STAND AS INDEPENDENTS, FORGET GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS – HH
President Hakainde Hichilema has warned UPND members intending to contest parliamentary and local government elections as independent candidates after losing party adoption that they should not expect appointments into government.
Speaking during a community engagement in Kalabo District yesterday, President Hichilema urged party members to remain united and support candidates adopted by the ruling UPND ahead of this year’s general elections.
The President said the party’s priority was to secure victories at all levels, from councillor to president, rather than individuals pursuing personal political ambitions.
President Hichilema said leadership positions would always be occupied by one person at a time, adding that what mattered most was ensuring that the UPND won seats for councillors, mayors, Members of Parliament and the presidency.
He further appealed to members who would not be adopted on the party ticket to remain loyal and rally behind successful candidates, stating that there would still be opportunities for them to serve the country in other capacities.
The Head of State said some aspiring candidates who may fail to make it onto the ballot could later be appointed into government, nominated to various positions or deployed into the foreign service as ambassadors if they remained disciplined and committed to the party.
However, President Hichilema cautioned that members who rebelled against the party and chose to stand as independent candidates risked losing any chances of future appointments.
He warned that those who became “hungry” and opted to contest as independents should not expect to be appointed as ambassadors or given government positions in future.