UPND CATALOGUE OF ELECTION LOSSES NEEDS URGENT ANSWERS

Dear Editor,

VOTER apathy aside, I think the continuing election losses being suffered by our opposition UPND are sending clear messages that things are not right in the party.

UPND has lost twice in Chilanga in three months after surrending its Looma Ward seat in Nalikwanda of Western Province to PF.

PF candidate Annie Brown has grabbed the Chilanga council chairmanship seat from UPND. The Chilanga parliamentary seat was also taken away from UPND by Maria Langa of PF.

In its other stronghold North Western Province, UPND also gave up its Kangwena ward seat to the ruling party.

And now the party has pathetically lost the Lusaka mayoral battle which has been won by PF candidate and former Matero MP Miles Sampa.

So,for how long will UPND bury its head in the sand like a foolish ostrich and pretend that all is well in the party?

Whether UPND president Hakainde Hichilema likes it or not, he needs to conduct a serious postmotem and see where the party is heading to.

If on the other hand he will choose to be flippant and continue with his exaggerated sense of his own importance and abilities then he can expect the worst in 2021.There should be a serious self-examination if UPND has to get out of its political mess it has created.

For me, I think the only way forward to rid this political apparition haunting UPND, lies in holding a convention which should come up with a brand new leadership to steer the party into safe waters.

If that can’t work, then UPND can rest assured that it will be in the opposition corner for many years to come and forget ever ruling Zambia, at worst. TRESFORD MAZIBA, Kalomo