UPND Will Not Use Public Funds for the Party
President Hakainde Hichilema says the affairs of his ruling party, United Party for National Development, will be organised and funded independently to government functions.
President Hichilema was emphatic in stating that his party will not seek to profit from government activities, or use public funds to support the activities of the party.
Speaking over the weekend at a UPND gala dubbed, ‘Meet and Greet the President’, the President clarified that the government treasury won’t be used to fund or support any party functions. HH has previously revealed to the public the poor financial predicament the treasury is in, following the self-interested spending habits of the previous Patriotic Front administration.
“We don’t want any political party activities to ride on the activities of the government or public coffer of the people of Zambia.”
“We have seen too much of that and nearly destroyed our country. In all spheres we want to walk that path and tonight’s dinner is that indication walking towards the talk,” President HH said.
Mr Hichilema commended the gala he was attending as the appropriate way to fundraise for running a party, and for upholding the UPND tradition of funding its activities with the support of its partners, as the party did before coming into power.
“The party must support itself as we did in the past till we formed government.”
On a similar note, Mr. Hichilema encouraged UPND partners to report any instances of apparent misspending of party donations.
“Business community that have donated to this party, just to assure you, your funds will be put to good use. If you notice that someone is missing your funds, tip someone including myself then we will look into that matter.”
Additionally, President Hichilema took the opportunity of addressing the business community to restate his government’s commitment to creating a prosperous, enabling environment for the private sector to thrive in.
A consistent message of the President’s campaign and first few months in power, HH said the UPND is focused on repairing the national economy by making Zambia attractive to foreign trade and investment, thereby creating opportunities for local businesses.
UPND Secretary General, Batuke Imenda, also gave an address the gala, in which he thanked the youths of Zambia for trusting the party with the responsibility to govern the country.
Mr Imenda also thanked party members and partners for turning out in large numbers for the dinner gala. He informed the President and those in attendance, including Cabinet Ministers and eminent local businessmen, that all tickets for the gala had been sold