Hakainde Hichilema is the UPND presidential candidate

IT is automatic that Hakainde Hichilema will be the UPND presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential by-election, party secretary general Winstone Chibwe has disclosed.
Mr Chibwe said in an interview yesterday that Mr Hichilema would represent the UPND in the presidential election.
“For us as UPND, our presidential candidate in the forth-coming election is just one. For us it is automatic that Mr Hichilema will be our candidate,” he said.
On Wednesday, former MMD vice-president Michael Kaingu said it was not automatic that party president Nevers Mumba would be the candidate for the party in the presidential election.

Mr Chibwe maintained that the UPND would field Mr Hichilema but the party would not start campaigns until after the mourning period for the late President Michael Sata.
Meanwhile, the UPND has welcomed the pledge of peace and calm in the country during the mourning period.
UPND national chairperson Mutale Nalumango said in a separate statement that it was the wish of the UPND that the country has a peaceful transition of leadership.

Times of Zambia