Hold party convention, HH told

By NATION REPORTER UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema should hold a party convention and halt his insatiable appetite for power until 2021 before talking about general elections, says Patriotic Front (PF) deputy media director, Antonio Mwanza.

Mwanza said it was sad that since 2006 the UPND has not held a party convention, a situation he described as entrenching dictatorial tendencies and bringing about poor leadership.

He said Zambians had rejected Mr Hichilema five times through the ballot box and that even if elections were to be held today the opposition leader would still lose because he had nothing new to offer citizens.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Mwanza said Mr Hichilema’s call for early elections were irresponsible and ill-conceived as President Edgar Lungu was within the confines of the Constitution and delivering according to his campaign promises.

He said the ruling party was working to the aspirations of citizens in various sectors such as agriculture and education by building universities, health institutions, schools and empowerment.

The PF leader said the ruling party has demonstrated willingness and openness on the dialogue process and that Zambians would judge for themselves who was being insincere on the matter.

Mr. Hichilema was quoted in some sections of the media calling for an early election claiming that citizens would die of hunger.