MMD national chairman Micheal Mabenga has said Hakainde Hichilema’s trip to the Western Province was a complete flop.

And Mabenga said the women in the MMD countrywide were happy following Patricia Mulasikwanda’s resignation from the party.

Briefing the press at the MMD offices yesterday, Mabenga said the trip by UPND leader Hichilema, Mulasikwanda and Sibote Sibote among others to Western Province was a complete flop as the people rejected them in different parts of the province.

“In Mwandi, Mulobezi, Sesheke they were all rejected,” he said. “One induna came to a Christmas party where I was and told me that HH gave her a chitenge and a K50,000 to say bad stuff about the MMD.”

Mabenga said the induna complained that she was duped by Hichilema and his team and that she could never support UPND.

“It is unfortunate that an entire president could bribe an induna with only K50,000,” he said. “All they are doing is rubbish.”

Mabenga said the people in Western Province castigated the opposition, saying all they did was trade insults which would not take them anywhere.
“The people in Western Province are not impressed with the opposition because they are always trading insults which the people believe will not take them anywhere,” he said. “Imagine HH and his team donated 10 pockets of cement worth K500,000 as an inducement to the PTA of a certain school, as an inducement for their support. Can you imagine that a whole president of a party can gave such a small amount to convince people to support him? What kind of development is he going to take to the people?”

Mabenga said the province saw the kind of leadership that UPND had to offer.
And Mabenga said MMD was well rid of Mulasikwanda because she was a detractor.
“When Patricia left UNIP in 2005 to join our party, we thought she was a good woman,” he said. “She gave the impression like she was the top of the cream. I’m sure that the women in the party around the country are jubilant to hear that she has left the party.”

Mabenga said Mulasikwanda had nothing to offer the MMD and it was good riddance that she had finally left.
“She has stood in Mulobezi twice and lost the seat,” he said. “She has no influence whatsoever.”

Mabenga said the UPND would remember the day, with regret, that they allowed her to join their party.
“We hope that she will be good to them...we know her as a troubleshooter,” he said. “She will bring them trouble.”

Mabenga further urged the people of Zambia to give an opportunity to President Rupiah Banda to govern as he was God sent.

“People must give an opportunity to Rupiah Banda, he has barely been in office for one year and has accomplished much,” he said. “Am amazed at the manner with which he has taken to that office.”
Mabenga called upon every Zambian to support President Banda because he had the welfare of the people at heart.

“The President means well for this country,” he said. “Apart from carrying over from late president Patrick Mwanawasa, President Banda has continued with the industrial development of this country.”

Mabenga highlighted the re-opening of some mines which had been closed due to the global financial crisis, the agriculture sector, and infrastructure development as areas of government’s success.

“Looking at all the development which the President has managed to accomplish, it surprises me that the opposition could continue insulting him,” said Mabenga. “What kind of democracy do these people practice?”

(The Post)