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Opposition Leader Says Zambia President Banda Failed to Lead

   The   leader   of   Zambiaâs  opposition  United  Party  for  National
   Development  (UNDP) says President Rupiah Banda has failed to lead the
   country  in  the  time of crisis after accusing the president of being
   overly excited about travelling abroad.

   Peter Clottey 25 March 2010

   The   leader   of   Zambiaâs  opposition  United  Party  for  National
   Development   (UNDP)  says  President Rupiah Banda has failed to lead
   the  country  in  the  time  of crisis after accusing the president of
   being overly excited about travelling abroad.

   Hakainda Hichilema described the president as âMr. Holidayâ who has so
   far  failed  to  provide  leadership when several Zambians were killed
   during the recent floods.

AFP Photo

   Zambia President Rupiah Banda dismisses the accusations as ignorance

   âThe  president  must understand that his primary responsibility is to
   ensure that he can attend to the welfare of the people of Zambia. That
   is the reason that he was elected into office. It is therefore logical
   that  he  does  begin  to  understand  that  he has priorities and his
   priorities  are  to deal with domestic issues first. Charity begins at
   home,â he said.

   During  his  visit  that  began on Feb. 24 to March 4, President Banda
   reportedly  held  meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao as well as
   Wu  Bangguo,  Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the National
   People's Congress and the Premier of the State Council, Wen Jiabao.

   Opposition   leader  Hichilema  joined  other  opposition  leaders  to
   criticize President Banda over what they say is the leaderâs excessive
   foreign trips.

   They  said  since President Banda came to office about a year and half
   ago, he has made over 30 different international travels.

   But   Zambiaâs   media   quoted  President  Banda  as  dismissing  the
   accusations,  saying  âpeople  who  are attacking me over my visits to
   other countries are doing so out of ignorance,â President Banda said.

   The  president  further said that his meetings with world leaders were
   important in maintaining good neighborliness and exploring new avenues
   for trade.

AFP Photo

   Zambia's  opposition  leader  Michael  Sata accuses President Banda of
   undertaking "excessive foreign trips"

   But  Hichilema  said President Banda failed to lead when Zambians were
   faced with a crisis of flood.

   âThe president of Chile after being elected it was a period when there
   was  an earthquake. (But) he left other presidents who came to witness
   his  inauguration  and  flew  to  the  earthquake area. Thatâs what we
   expect  our  president  to  do, not travelling perpetually,â Hichilema
   said.

   Main  opposition  Patriotic  Front  (PF)  party  leader  Michael  Sata
   condemned  Mr. Bandaâs trips abroad saying the president was traveling
   at the expense of Zambians who live under abject poverty.

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