THE UPND’S VALENTINES' DAY CONVENTION
OPPONENTS and fierce critics of Zambia’s largest and arguably most resilient opposition political party, the United Party for National Development (UPND) partly attribute the party’s failure to form government on its unwillingness to uphold intra-party democracy. They argue that UPND is a party led by a tired and rigid leadership that refuses to embrace new ideas and thinking. This has lingered on as a thorn in the flesh for its Party President Hakainde Hichilema who has stayed at the helm of the party for almost 15 years without renewing his mandate through a democratic process. After much talk and speculation, the UPND general conference (convention) is here. Not shocking that the party has settled for Valentine’s Day on 14 th February, 2021 considering red is its official colour. UPND President Hakainde Hichilema in picture delivered a well constructed and impactful statement as he opened the conference. He earlier posted the following on his Twitter: "Today our party the