Former Republican President Rupiah Banda has urged the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) members to recognise and accept the reality that they are no longer in power.
Mr Banda has also urged MMD members to remain united and focused if the former ruling party is to bounce back to power.
The former head of state said the fact that the party is in opposition calls for more sacrifice and doubling of the organisational capacity if it has to continue remaining relevant in Zambia’s political dispensation.
He has since advised MMD members to encourage one another and not to look for faults in each other saying all people are bound to make mistakes.
According to a statement issued to ZANIS by his Deputy Administrative Secretary Kennedy Limwanya, the former president was speaking in Lusaka at an MMD end of year women’s choir competition held at Dr Nevers Mumba’s residence in Kabulonga.
The event was also used to honour all former MMD presidents of which Mr Banda is third from the late former presidents Dr Fredrick Chiluba and Dr Levy Mwanawasa respectively.
And Mr Banda has paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of the MMD for their sacrifice which led to the birth of democracy in Zambia.
The former head of state also paid particular praise to the first MMD National Secretary and former republican Vice President Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda for his sacrifice in standing for the Zambia people in their time of need.