OPPOSITION ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT LEADER CHARLES MILUPI HAS CHARGED THAT CHIEFS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE ARE BEEN COERCED TO DECLARE THEIR SUPPORT FOR MMD

OPPOSITION ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT LEADER CHARLES MILUPI HAS CHARGED THAT CHIEFS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE ARE BEEN COERCED TO DECLARE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE RULING MMD IN THE FORTH COMING GENERAL ELECTIONS.

AND MR. MILUPI HAS DESCRIBED AS FRAUD AND A POLITICAL GIMMICK THE DIRECTIVE BY PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA TO WRITE OFF DEBT FOR TENANTS OCCUPYING PARASTATAL HOUSES ON THE COPPERBELT.

SOUTHERN PROVINCE ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT CHAIRMAN CHIEF MUKUNI OF THE TOKALEYA YESTERDAY SAID PRESIDENT BANDA DESERVES STRONG SUPPORT IN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS THE COUNTRY HAS MADE SINCE 2008.

BUT SPEAKING IN AN INTERVIEW WITH RADIO PHOENIX TODAY, MR MILUPI SAID CHIEFS WELCOME ALL POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEREFORE IT IS INCORRECT FOR THE MMD TO ASSUME THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THEM CITING THE VOTING PATTERN IN 2008.

HE ADDS THAT MMD IS USING THE PUBLIC MEDIA TO PAINT THE IMAGE OF WHAT IS NOT ON THE GROUND.

AND MR. MILUPI HAS WARNED OF DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF THE WRITING OFF OF THE DEBT ON THE PARASTATAL HOUSES ON THE COPPERBELT.

HE SAYS  PARLIAMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INVOLVED BEFORE THE PRONOUNCEMENTS WERE MADE AND QUESTIONED THE FATE OF THE PENSIONERS FROM THE AFFECTED PENSION SCHEMES.

THE PARASTATALS INCLUDE THE NATIONAL PENSIONS SCHEME AUTHORITY, MUKUBA PENSION FUND ZAMBIA ,FORESTS AND FORESTRY INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION AND DEVELOPMENT BANK OF ZAMBIA.

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