and it has become a popular chorus in the country.

"So any politician who wants to attack MMD, they only have to play the record: MMD is corrupt, the song that's been coined. It is being sung everywhere. It remains our responsibility to deal with this song," he said.

The opposition leader said the former ruling party had gone for the retreat to, among others, disown the corruption tag and mount a spirited fight against any acts of corruption both in MMD and Government.

He said reform was necessary as without that, MMD would not survive in the current political scenario.

Dr Mumba said the survival of the party would be dependent on effectively changing the inherent challenge of "tokenism and nchekelako" (handouts).

And Dr Mumba said enemies of the party had been using the media to create an impression that he was not getting along with former president Banda.

"I want to clear the air. President Banda and I are enjoying a wonderful relationship. There's no reason for me to ever doubt his commitment to this party and his commitment to the support that he has continued to give me as the new president.

"He calls me, I call him. Whenever I have a challenge, I talk to him.

And the issue of saying that President Banda has stopped funding the party, I have no clue (of) what they are talking about. Like I said in that newspaper, President Banda continues to stand with us in any way and if he has any resources he will give to the party," he said.

In another development, Dr Mumba said it was regrettable that Government decided to send PF Secretary-General, Wynter Kabimba to attend the burial of Ghanaian President John Atta Mills.

He said the Government should have sent Vice-President Guy Scott or Home Affairs Minister, Edgar Lungu who also attended the procession together with Gender and Development Minister, Inonge Wina.

He also asked Government to explain who funded Mr Kabimba's trip, whether it was the State or the party.

But Chief Government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni condemned Dr Mumba for politicking on a funeral of a head of state.

Mr Sakeni said on ZNBC main news monitored in Lusaka yesterday that the MMD leader should not bother the nation with trivial issues because there was nothing wrong for President Michael Sata to send Mr Kabimba and two Cabinet ministers to represent him.