PF and UPND agree to work together

The POST is reporting this morning that the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at dislodging the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) from power. This is a very positive move from the two political parties and has a fair chance of succeeding because it is being made way ahead of the next elections. PF and UPND have a chance to know each other better and build trust in the relationship.

The two parties stated that they had therefore started a long and difficult march in the same direction, not as one organisation but as two giants in Zambian politics."We do hereby commit ourselves to the following: (1) our parties will work together at all levels on all matters of national importance; (2) our parties will jointly provide more effective checks and balances on Rupiah Banda's corrupt MMD administration with immediate effect; (3) we will provide an effective, formidable and unbeatable electoral challenge to the corrupt MMD in all elections and we demand early Presidential and Parliamentary elections," read the communiqué in part. "We will lay the groundwork for an effective, accountable, efficient and pro-poor government to replace this most notorious, scandalous and corrupt MMD regime."

The MoU highlights the focuses on the areas the parties agree on such as not criticising each other in public and presenting a united front when attacking the MMD. However, they have kicked the decision on whether they would field a single candidate in the next general election in the long grass.

The PANEL.